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Centre says Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in ICT innovation

Centre says Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in ICT innovation

Innovation

By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Aug. 27, 2019 (NAN) The Director-General, National Productivity Centre, Dr Kashim Akor, has said that Nigeria must key into the e-Government Master Plan of the Federal Government to enhance productivity in all sectors of the society.

Akor spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN), on the sidelines of the Nigeria Public Sector Productivity and Innovation Summit in Abuja on Tuesday.

He described e-government as the use of ICT by governments to enhance the quality of information and services provided to citizens, businesses, civil society organisations, and other government agencies in an efficient, cost-effective and convenient manner.

According to him, the world is currently being driven by technology and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind if it must increase growth, development and innovation in public service delivery.

“The whole world now is technology-driven, Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind; productivity is key as far as growth is concerned. In every sector, both private and public, you need productivity, so we must look for various tools and techniques to improve productivity.”

He said that the e-Government Policy of the Federal Government, which was in line with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, would put Nigeria back on track for sustainable growth.

He added that the e-government policy implementation would improve quality of life of citizens as it would enhance national competitiveness, facilitate market economy, promote participatory democracy, and improve transparency in the public sector.

“One thing that the last economic recession taught the country is that the economy can be shattered when it is predictable and less-diversified, especially since no economic productivity can work without innovation,” he said.

Akor highlighted ICT innovations to include Treasury Single Account and Bank Verification Number, saying that the two innovations were part of the success stories targeted at changing the narratives of economic development and reducing financial leakages.

“The innovations have remarkably cut costs, time and logistics usually put to use when conducting such transactions in the past.

“They have also freed up a lot of resources hitherto employed wastefully, both on the part of government and private economic actors.”

The director-general said that driving government business on the internet and other ICT platforms had been made possible, faster, flexible and  cheaper.

NAN reports that the summit is premeditated on the need to leverage science, technology and innovation to build a knowledge-based economy and to improve efficiency of service delivery in the Nigerian public service. (NAN)
TAK/KOLE/ETS
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Edited by Remi Koleoso and Ephraims Sheyin

Health

Healthcare: FG pledges support for innovation guarantying quality services

Healthcare: FG pledges support for innovation guarantying quality services
By Mustapha Sumaila
Innovation
Abuja, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) Mr Ife Adebayo, the Special Assistant on Innovation and Entrepreneurship to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, says the Federal Government under the present administration will support any innovation that will guarantee quality services Nigerians.
Adebayo stated this at the “Innovating for Health’’ event organised by Health Innovation Hub, an NGO, in Abuja on Friday.
He explained that the government would not stand in the way but would stand along the way to achieving any innovation that would impact on the lives of Nigerians.
He said that the current administration had launched and supported various innovative projects in different sectors to make businesses and lives easier for people.
The special assistant urged those seeking for innovation to get legislative backing to ensuring that such was legalised by the constitution.

“Anybody seeking for any innovation should collaborate with the National Assembly to have legal backing,’’ he said.
Dr Kunle Kakanfo, a Founder of the hub, had earlier said there was need to try innovation in health sector to make healthcare services accessible and available to people.
Kakanfo explained that such innovation would eliminate the process of timing and unnecessary delay in health facilities.
He said that his NGO which had done a lot on capacity building had started working with other organisations to achieve innovation in health sector.
“We need to widen space for stronger action and opportunities, use of technology is one of it but not the only way to improve the healthcare services, it involves mode of service delivery.
“Customer is a king they say; and it is also in the health sector therefore we must do everything possible to satisfy our clients.
“There is no point of waiting for innovation on new drugs and vaccines from Europe; we can do that ourselves here in Nigeria.
“India has done it; that is why the country is a health tourism destination today,” he said.
Kakanfo assured that his organisation would collaborate with governments and private sectors to open conversation to drive this change. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Osinbajo task girls on innovation

Mrs Osinbanjo task girls on innovation
NAN-HG-11
Innovations
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, Oct. 17, 2017 (NAN) The wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, has stressed the importance of girl child education, calling on every Nigerian to support and ensure the education of girls in the country.
Mrs Osinbajo made the call at the commemoration of this year’s International Day of the Girl Child organised by the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) in Abuja.
The theme of the day was: “The Power of Adolescence Girl: Vision 2030’’.
According to her, Nigerian girls must strive to be innovative and different, saying the country relies on them for better creative ideas that would boost the economy.
She urged girls to make judicious use of their time, adding that they must be faithful in all they do because the society relies on them.
“I urge you all to take care and take hold of your own time to ensure a better future for yourselves and for the society at large.
“You must also strive to be different and innovative, know that you are special and a Nigerian princess and so must be morally upright.
“You must work hard to stand out among peers around the world. Girls deserved to be celebrated as they are important part of any society,” she said.
The Director-General of NCWD, Mrs Mary Ekpere-Eta, said the day provides an opportunity to further highlight the challenges and potential of adolescent girls and to raise awareness on different types of discrimination and abuse that girls suffer.
She also said it allows for engagement with many community and political leaders on the importance of girl rights to equal education.
“It is no longer news that the girl child continues to face challenges in many countries of the world, including Nigeria, in spite of the efforts by many national and international organisation to address the issues.
“What is news is the unwholesome dimension the trend is taking with new technology, high incidence of poverty and crime resulting in low school enrolment, completion, especially for girl child.
“Young girls are been used as sex slaves and baby making factories, increased rate of sex abuse, early and forced marriages resulting to VVF, trafficking under the guise of providing greener pastures, rape and other violence,” she said.
The director-general therefore urged the Federal and State Governments to build on policies to eradicate poverty particularly among females in the country.
Earlier, the UNICEF representative, MsTejia Vallandingham, appreciated the efforts of the government through the Universal Basic Education and other education sector policies, saying however a lot still needs to be done.
She said there was need to build and accelerate concerted efforts to reach out to the many missing Nigerian children missing education.
“The supply side of education has some serious concerns, both teacher quality and quantity needed to be addressed and school infrastructure is still a source of worry.
“UNICEF Nigeria is committed to improving the lives of Nigerian women and children. We continue to be committed to our partnership with the Nigerian Government to provide every child a quality education”.
She said that there were disparities in the access and achievement of quality education in the country in different categories by gender, residence, wealth and geographical location.
The representative of National Education Commission, Prof. Abubakar Haladu, said the theme was to create awareness and development capacity on gender and right of educating girls.
He said gender balance in education was the vital strategy for development of any nation, adding that it is pivotal to the dream of any nation to belong to the world power.
“Laws should be implemented to boost girls education that would enable them contribute their own quota to nation building,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this year’s event is unique as it marks the 5th Anniversary of the declaration of Oct. 11 as the annual day in 2012. (NAN)
OEO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola