fbpx
Connect with us

News

Nigeria Ranks Lower Than Rwanda In Innovation-Sanusi

Published

on

 

Former Central Bank (CBN) Governor and immediate past Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, on Friday said the Nigerian economy is about to collapse totally as he warned that oil which he described in parable as the goose laying the ‘golden egg’ for the country is about to die.

Sanusi who spoke at the closing of the Kaduna Investment Summit, tagged KadInvest 6.0 said aside the fact that Nigeria is having difficulties in oil production, the product is now being rejected in the global market, as there is no longer a future in carbon.

The former CBN governor who pointed out that the future lies in knowledge based economy, which is the theme of the summit, however lamented that Nigeria is behind many African countries in innovation index and ranking 114th globally.

He lamented that while Ghana with a smaller economy invests more in education, Nigeria spends only seven percent of its budget in that direction, saying that, only eight of every 100 Nigerians who start primary school, complete university education.

According to him, “globally, work is being redefined. 30 to 40 per cent of workers in developed economies will need to significantly upgrade their skills by 2030. And what are the major drivers of this redefinition? ICT and remote working, which we have seen even here with COVID. There is increased automation and artificial intelligence. Very soon, robots will take over work in most countries and those who would have jobs are those who operate the robots or manufacture the robots or service the robots.

“And you have decarbonisation. For us in Nigeria, the enclave economy that we have, the so-called goose that lays the golden egg is about to die. There will be no eggs. The future is not in the carbons.

“A few months ago, Germany was able to produce enough renewable energy for the entire country’s needs. Today, we are having difficulties selling Nigerian oil. So, not only are we having problems to produce, even when we produce, the market is not there.

“So, this is forcing a change, and for us as a country that depends on oil, things need to change.

“Nigeria is ranked 114th in the global innovation index. We are lower than other African countries such as Kenya, Rwanda and Senegal. We are in fact ranked 14th in sub-Saharan Africa. I think we should have this reality check and know where we are as a country. Let’s stop calling ourselves the giant of Africa, because we are the giant with clay feet.

“Countries like Kenya, Rwanda and Senegal are ahead of us. I am not even talking about South Africa. Our expenditure on education is only seven per cent of the budget. We are spending less on education than Ghana; I am not talking about as per percentage of the budget; in absolute terms, even though the Ghanaian economy is much smaller than the Nigerian economy, even though the Ghanaian government revenue is less than Nigeria’s revenue, Ghana is spending more on education than Nigeria.

“And we are surprised that industries are moving to Ghana. We are surprised that the Ghanaian president has become the leading President in Africa? We are not investing in education and human capital.

“We have a 68 per cent missing job requirement and the major areas being IT, communication and decision making. And the completion rate between entry into primary one and completing university is eight per cent, meaning that out of every 100 pupils who go into primary school, only eight come out of university. And out of those eight, nine percent, which is one of the eight, will get a job.

“So, this is the reality in addition to what is happening globally. Now, digitization to level the playing field is required if we are deliberate and we shift from consumption to value creation. But, part of our problem is that even when we have the solution at our feet, we do not take it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State government said it will be introducing ICT skills in vocational institute and also in primary and secondary schools across the state.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai in an interview at the summit said his administration believes that the future of jobs in the world today will be digital. “So everyone needs digital skills and we intend to provide that and we have an agreement with IHS to cover Kaduna with 3g and 4g network so that everyone will have access to the internet,” he said

#

News

Federal Government Approves N4 Trillion for Development Commissions

Published

on

 

The Federal Government has announced the approval of a groundbreaking N4 trillion budget for development commissions across the country. The funds aim to accelerate regional development and address critical infrastructure gaps in underserved areas.

This landmark decision was confirmed during a federal executive meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu. According to officials, the allocation is targeted at bolstering the activities of existing development commissions, including those in the North East, Niger Delta, North Central, and other regions requiring special intervention.

Focus Areas of the Budget
The N4 trillion will reportedly focus on key development priorities such as:

Infrastructure rehabilitation, including roads, bridges, and power supply.

Support for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and resettlement programs.

#

Job creation initiatives to tackle unemployment in affected regions.

Social programs aimed at healthcare, education, and capacity building.

Government’s Commitment
Speaking on the development, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, stated that the budget reflects the administration’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth and equitable resource distribution. “This is a bold step to address longstanding challenges in regions that have been neglected for years,” he remarked.

The announcement has sparked mixed reactions across the country. While some citizens and regional leaders have praised the move as a step toward addressing inequalities, others have called for transparent implementation to ensure the funds are utilized effectively.

This allocation marks one of the largest investments in regional development commissions in Nigeria’s history, signaling the government’s intent to bridge the gaps in infrastructure and social welfare.

Stay tuned for more updates as details of the implementation strategy emerge.

Continue Reading

News

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin Distributes 1000 Motorcycles to Kano Police

Published

on

 

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin has distributed 1,000 operational motorcycles to the Kano State Police Command, in a move aimed at enhancing the mobility and operational capacity of the police force. The distribution ceremony, held in Kano, was attended by various dignitaries and stakeholders.

In his speech, Jibrin expressed his gratitude to the Nigerian police for their efforts in maintaining peace in Kano. “I am thanking the Nigerian police Kano command for bringing peace to reign in Kano,” he said. He acknowledged the role of traditional rulers in supporting the police and emphasized the importance of their contributions to the state’s security.

Jibrin highlighted the significance of the motorcycles in improving the efficiency of the police force. “My intention is to give a motorcycle to every policeman,” he stated, underscoring his commitment to equipping the police with the necessary tools to perform their duties effectively.

#

Muktara Gashash, Chairman of the Eminent Persons Forum, commended Jibrin for his generous gesture. “This initiative will greatly enhance the operational capabilities of the Kano police,” Gashash remarked, praising the Deputy Senate President’s dedication to supporting law enforcement.

Kano State Commissioner of Police, Salman Dogo Garba, also spoke at the event, urging his fellow officers to utilize the motorcycles to enhance their service delivery. “As we embrace this new chapter of enhanced mobility and operational capacity, I urge my fellow police officers to embrace these motorcycles as tools of service excellence,” Garba said. He emphasized the importance of professionalism, integrity, and accountability in their duties.

Garba further encouraged the police officers to use the motorcycles to strengthen their relationships with the communities they serve. “Let us leverage this significant investment to forge even stronger bonds with the communities we serve, fostering trust, cooperation, and mutual respect,” he added.

The distribution of the motorcycles is expected to significantly improve the response time and effectiveness of the Kano State Police Command, contributing to the overall safety and security of the state.

 

Continue Reading

News

President Tinubu Seeks Senate Confirmation for Lt. General Oluyede as Chief of Army Staff

Published

on

 

President Bola Tinubu on Friday wrote the Senate, seeking confirmation of Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede’s appointment as the substantive Chief of Army Staff.

“In his letter sent today, President Tinubu seeks Oluyede’s confirmation in accordance with the provision of Section 218(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act,” Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed in a statement.

The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu writes Senate, seeks confirmation of Lt. General Oluyede as Chief of Army Staff.’

Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the Acting Chief of Army Staff on October 30 following the illness of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.

General Lagbaja, however, died on November 5.

Onanuga said, “President Tinubu is confident about the leadership qualities, professional integrity, and experience of Lt. General Oluyede to lead and inspire the army to ensure national security and stability.”

Before he was appointed Acting Chief of Army Staff, Oluyede, a member of the 39th Regular Course, like his predecessor, served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna.

 

#
Continue Reading

Trending