NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

Tag Prof. Yemi Osinbajo

General news

(Audio) VP inaugurates technology, creative advisory group of industrial council Group

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

 

Group
By Donald Ugwu
Abuja, June 11, 2018 (NAN) The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday inaugurated the Technology and Creativity Advisory Group of the Nigeria Industrial and Competitiveness Advisory Council with a charge to draw a roadmap for both sectors promotion.
According to the Vice President, the quality of work in the advisory group, resourcefulness and diligence will define the future of the two sectors in the coming years.

Cue in audio (Osinbajo)

 

 

LP“My expectation is that the work of the advisory group must add value to existing policies by coming up with an inclusive and all-embracing roadmap for promoting the technology and creative sectors so that they can create jobs, contribute to growth and improve the wellbeing of Nigerians.
The advisory group could also help to increase the opportunities available to Nigerians to contribute to and excel in these sectors.’’
Cue out audio
The Vice President noted that the technology and creative sectors had come to the centre stage of the nation’s economy given their actual and potential contribution to growth, job creation and entrepreneurship.
He said that the country had generated about $70 billion in Information Technology (IT) investments while the creative sector was one of the fastest growing in the world.
He stated that both sectors contributed in employment and also to boosting the nation’s global profile noting that they had the potential for expansion.
According to Osinbajo, Nigeria is ranked 134 in the ICT development sector while the creative sector contributes 1.4 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product.
He said that the contribution of the technology and creative sectors went beyond the macro economic benefits to the empowerment of the young working population thus preparing them for the digital future.
The Vice President said that the reason for placing the group within the council was because the council functioned in very dynamic, inclusive and result-oriented way and also well-resourced by the private sector.
“The Advisory group will enable stakeholders in the technology and creative industry to contribute directly to policy formulation, articulation and design of both sectors going forward.
“It will also bring the existing policies and on-going work at the ministerial level to the Presidential level.
“It will enable coherence and signal the importance that the federal government attaches to these sectors,’’ he said.
He recalled that several policies and interventions were introduced by the Ministry of Communication Technology and that of Information and Culture to support the technology and creative sectors.
Osinbajo also noted that the federal government had been working to promote the technology sector including the successful Aso Villa Demo Day and several other such initiatives as well as creating technology hubs across the country.
He added that the National Economic Council (NEC) had been pursuing the issue of expanding broadband infrastructure access by reducing and harmonizing the cost of provision and rights of way.
Osinbajo stated that the federal government recently took action to include the sector among those to benefit from pioneer status.
He added that efforts were on to tackle piracy in terms of intellectual property and copyright and to secure financial resources to support the secure and building of required infrastructure, including the N1 billion Nollywood Fund of the Bank of Industry to support film production.(NAN)
DCU
===

General news

Osinbajo urges boundary commission to re-engineer border policies

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo
Border
By Donald Ugwu
Abuja, May 21, 2018 (NAN) The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday urged the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to curb constant inter and intra-communal clashes by re-engineering the country’s border policies.
Osinbajo gave the advice in Abuja while declaring open a one-day retreat organized by the Commission, for stakeholders in the management of Nigeria’s boundaries .
He highlighted the role of the commission in resolving various boundary concerns in the country to ensure peaceful coexistence noting that it could not afford to fail in that responsibility
“Permit me to mention that the role of the Commission given the numerous border challenges has to be more creative and innovative.
“Every nation attends to the peculiarities of its border issues with solutions that are nuanced, smart, affordable and result-oriented.
“We simply cannot afford to do the things that we have been doing for so many and expect different results.
“It is time to re-engineer all of our border policies.
“And I believe that this is the paramount responsibility of the commission and we trust that you will deliver.’’
The vice president stated that the federal government recognised the responsibilities of the commission and to demonstrate it President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the appointment of six distinguished Nigerians as its board members.
He stated that the appointment was to strengthen and reposition the commission to enable it to more effectively fulfill is responsibilities.
According to him, the appointees, representing the six geo-political zones of the country, will work closely with the ex-officio members of the Commission’s Board – Ministers, State Governors, Security Chiefs – as well as the management and staff members of the Commission.
“It is important that you work harmoniously, not only among yourselves as a Commission, but also with all external stakeholders.
“As a Commission whose mandate includes ensuring harmonious border relations, charity has to begin at home,’’ he advised.
The vice president recalled that by the Commission’s Establishment Act it was responsible for defining and delimiting Nigeria’s internal and external boundaries, resolving disputes, promoting trans-boundary cooperation, and coordinating all activities on our international boundaries.
“This means that the Commission has a very important role to play in mobilizing and coordinating various stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, subnational governments, foreign governments, bilateral and multilateral organizations, and others, to collectively deal with any and all boundary issues.’’
Osinbajo praised the commission for organizing the retreat noting that the caliber and diversity of participants showed its relevance.
He expressed optimism that the outcome would redefine the narrative of border challenges in Nigeria.
“Here in this room are probably most of the best minds on border issues not just in Nigeria but anywhere.
“So we have an opportunity to move the needle on these long running issues of border management in Nigeria,’’ the Vice President stated.
He called for greater collaboration among stakeholders to fully manage the over 4,000 kilometers of external borders.
This is besides its Atlantic coastline and the thousands of kilometers of borders that the 36 States and the FCT share with one another.
“What happens along these borders greatly affect what happens within them, whether it is the smuggling or illegal oil bunkering, or the impact of undocumented migration on the security situation in the North Central, or communal clashes. (NAN)
DCU/YEE
=======
Edited by Emmanuel Yashim