All posts by taiye agbaje

NAN-H-82
Research
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, Feb. 27, 2018 (NAN) Prof. Peter Ogedebe, the Dean, Faculty of Computing and Applied Science, Baze University, says corruption is responsible for research conducted without results in the country.

Ogedebe made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

He noted that though funding also impedes on successful research by many organisations and institutions.

“In most cases where people are provided with fund, such money is diverted for personal use.

“Not much is spent on the research itself! Most people divert the money into doing private things; some used it to marry wives, some used it to buy cars, some use it to buy houses.

“For instance, if you are given a N100, 000 to do a research, how much of this N100, 000 are you spending on the research?” he asked.

The dean, who stressed that the issue of corruption must be addressed for research to get appropriate result, said the aim of doing research was to solve societal problems.

“Any research that is not aimed at solving problems in the society cannot be said to be a research.

“So unless this issue of corruption is eradicated at every level, we will not get it right.

“This corruption we are talking about is not when you are a minister or governor, even at your own level as lecturers, medical doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc, you can be corrupt,” he said.

Ogedebe, who also blamed the problems on poor power supply in the country, added that many people also do research just to earn promotion.

“If government is able to solve the problem of electricity, things will begin to go well. Again, many people don’t know why they are doing research.

“Some just do research to get promotion, to earn a living and what have you. They don’t know that doing research is to solve problems of the society in the area of your specialisation.

“For instance, if you are an agriculturist, you should solve agric-related problems, if you are an engineer, you should solve the problem related to your field, if you are a computer scientist, you should solve the problems of automation, etc.

“But you discover that many researchers do not have focus. Some believe that as a lecturer in a university, the ultimate goal of research is to become a professor. So, majority do research just to fulfil all righteousness.”

The don said for research to be meaningful, government should also be ready to equip the institutions of higher learning toward addressing the problems of the society.

“Because if the equipment is not there, it will be difficult to do meaningful research,” he said.

He added that researchers must also be given a yardstick or measurable objective to be met for an acceptable research.

“There should be a criteria attached to that research to achieve the aim.

“Presently, Nigeria is faced with so many problems ranging from insurgency, kidnapping, corruption to low managerial ability to produce goods and services, etc.

“So people should actually do research to solve these problems. In agriculture, what can we do to enhance food security? In military, what can we do to combat the myriad of security crises,” he stated. (NAN)

TOA/FF/GY
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Grace Yussuf

NAN-H-64
Engineers
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, Feb. 26, 2018 (NAN) An industrialist, Dr Gbenga Olusunle, says Nigeria possesses competent engineers, who require government’s encouragement to drive the country’s manufacturing and industrialisation process.

Olusunle is the Managing Director of Engineering Materials Development Institute (EMDI), Ondo state.

The industrialist, who spoke on Monday with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, noted that Nigeria was not lagging behind in research and manufacturing, adding that appropriate technology and funding were the major hindrances.

“Rather, what experts in science and technology sector need presently is to be encouraged by governments in order to perform at optimum level.

‘’We are doing our best. Although, our best is not good enough for now, certainly, we are not lagging behind, only that we need to be encouraged.’’

Olusunle recalled that Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), recently agreed that Nigerian engineers were competent, but were yet to be challenged.

‘’We need to be challenged by government and we need to be funded. Then, let’s see how well we can perform,” he said.

He said “in my own institute in particular, we have been able to produce a propeller hydro turbine to generate power.

‘’The one we designed and we tested in our dam to produce 10kilowatts of power,” he said.

He said some of the products manufactured by his institute would be showcased at the forthcoming Techno Expo coming up in Abuja.

‘’We have rotary furnace. We use this to melt metals that we can eventually use to cast components or machine parts.

“We have the channel grating that was produced from molten metal. Molten metal is a metal that has been turned into liquid to be melted at the high temperature.

‘’So EMDI produced the rotary furnace, which comes in 10kg, 100kg and 300kg respectively.

‘’We have just developed and produced the 500kg recuperative that has heat ex-changer that can make melting easier and more efficient and with less contamination in the material,” he said.

He listed other products manufactured by the institute to include yam pounding machine, bull gear, train brake shoe, grinding disc and water pump impeller.

The MD called for governments’ collaboration in the innovation sub-sector, saying it would encourage the institute to develop more hi-tech products both for local consumption and exports.

‘’We have over 250 of these in higher institutions in the past sponsored by ETF but thereafter, we have not developed further.

‘’But if the Federal Government can also key into it, we can replicate the innovation across the country.

“The process will engage the youth, take away scraps that litter the streets in our country and change the environment,” Olusunle said.

NAN reports EMDI as an institute, develops engineering materials, using scientific and engineering principles for its products. (NAN)
TOA/KOO/GY
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Grace Yussuf

NAN-H-72
Funding
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, Feb. 21, 2018 (NAN) Mr Gbenga Olusunle, the Managing Director, Engineering Materials Development Institute (EMDI), has lamented inadequate funding of the agency, saying it has hindered it from delivering on its mandate.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Akure-based agency is mandated to develop engineering materials using scientific and engineering principles to develop capacity in the area.

Olusunle, who spoke with NAN in Abuja, stressed that no nation could develop without proper attention to science and technology.

“Definitely, the challenge is not something that is new to everybody. Generally, funding is the challenge. Funding is not adequate!

“Also, we need to retrain our staff, all of which boils down to money. We need money for production of equipment; we need money for consumables and the rest of them.

“Research takes a lot of money because while embarking on research, you will find out that before you get a product, you have expended a lot of money on the project to get it done properly,’’ he said.

The EMDI boss called on the Federal Government to pay more attention to the science and technology-related issues for the country to find its feet among the comity of nations.

“Without this, we cannot move forward because everything around us is a product of technology.

‘’You are taking this recording now through the medium of technology.

“The cloth you are wearing is technology; your shoes, technology; your belt is technology; the food you eat and processing of it is technology, etc. So, we must key into that,” he added. (NAN)
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

How I became a graduate through phone repair, says entrepreneur

NAN-H-22

Entrepreneurship

By Taiye Agbaje

Abuja, Feb. 16, 2018 (NAN) Mr Tony Okeke, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering Technology, said he sponsored his education through phone repair.

The 39-year-old graduate from Akpugo, Mkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, said he enrolled for phone repair training in 2002 at the then Abuja GSM Village as a school certificate holder.

He spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria in an interview in Abuja.

‘’I am Engineer Tony Okeke. I started this job approximately when the use of mobile phones came into Nigeria in 2002.

‘’As an apprentice learning the work then, we opened phones and repaired them. That was the era of Nokia 3310, Triumph, Sagem, Motorola, including Thuraya, etc.

“The GSM Village was around Wuse II in Abuja and I was just a secondary school certificate holder. But through this job, I was able to achieve many things.

“I was able to fund my education and today, I am a graduate of Mechanical Engineering Technology from the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa State.”

Okeke, who graduated in 2012 from the polytechnic, said he served the nation as a youth corps member in 2013 with Everton Nigeria Ltd., an oil and gas company in Abuja.

The young entrepreneur, who presently operates his business at the popular GSM Technology Village located at Wuse Zone 1, Abuja, said he had empowered no fewer than 12 young Nigerians since the inception of

the business.

He said: ‘’I empower people through a skill acquisition programme on repair of mobile phones and all computer gadgets. My business name is T-Phonz Network.

“So far, I have trained about 12 people. When they complete their training, some of them will go and establish themselves. I have trained both graduates and undergraduates in this job, even those who already had their Masters.

‘’For instance, when I was serving, one of my friends, who is a Masters’ holder came to me and said he wanted to learn the job.

“And when I completed my service, I enrolled him and he has completed his training and he is now living comfortably with his family.”

On the period it takes to learn the job, he said it depends on individual.

‘’You can take a year and six months or roughly two years to be able to learn the work, but it is a continuous process because new gadgets are still coming out.

‘’It might not be the one you learned with that you will meet tomorrow, but the most important thing is for you to know the fundamentals, the basic knowledge,” he said.

Okeke, who advised young Nigerians not to despise little beginning, said he felt fulfilled in the work he was doing. (NAN)

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Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-89
Research
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, Feb. 13, 2018 (NAN) The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has launched a new peer review service in Abuja to assist member states in the development of infrastructure for nuclear research reactors.

The first Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review for Research Reactors (INIR-RR), which was conducted during its week long meeting from Feb. 5 to Fed. 9  in Abuja, is also to expand the range of its expert advisory missions among member states.

The meeting was hosted by the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), a national focal agency for nuclear technology development in Nigeria under the supervision of the IAEA, which serves as the UN’s nuclear watchdog that ensures the application of nuclear technology by respective member states.

Research reactors, according to a communiqué obtained from the website of the international agency on Tuesday by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) are used for research, development, education and training.

“They play a vital role across several fields, producing radioisotopes used in research, medicine, industry and agriculture.

“Operation of a research reactor requires a national infrastructure, including a legal and regulatory framework to ensure that national and international obligations are met during planning, design, construction, operation and decommissioning,” the communiqué read.

It said the INIR-RR followed the IAEA’s milestones approach which provides guidance on the preparation of a research-reactor project by addressing 19 issues ranging from nuclear safety and security to the fuel cycle, waste management and funding and financing.

It said the INIR-RR helped member states identify and address gaps in infrastructure development in line with international best practices as well as applicable IAEA safety standards and guidance.

The communiqué quoted Andrea Borio di Tigliole, the team leader for the mission to Nigeria and Head of the Research Reactor Section in the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Energy, commended Nigeria, saying “the country is making notable progress in strengthening the infrastructure for a new research reactor, which is expected to begin operation in 2025.’’

“The team also made recommendations and suggestions aimed at helping Nigeria to advance infrastructure development, including finalising the cost assessment and funding strategy and to complete the plan for human-resources development.

“The team also acknowledged Nigeria’s best practice of effectively utilising resources across national organisations involved in the project,” di Tigliole said.

The statement also quoted Simon Mallam, the Chairman of the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), as saying that the review would serve “Nigeria well as move it forward with its plans for a new research reactor, which will provide important resources for health-care, industry, agriculture and human capacity building in the decades to come.’’

Mallam said “Nigeria began operating its first research reactor in 2004, the Chinese-supplied Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR), for the analysis of materials and training.

“The IAEA is assisting with the conversion of the MNSR to Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) fuel and the repatriation of its irradiated High Enriched Uranium (HEU) core to China.

“The new, more powerful research reactor will use LEU and be utilised for producing radioisotopes for cancer diagnosis and treatment, industrial applications, and developing skills and competencies as the country pushes forward with plans to introduce nuclear power by 2025.”

The member states are 169 as of December 2017, however, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), which joined the IAEA in 1974, withdrew its membership of the IAEA in 1994. (NAN)
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

NAN-

Training

By Taiye Agbaje

Abuja, Feb. 12, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Government says it is partnering with the government of South Korea to train no fewer than 22, 000 public servants on e-government.

Mr Abdulaziz Abdullahi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications was quoted as making this known in a statement issued by Mrs Pauline Sule, the Deputy Director, Press, on Monday in Abuja.

Abdullahi disclosed this at the end of the In-Country e-Government Capacity Building Training in Abuja.

He said the Federal Government through the ministry was  collaborating with South Korea through Korean International Corporation Agency (KOICA) on project for capacity building on e-government.

He said the collaboration would build the capacity of workers by providing short and long term training courses in Nigeria in different levels to successfully drive the e-government programme by the government.

He said the e-government had been captured in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) by Federal Government.

He added that the recently launched 2017 to 2020 Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan was also to reposition the service for better performance through key e-government projects.

Abdullahi said the training involved all in the public service and had been categorised into segments to accommodate all.

“The Executive Course I is for heads of government establishments; Executive Course II is for directors in public service; Professional Course for middle level officers; e-Security for ICT technical staff and Train-the-Trainer for future potential trainers on the capacity building programme,’’ he said.

According to him, Project Planning and Development has been added to the curriculum to manage balanced e-government system in terms of procurement, grievance settlement and preparation in readiness for the implementation of the e-government master-plan that is awaiting Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval.

He thanked KOICA for their commitment in actualising the training as scheduled and assured that the goal of using e-government as a tool to impact and improve the socio-economic growth would be achieved.

The Charge d’Affaires of the Korean Embassy, Mr Song Yong-Min expressed gratitude and readiness to partner with Nigeria.

He said the diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Korea started since 1980 and was delighted on how fast the pace of the amicable relationships had thrived in various areas such as culture, trade and development cooperation, especially in the e-government project.

Yong-Min said the effort would bring about a lot of achievements and would create millions of jobs, especially for the young generations. (NAN)

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Edited by Grace Yussuf

NAN-H-42
Training
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja. Feb. 12, 2018 (NAN) The GSM Village Handsets and Accessories Dealers’ Association, Abuja, has solicited the partnership of the Ministry of Communication and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in training its members.

The Chairman of the association, Mr Chris Eze, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Monday.

Eze said the partnership and trainings became necessary because of the current trend in science and technology, especially in handsets’ manufacturing.

He said the sales and repairs of phones at the market had become a source of livelihood to all his members, hence, the need to have advanced knowledge in their workability.

‘’The challenges we have is in terms of training because the invention is all over now. If new phones come into the country, there are ways government can support us.

“If they train us, we can train others and the issue of poverty will be reduced.

“Here, majority of our members are between the age bracket of 20 and 35 years and this is where you get the youths.

“Some of them get educated today through this business and most people here got married through this business,” he said.

Eze urged the government to encourage them by providing enabling environment “so that we can be able to do our business and do it in a way and manner that people won’t see us as touts but as genuine businessmen.”

He, however, expressed regrets that the union was yet to get any assistance from government, saying “most of the things we do here are through individual’s effort.”

On how members who specialise in phone repairs adapt to new technologies, he said: “if any new technology comes in, most of our people who are educated, especially the graduate ones, go on internet to learn more.’’

He said some of them even ordered for the phone parts before the phone would come in order to get the knowledge on fixing it.

“And when they get this knowledge on internet, they will come and retrain others as well,” he said.

“There was a time we sought for collaboration with NCC for training of our members and they gave us guidelines on how they can assist us.

“We are to pay individually. But since most of our members operate on small and medium scale, they could not meet that target.

“For us, we want that avenue where they can come to train our people.”

He called on the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, to use his good office toward partnering with the association.

“My call to the Minister of Communication is that here is a place where you can exploit. If you are talking of empowering people, this place is where you come and pick the right people to empower.

“We have them; we have raw talents here, but it is just that encouragement is what we need. If they can support us, honestly, the sky will be our starting point.

“We do practical here and what we are doing is what people will take outside Nigeria and beat their chest that things are really working here.

‘’Even big companies like Samsung, Tecno, come here to pick engineers and they will go there and pay them huge amount of money,” he said. (NAN)
TOA/OFN/GY
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Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Grace Yussuf

NAN-H-42
Theft
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, Feb. 8, 2018 (NAN) No fewer than 40 people have been arrested and handed over to the police for phone theft between June 2017 and February at the GSM Technology Village, Abuja.

Mr Chris Eze, the Chairman, GSM Village Handsets and Accessories Dealers’ Association, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

He said majority of the culprits were arrested by the union’s task force put in place to ensure law and order in the market.

“It is not only armed robbers that steal phones. At times, you enter a taxi and you forget your phone in the vehicle, another person picks it, removes the SIM and brings it here to sell.

“Some of them will sell a phone worth N200, 000 at N20, 000 or N40, 000.

“Once a person brings a phone here for sale, we have our taskforce who liaise with the police to enforce law and order.

“Members of the task force will engage the seller and even from the price negotiation alone, we sometimes detect a phone that has been stolen.

“Once you cannot identify yourself as the real owner of a phone, we will hand you over to the police.

“For the one I am sure of, we have arrested more 40 people from June, 2017, when I came in as the chairman,” he said.

Eze said the association also had rules that guide buying and selling of fairly used phones and laptops in the market, making it easier for his members to detect a stolen phone.

“We have a form that anyone who brings a fairly used items must fill to ascertain the authenticity of the phone.

“If you are the genuine owner of the phone, you fill the form with your valid ID Card. Perhaps, if any issue comes up on the phone, we will know how to trace you.

‘’Because even if you give us wrong information, you cannot fake your genuine ID card like the international passport, driver’s license,” he said.

Eze said that any member, who failed to abide by the rules would also face the wrath of the law.

The chairman, who sells new phones and accessories said although managing people was not an easy task, the executive members of the union ensured that all members adopted best practices in the market. (NAN)
TOA/OIF/GY
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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Grace Yussuf