By Fred Nwaozor
The last time I checked, I needed to – in my usual way and pattern – cordially and candidly advise the current Executive Governor of Imo State in the person of Senator Hope Uzodinma, hence this epistle.
Towards fulfilling my obligation as a stakeholder in the State and one who truly means well for the growth and uplift of the Eastern Heartland, I needn’t shy away from doing this, which is targeted to ensure the presence of good governance amidst the good people of the revered State.
If I’m not mistaken, I’ve hitherto been keenly following the political trending in Imo for the past two decades now, thus in a very good and apt position to aptly counsel any sitting governor of the State in the sole interest of the people.
If any concerned fellow has from the outset been following my myriad of analyses, he or she could boldly attest to the fact that I’ve never for once been involved in any partisan cause or crusade. It suffices to assert that my involvement thus far has been strictly non-partisan. This is the reason every discerning mindset is invariably willing and ready to listen to, or read, my words as might be the case.
Your Excellency, it’s four months now since you graciously assumed office as the six democratically-elected Governor of Imo State via the wisdom displayed by the apex judicial body in Nigeria otherwise known as the Supreme Court.
It was on 15th January 2020 the wind of change conspicuously blew to Imo, thereby making the reality dawn on Imolites. The unannounced interregnum was to a great amazement to some, while to a great bitterness to a few others. It’s noteworthy that such kind of circumstance is natural among mankind.
So far, if I’m to rate you, I would unequivocally say that you have been dogget and brave, though wouldn’t hesitate to frown at your Excellency in a few areas I’ve observed lapses. Nevertheless, we all have our flaws no matter how much we claim to be perfect.
I, first and foremost, need to commend your effort thus far since the emergence of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Your strides have obviously been giant, to the best of my knowledge. We thank the Almighty that no fatality has been recorded in the State yet.
I equally want to appreciate your ebullient effort toward ensuring that workers and pensioners in the State are paid as and when due. The ongoing electronic migration to a digital platform whereby they would aptly receive their respective salaries and pensions is highly commendable.
However, your Excellency, there’s a compelling need to let you comprehend that the said migration, as informed by the Imo Government, is being lingered, thereby posing untold hardship to the supposed beneficiaries.
Considering the fact that the State, likewise all others in the country, is presently facing a lockdown as occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, you needn’t be notified that the employees of the State are seriously in need of their wages – likewise the senior citizens. Hence, anything that lingers the receipt of their respective wages ought to be tagged unacceptable.
On the other hand, posterity will never forgive me if I fail to personally applaud you for the most recent feat recorded by the New Imo Government. To have boldly and genuinely sponsored an Executive Bill aimed at repealing the law making the past governors cum speakers and their deputies to be entitled to pensions is enough indication that you apparently mean well for the State. And, acknowledging that the said bill has already been assented to by your Excellency, creates room for even your enemies, or the thomases, to pour encomiums on your person.
Notwithstanding, there’s an anomaly I’ve observed with optimum dismay. A situation whereby we – for months now – can witness countless appointees of the government who could boast of no portfolio, is really saddening and unheard of. These gentlemen and ladies have, since their various appointments were announced, been parading themselves within the Government House like ‘walking corpses’.
It’s even baffling when realized that most of them have abandoned their respective businesses for the sake of the appointment, yet till date, they can’t boast of any portfolio. We are not unaware that a ‘portfolioless’ appointee is just not unlike an individual who has been offered a job or employment but cannot boast of any Employment Letter. It’s even more pathetic to note that they have been sworn in for the past two months now.
In view of the aforementioned eyesore, your Excellency, I plead that in your extreme wisdom, the needful ought to be done henceforth, so that, your enemies won’t laugh at you. You must take into cognizance that this kind of aberration is better heard than seen.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that this set of appointees without portfolios equally deserved to be paid in arrears, because we are reliably informed that their names aren’t yet captured in the payroll. This mustn’t be shortchanged for any reason if you’re interested in earning a good name amid your teeming aides.
As regards governance, I wouldn’t want your Excellency to forget in a hurry how you emerged as the Executive Governor of the Eastern Heartland. You are, therefore, expected to invariably recall that you came as a Godsent, hence the need not to overlook the prime needs of the overall Imolites.
Imo is conspicuously in need of good and afordable education; she needs standard healthcare sector; she’s seriously yearning for massive industrialization; she’s in damn need of accountable and transparent leadership; she’s really hungry for a well refined Imo. More so, apt payment of the working class coupled with the retirees is required to be seen as paramount and non-negotiable.
Above all, I enjoin you to keep the citizenry abreast of happenings in the State. They ought to from time-to-time be intimated on whatever that has transpired or occurred in the recent past. You must, through the available channels, be always ready to put them in the know of the government’s activities, with a view to averting inconsequential speculations.
All in all, your Excellency, for the core mandate of the New Imo Administration – which is centred on Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery (3Rs) – to yield the desired fruit, you must ceaselessly be willing to listen to genuine advices and shun sycophancy at all costs.
I can see you have come to change the narrative. But please, your Excellency, let it be for good in its entirety. Think about it!
Comrade Nwaozor, Policy/Political Analyst & Rights Activist, is the
National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement
_________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Twitter: @mediambassador
Thursday 28 May 2020
Opinion II IPPIS: Its Technicalities, Intrigues In Varsities
By Fred Nwaozor
The Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) is a project initiated by the Federal Government (FG) in the Nigerian public service sector via the use of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
The IPPIS was introduced to adequately prove the effectiveness and efficiency of payroll administration in the government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Prior to its implementation by the FG, it was outlined that the IPPIS would accurately and reliably provide the overall personnel information as required by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF).
Nigerians were further informed that the electronic platform, if fully implemented, would drastically and holistically reduced or completely eliminate all forms of corrupt and sharp practices as well as facilitate modern scientific and apt budgeting cum forecasting.
It’s noteworthy that the IPPIS could boast of a separate department under the OAGF. The department or unit is solely responsible for payment of salaries and wages directly to FG employees’ bank accounts.
It has equally been reported that apt deductions are instantly made, followed immediately by remittances to a team of third party beneficiaries such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), State Boards of Internal Revenue (BIR), National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), National Housing Fund (NHF), Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), Cooperative Societies, Trade Unions’ Dues, Association Dues, Bank Loans (if any) and what have you.
Recently, the IPPIS department boasted that since inception of the tech-driven mechanism in April 2007, the unit had saved billions of naira for the FG via elimination of thousands of ghost workers and allied matters.
It’s worthy of note that the streamlined key functions or core mandate of the IPPIS department are, but not limited to: management of FG employees’ records, payment of salaries and wages to the employees, deductions of taxes and other third party payments, remittance of payroll deductions to the benefitting bodies, and enrolment of employees into the IPPIS database.
The overall mission of the IPPIS is to pay the FG employees on-time and accurately within statutory and contractual obligations. Whilst its vision is to have a centralized payroll system that meets the needs of the said employees as well as help the government to plan and manage payroll budget by ensuring proper control of personnel cost.
It could be recalled that recently, sequel to the FG’s frantic move to ensure that all employees are duly enrolled into the IPPIS, the workers of the federal tertiary institutions of learning across the federation – particularly those of the universities – frantically rejected the plan, stating it was against the international extant law that permits the university autonomy.
Owing to the government’s insistence, the majority of the opposing university personnel succumbed to the pressure, hence reluctantly agreed to enroll into the tech-driven system having been conscientized that they would be happier while being paid via the IPPIS.
It’s worth noting that every existing university in the country is made up of four distinct workers’ unions, namely: the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU).
So, during the struggle between the FG and the aforementioned unions over enrolment into the IPPIS, three out of the four – namely NAAT, SSANU and NASU – were outshined by the pressure as the ASUU stood its ground, insisting it would never be a party to such scheme, which was seen by its members as a means by the FG to ridicule their rights.
However, it was claimed by the OAGF that some members of the aggrieved ASUU, whom were regarded as saboteurs and cowards, were captured into the IPPIS in spite of the directive issued by the national leadership of the union instructing every member to steer clear of the exercise, which they said was shrouded in secrecy and pranks.
The members of the three unions, whom were rigorously captured into the electronic system at the wake of 2020, reportedly received their first salaries via the IPPIS in February. Consequently, the salaries of the subsequent months being March and April were equally paid through the platform.
The intriguing part of the payment made by the IPPIS department to the university staff was the claim by the latter that their respective salaries were heavily deducted coupled with the allegation that their expected consequential arrears of the newly approved National Minimum Wage was not included.
The affected personnel lamented that at the time they were expecting to receive higher income (wage), the IPPIS department rather short-paid them without their consent or knowledge. According to them, aside the required arrears of the new minimum wage, their Earned and Peculiarity (Hazard) Allowances were obviously omitted from the payments, thereby impoverishing them. They, therefore, urged the OAGF to urgently look into the matter towards addressing the anomalies.
While this set of workers was still arguing and crying woefully over the perceived anomaly, the ASUU members who received the arrears of their withheld February and March salaries equally reportedly suffered from similar fate.
It would be recalled that penultimate month, President Muhammadu Buhari instructed the OAGF to outrightly pay all the striking members of the ASUU to cushion the excruciating effects of the ongoing lockdown occasioned by the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Intriguingly, reports following the payment of the ASUU members disclosed that the said workers were paid via the IPPIS as it was mentioned in their respective bank alerts. One would then ask; how could they be paid through the IPPIS without being captured into the digital platform through a biometric method as required by the scheme? One question, too many.
The OAGF has come out to say that the alleged deductions in the university workers’ salaries were as a result of the legitimate taxes accruable to their wages, which were initially overlooked or not properly captured by their various institutions.
Analysts and concerned observers have been compelled to believe that the FG is only focusing on taxing the workers hugely and ‘unreasonably’, citing it as the government’s main current source of income since other sources of revenue are apparently grounded at the moment due to the ravaging effect of the COVID-19.
The various affected unions in the universities have insisted they would opt-out from the IPPIS, threatening a shutdown of their schools whenever the FG calls for reopening of the truncated academic session. They have unanimously agreed to embark on indefinite industrial action if the outlined issues weren’t sorted out prior to resumption of studies, though the ASUU had made it clear that the union was still on strike.
Truth be told; these uncalled technicalities and intrigues emanating from the IPPIS platform have myriad of questions to be answered by the OAGF. Questions concerning paying the university teachers via the digital platform without involving biometric capturing, over-deductions of their gross worth, and what have you, must be attended to by the concerned authorities.
Funnily enough, we have equally been reliably informed by these unions that the OAGF is yet to remit the deducted dues to their respective bank accounts. Who is then deceiving who? These countless challenges must be holistically taken care of before the world starts seeing Nigeria as a point of laughter or a comic centre. It’s even more baffling when realized that the said office had accused the universities’ management of forwarding the names of dead workers (lecturers) to be enrolled into the IPPIS. Isn’t it shameful and disgraceful for the office to make such claim public, having earlier notified Nigerians that the IPPIS was targeted to eradicate any form of hitches, aberration and corruption from the system?
Inter alia, the OAGF had earlier enthused that the IPPIS would ensure prompt payment of workers’ salaries, yet we are currently notified by the concerned employees that their wages are recently usually deposited after many days of the affected month.
Whatever the realities might entail, the OAGF must take into cognizance that they are dealing with a set of individuals who are widely believed in the society to possess high degree of intelligence, knowledge, as well as sense of ingenuity and technicalities.
When a certain policy is genuinely designed to solve an existing plight, but in the long run ends up constituting more nuisance, then it calls for an urgent review. Think about it!
Comrade Nwaozor, Tech Expert, Policy Analyst & Rights Activist, is the
National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Follow: @mediambassador
The Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) is a project initiated by the Federal Government (FG) in the Nigerian public service sector via the use of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
The IPPIS was introduced to adequately prove the effectiveness and efficiency of payroll administration in the government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Prior to its implementation by the FG, it was outlined that the IPPIS would accurately and reliably provide the overall personnel information as required by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF).
Nigerians were further informed that the electronic platform, if fully implemented, would drastically and holistically reduced or completely eliminate all forms of corrupt and sharp practices as well as facilitate modern scientific and apt budgeting cum forecasting.
It’s noteworthy that the IPPIS could boast of a separate department under the OAGF. The department or unit is solely responsible for payment of salaries and wages directly to FG employees’ bank accounts.
It has equally been reported that apt deductions are instantly made, followed immediately by remittances to a team of third party beneficiaries such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), State Boards of Internal Revenue (BIR), National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), National Housing Fund (NHF), Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), Cooperative Societies, Trade Unions’ Dues, Association Dues, Bank Loans (if any) and what have you.
Recently, the IPPIS department boasted that since inception of the tech-driven mechanism in April 2007, the unit had saved billions of naira for the FG via elimination of thousands of ghost workers and allied matters.
It’s worthy of note that the streamlined key functions or core mandate of the IPPIS department are, but not limited to: management of FG employees’ records, payment of salaries and wages to the employees, deductions of taxes and other third party payments, remittance of payroll deductions to the benefitting bodies, and enrolment of employees into the IPPIS database.
The overall mission of the IPPIS is to pay the FG employees on-time and accurately within statutory and contractual obligations. Whilst its vision is to have a centralized payroll system that meets the needs of the said employees as well as help the government to plan and manage payroll budget by ensuring proper control of personnel cost.
It could be recalled that recently, sequel to the FG’s frantic move to ensure that all employees are duly enrolled into the IPPIS, the workers of the federal tertiary institutions of learning across the federation – particularly those of the universities – frantically rejected the plan, stating it was against the international extant law that permits the university autonomy.
Owing to the government’s insistence, the majority of the opposing university personnel succumbed to the pressure, hence reluctantly agreed to enroll into the tech-driven system having been conscientized that they would be happier while being paid via the IPPIS.
It’s worth noting that every existing university in the country is made up of four distinct workers’ unions, namely: the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU).
So, during the struggle between the FG and the aforementioned unions over enrolment into the IPPIS, three out of the four – namely NAAT, SSANU and NASU – were outshined by the pressure as the ASUU stood its ground, insisting it would never be a party to such scheme, which was seen by its members as a means by the FG to ridicule their rights.
However, it was claimed by the OAGF that some members of the aggrieved ASUU, whom were regarded as saboteurs and cowards, were captured into the IPPIS in spite of the directive issued by the national leadership of the union instructing every member to steer clear of the exercise, which they said was shrouded in secrecy and pranks.
The members of the three unions, whom were rigorously captured into the electronic system at the wake of 2020, reportedly received their first salaries via the IPPIS in February. Consequently, the salaries of the subsequent months being March and April were equally paid through the platform.
The intriguing part of the payment made by the IPPIS department to the university staff was the claim by the latter that their respective salaries were heavily deducted coupled with the allegation that their expected consequential arrears of the newly approved National Minimum Wage was not included.
The affected personnel lamented that at the time they were expecting to receive higher income (wage), the IPPIS department rather short-paid them without their consent or knowledge. According to them, aside the required arrears of the new minimum wage, their Earned and Peculiarity (Hazard) Allowances were obviously omitted from the payments, thereby impoverishing them. They, therefore, urged the OAGF to urgently look into the matter towards addressing the anomalies.
While this set of workers was still arguing and crying woefully over the perceived anomaly, the ASUU members who received the arrears of their withheld February and March salaries equally reportedly suffered from similar fate.
It would be recalled that penultimate month, President Muhammadu Buhari instructed the OAGF to outrightly pay all the striking members of the ASUU to cushion the excruciating effects of the ongoing lockdown occasioned by the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Intriguingly, reports following the payment of the ASUU members disclosed that the said workers were paid via the IPPIS as it was mentioned in their respective bank alerts. One would then ask; how could they be paid through the IPPIS without being captured into the digital platform through a biometric method as required by the scheme? One question, too many.
The OAGF has come out to say that the alleged deductions in the university workers’ salaries were as a result of the legitimate taxes accruable to their wages, which were initially overlooked or not properly captured by their various institutions.
Analysts and concerned observers have been compelled to believe that the FG is only focusing on taxing the workers hugely and ‘unreasonably’, citing it as the government’s main current source of income since other sources of revenue are apparently grounded at the moment due to the ravaging effect of the COVID-19.
The various affected unions in the universities have insisted they would opt-out from the IPPIS, threatening a shutdown of their schools whenever the FG calls for reopening of the truncated academic session. They have unanimously agreed to embark on indefinite industrial action if the outlined issues weren’t sorted out prior to resumption of studies, though the ASUU had made it clear that the union was still on strike.
Truth be told; these uncalled technicalities and intrigues emanating from the IPPIS platform have myriad of questions to be answered by the OAGF. Questions concerning paying the university teachers via the digital platform without involving biometric capturing, over-deductions of their gross worth, and what have you, must be attended to by the concerned authorities.
Funnily enough, we have equally been reliably informed by these unions that the OAGF is yet to remit the deducted dues to their respective bank accounts. Who is then deceiving who? These countless challenges must be holistically taken care of before the world starts seeing Nigeria as a point of laughter or a comic centre. It’s even more baffling when realized that the said office had accused the universities’ management of forwarding the names of dead workers (lecturers) to be enrolled into the IPPIS. Isn’t it shameful and disgraceful for the office to make such claim public, having earlier notified Nigerians that the IPPIS was targeted to eradicate any form of hitches, aberration and corruption from the system?
Inter alia, the OAGF had earlier enthused that the IPPIS would ensure prompt payment of workers’ salaries, yet we are currently notified by the concerned employees that their wages are recently usually deposited after many days of the affected month.
Whatever the realities might entail, the OAGF must take into cognizance that they are dealing with a set of individuals who are widely believed in the society to possess high degree of intelligence, knowledge, as well as sense of ingenuity and technicalities.
When a certain policy is genuinely designed to solve an existing plight, but in the long run ends up constituting more nuisance, then it calls for an urgent review. Think about it!
Comrade Nwaozor, Tech Expert, Policy Analyst & Rights Activist, is the
National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Follow: @mediambassador
Opinion II Onu, COVID-19 And Nigerian-Made Ventilator
By Fred Nwaozor
The Nigeria’s Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu recently enthused that the Federal Government (FG) was prepared to ensure the acclaimed giant of Africa could boast of mass production of ventilators soonest.
A ventilator is a machine that provides mechanical ventilation to the user by moving breathable air in and out of the lungs, towards delivering breaths to the patient (user) who’s physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently.
It’s noteworthy that modern ventilators are computerized microprocessor-controlled devices. However, patients can equally be ventilated with a simple hand-operated bag valve mask.
Ventilators are mainly used in intensive medical care, emergency units, and home care. It’s also administered in anesthesiology as a component of an anesthesia machine.
It’s worth noting that ventilators are sometimes referred to as respirators; a term commonly used for them in the 1950s. But in the contemporary hospital and medical terminology, a respirator is simply a protective face mask.
On its part, a respirator is a device specifically designed to protect the wearer from inhaling hazardous atmospheres, including fumes, vapours, gases and particulate matter such as dusts and airborne micro-organisms. It equally prevents an infected person from transmitting a contagious disease to the people around him/her.
Lest I digress; modern ventilators are electronically controlled by a small embedded system to allow exact adaptation of pressure and flow characteristics to an individual patient’s needs. Ventilators can also be equipped with monitoring and alarm system for patient-related parameters.
Penultimate week, precisely on Monday, 6th April 2020 – amidst the prevailing Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic that’s ravaging the global community, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in Nigeria graciously announced that the country could now boast of Nigerian-made ventilators.
The laudable notice by the NASENI Spokesman, Mr. Segun Ayeoyenikan, which equally disclosed that the agency had as well produced mobile sprayers to be used to disinfect Nigerian cities and homes, further informed the general public that the newly manufactured ventilators would be unveiled the following day being Tuesday by the Science and Technology Minister, Dr. Onu.
According to the press release, the lofty development was aimed at combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. It’s worthy of note that ventilator is a vital equipment meant for the treatment or control of the said disease and other related health challenges.
It would be recalled that recently, the FG via the Federal Ministry of Finance, begged an American billionaire for ventilators. The plea, which was widely perceived as a national embarrassment, was eventually withdrawn by the government. This could perhaps be the reason for recording this feat.
In a related development, few hours after the NASENI’s announcement, the teeming Nigerians were informed that a 20-year-old 200-Level undergraduate of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in Kaduna State, Mr. Usman Dalhatu had solely designed and produced a manual ventilator to be used in treating COVID-19 patients.
The young inventor, who reportedly hails from Gombe State, disclosed that it took him just 48 hours to manufacture the respiratory device. He, therefore, enthused that with adequate funding and technical supports from experts, he could mass produce the equipment within a short period.
More amazingly, Mr. Dalhatu who’s of Mechanical Engineering department, further revealed that the ventilator had already gotten a patent and trademark certificate, and currently was being sold in Abuja and Gombe States. He equally hinted that he had manufactured an electric cooking stove.
It’s not anymore news that this kind of talent is found all over our various learning institutions, but is invariably bedeviled by the continued lack of enabling environment. Probably, time has come for the fathomless cries of these folks to be heard.
Subsequently on 10th April 2020, the Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo stated that the FG had opened discussions with Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Company and other related indigenous firms toward producing ventilators in the country.
The boss who disclosed this in Abuja while updating pressmen on the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for the manufacturing sector, notified that the FG had received proposals from the aforementioned company – and other automobile firms domiciled in the country – to produce ventilators, and that the various memos were being considered.
This information came at the time when the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Engr. Mansur Ahmed revealed that Nigeria’s manufacturers had increased the country’s domestic production capacity for face masks from 2 million in February to 27 million now.
The Science and Technology Minister, Dr. Onu while launching the first set of the made-in-Nigeria ventilators and other devices in Abuja, noted that ventilators were currently scarce across the globe as countries continued to conserve the ones they had for their own citizens.
Dr. Onu who was represented by the Science Minister of State, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi, further declared that the FG could not afford to watch Nigeria citizens die from the COVID-19 crisis, thus Nigerian engineers in NASENI were challenged by the government to come up with engineering remedies to tackle the menace.
Taking into cognizance the trending thus far in the Nigeria’s tech sector as regards the emergence of the global health challenge, a discerning mindset in the country wouldn’t hesitate to assert that this situation – unbearable though – could be a blessing in disguise.
The bedeviling circumstance might be the prize to pay – or sacrifice to render – by Nigeria and her likes to enable them wake up from slumber in the area of science and technology, which had long been relegated to the background.
Nigeria as a people must, thus, be prepared to key into this crusade that’s ostensibly targeted to uplift her ailing tech sector by embracing the realities of the day, which are so glaring even to the blind.
It’s quite appalling that at such a critical time like this that requires optimum research activities, the country’s various universities are totally under lock and key. This occurrence is an obvious indication that we as a nation still have a colossal distance to cover in the field of sciences.
It’s so disheartening that at a period when the selected brains are meant to spend their nights in the laboratories and what have you, our numerous science dons and professors are conspicuously busy cracking jokes or compiling myriad of comic lyrics at the comfort of their respective bedrooms. It’s indisputable that this set of Nigerians is being marred by apathy because they have been made to believe that the society doesn’t care about their inputs.
Dr. Onu and his team must hence use this moment to swing into action in earnest without further ado. There absolutely ought to be no reason to import ventilators and allied materials while we can boast of all it requires – ranging from talent, patent to resources – to manufacture for ourselves. The only parameter that’s presently lacking in the system is the needed political will.
This is, therefore, a clarion call for us to start producing what we intend to consume. Anything short of this might unleash doom. Think about it!
Comrade Nwaozor, TheMediaAmbassador, is the
Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri
__________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Follow me: @mediambassador
The Nigeria’s Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu recently enthused that the Federal Government (FG) was prepared to ensure the acclaimed giant of Africa could boast of mass production of ventilators soonest.
A ventilator is a machine that provides mechanical ventilation to the user by moving breathable air in and out of the lungs, towards delivering breaths to the patient (user) who’s physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently.
It’s noteworthy that modern ventilators are computerized microprocessor-controlled devices. However, patients can equally be ventilated with a simple hand-operated bag valve mask.
Ventilators are mainly used in intensive medical care, emergency units, and home care. It’s also administered in anesthesiology as a component of an anesthesia machine.
It’s worth noting that ventilators are sometimes referred to as respirators; a term commonly used for them in the 1950s. But in the contemporary hospital and medical terminology, a respirator is simply a protective face mask.
On its part, a respirator is a device specifically designed to protect the wearer from inhaling hazardous atmospheres, including fumes, vapours, gases and particulate matter such as dusts and airborne micro-organisms. It equally prevents an infected person from transmitting a contagious disease to the people around him/her.
Lest I digress; modern ventilators are electronically controlled by a small embedded system to allow exact adaptation of pressure and flow characteristics to an individual patient’s needs. Ventilators can also be equipped with monitoring and alarm system for patient-related parameters.
Penultimate week, precisely on Monday, 6th April 2020 – amidst the prevailing Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic that’s ravaging the global community, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in Nigeria graciously announced that the country could now boast of Nigerian-made ventilators.
The laudable notice by the NASENI Spokesman, Mr. Segun Ayeoyenikan, which equally disclosed that the agency had as well produced mobile sprayers to be used to disinfect Nigerian cities and homes, further informed the general public that the newly manufactured ventilators would be unveiled the following day being Tuesday by the Science and Technology Minister, Dr. Onu.
According to the press release, the lofty development was aimed at combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. It’s worthy of note that ventilator is a vital equipment meant for the treatment or control of the said disease and other related health challenges.
It would be recalled that recently, the FG via the Federal Ministry of Finance, begged an American billionaire for ventilators. The plea, which was widely perceived as a national embarrassment, was eventually withdrawn by the government. This could perhaps be the reason for recording this feat.
In a related development, few hours after the NASENI’s announcement, the teeming Nigerians were informed that a 20-year-old 200-Level undergraduate of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in Kaduna State, Mr. Usman Dalhatu had solely designed and produced a manual ventilator to be used in treating COVID-19 patients.
The young inventor, who reportedly hails from Gombe State, disclosed that it took him just 48 hours to manufacture the respiratory device. He, therefore, enthused that with adequate funding and technical supports from experts, he could mass produce the equipment within a short period.
More amazingly, Mr. Dalhatu who’s of Mechanical Engineering department, further revealed that the ventilator had already gotten a patent and trademark certificate, and currently was being sold in Abuja and Gombe States. He equally hinted that he had manufactured an electric cooking stove.
It’s not anymore news that this kind of talent is found all over our various learning institutions, but is invariably bedeviled by the continued lack of enabling environment. Probably, time has come for the fathomless cries of these folks to be heard.
Subsequently on 10th April 2020, the Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo stated that the FG had opened discussions with Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Company and other related indigenous firms toward producing ventilators in the country.
The boss who disclosed this in Abuja while updating pressmen on the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for the manufacturing sector, notified that the FG had received proposals from the aforementioned company – and other automobile firms domiciled in the country – to produce ventilators, and that the various memos were being considered.
This information came at the time when the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Engr. Mansur Ahmed revealed that Nigeria’s manufacturers had increased the country’s domestic production capacity for face masks from 2 million in February to 27 million now.
The Science and Technology Minister, Dr. Onu while launching the first set of the made-in-Nigeria ventilators and other devices in Abuja, noted that ventilators were currently scarce across the globe as countries continued to conserve the ones they had for their own citizens.
Dr. Onu who was represented by the Science Minister of State, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi, further declared that the FG could not afford to watch Nigeria citizens die from the COVID-19 crisis, thus Nigerian engineers in NASENI were challenged by the government to come up with engineering remedies to tackle the menace.
Taking into cognizance the trending thus far in the Nigeria’s tech sector as regards the emergence of the global health challenge, a discerning mindset in the country wouldn’t hesitate to assert that this situation – unbearable though – could be a blessing in disguise.
The bedeviling circumstance might be the prize to pay – or sacrifice to render – by Nigeria and her likes to enable them wake up from slumber in the area of science and technology, which had long been relegated to the background.
Nigeria as a people must, thus, be prepared to key into this crusade that’s ostensibly targeted to uplift her ailing tech sector by embracing the realities of the day, which are so glaring even to the blind.
It’s quite appalling that at such a critical time like this that requires optimum research activities, the country’s various universities are totally under lock and key. This occurrence is an obvious indication that we as a nation still have a colossal distance to cover in the field of sciences.
It’s so disheartening that at a period when the selected brains are meant to spend their nights in the laboratories and what have you, our numerous science dons and professors are conspicuously busy cracking jokes or compiling myriad of comic lyrics at the comfort of their respective bedrooms. It’s indisputable that this set of Nigerians is being marred by apathy because they have been made to believe that the society doesn’t care about their inputs.
Dr. Onu and his team must hence use this moment to swing into action in earnest without further ado. There absolutely ought to be no reason to import ventilators and allied materials while we can boast of all it requires – ranging from talent, patent to resources – to manufacture for ourselves. The only parameter that’s presently lacking in the system is the needed political will.
This is, therefore, a clarion call for us to start producing what we intend to consume. Anything short of this might unleash doom. Think about it!
Comrade Nwaozor, TheMediaAmbassador, is the
Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri
__________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Follow me: @mediambassador
Tuesday 28 April 2020
Fiction II THIS LONELY PATHWAY
By Fred Nwaozor
I will wear my mask
While I do my work.
Yes, even on a mast
And as I take a walk.
This is to avoid a blast
From the new Corona
Who has come in vast
To maim my new Corolla.
I'm now on the alert
To strangle the pandemic,
Even as the bank alert
Ceased to enter my pan-den.
Let's lock-up the doors
While the lock-down lasts.
Fred Nwaozor
Poet, Novelist & Playwright
I will wear my mask
While I do my work.
Yes, even on a mast
And as I take a walk.
This is to avoid a blast
From the new Corona
Who has come in vast
To maim my new Corolla.
I'm now on the alert
To strangle the pandemic,
Even as the bank alert
Ceased to enter my pan-den.
Let's lock-up the doors
While the lock-down lasts.
Fred Nwaozor
Poet, Novelist & Playwright
Sunday 26 April 2020
Opinion II Uzodimma's 100 Days: All Eyes On Imo
By Toni Wakiki Akuneme
In his inaugural address to Imo people in January this year, as their 6th democratically elected governor, Senator Hope Odidika Uzodinma reiterated his commitment to purposeful governance benchmarked by free enterprise, social security and rule of law. He pledged (on oath) to "restore financial discipline, entrench due process and conduct government business in the most transparent manner "
I met the man Sen. Hope Uzodimma sometime in 2011 when my cousin, Hon Uche Obiozor, presented me to him as his constituent who was posted to the Nigeria High Commission in Ottawa, Canada as Immigration attaché (then he had just become the senator for my Orlu Zone).
The next time I met Sen. Uzodimma again was in 2015 when I just returned to Nigeria after my foreign service and he had asked to meet with the youths of my town, as part of his non partisan constituency briefing. Fortuitously, I was nominated unanimously to tell the distinguished senator, the expectations of Awo-Omamma youths. After that meeting which held in the home of one of our elder statesmen, Sir Jerry Onuwa, the senator held my hand and whispered to me, "no wonder they made you their spokesman ". I smiled.
We never met again until in 2017 when I was elected president of the global forum for all Awo-Omamma people (ADF) and we paid the senator a courtesy visit in his Abuja office. Again, we interacted cordially on the need to include Awo-Omamma in his constituency program and projects. Instantly, the obviously impressed senator, asked his then Legislative Assistant, Ralph Nwosu, to allocate one civic center, one solar borehole and two feeder roads for Awo-Omamma community in their list of NDDC interventions. The borehole was completed within few weeks while the roads are still under construction and the civic center has been published by NDDC in their 2019 projects but yet to be commenced.
I cut a deep impression of the man Hope Uzodimma after those meetings and other more intimate contacts I had with him later on in 2017 and 2018 in company of my cousin Alloy Nnawugo, his classmate way back from Mgbidi Boys college, who always visited from London. I never saw Sen. Uzodimma as someone who pretended to be perfect. He rather came across as a simple, friendly but highly focused man who knew exactly what he wanted from life and possessed an unambiguous and charming style for pursuing his life's ambition.
Fast forward to January 2020 and behold Sen. Uzodimma had become the Executive Governor of Imo State after a two time stint in the Nigerian Red Chamber. The New Imo Governor must have come prepared, having had his eyes on the crystal ball in Douglas House since 2003, seventeen clear years before he finally wrestled the coveted seat from Mr Emeka Ihedioha of the rival People's Democratic Party.
I have no doubt that the new governor has come on board with an uncommon zeal that is already energizing the entire state towards sustainable development founded on inclusiveness and collective responsibility. His robust political experience and active Legislative career at the federal level must have equally exposed him to policymaking cum leadership strategies and skill sets that will help him navigate the curves of statecraft in his avowed bid to achieve the New Imo of his dreams.
I am convinced that Sen. Uzodimma fully understands the need to very quickly impress Ndi Imo who may not afford him a second chance for a good first impression, given their checkered political experience and against the backdrop of the remarkably divine way in which he launched himself into Douglas House, beginning with his dislodging of the Okorocha hold on Imo and then the unseating of an Ihedioha who claimed to be the governor albeit not meeting the mandatory two third spread of votes cast in the 27 local government areas of the State.
Recent political history in Nigeria shows that such governors who reclaimed their mandates by divine Judicial intervention like the Peter Obis and the Rotimi Amechis, wasted no time in giving their people real QUALITY service delivery, being naturally fired up by their peculiar circumstances.
Sen. Uzodimma is not likely to be any different, judging by his sure and steady flow in the last 100 days of his administration, by way of citizen based governance. His first moves included the continuation of all genuine policies and programmes initiated by the ousted, ill fated government of Mr Ihedioha, to truly underscore that government was a CONTINUUM, such as retaining the famous water engineer Emeka Ugoanyanwu who has started the reactivation of the hitherto moribund Otammiri Water scheme, retaining all the road construction contractors in the state especially in the state capital, Owerri, retaining all the panels of enquiries instituted by Mr Ihedioha against the activities of former governor Okorocha, prompt payment of workers salaries and pensions but with a caveat that only physically identified persons will be captured. No more ghost workers and ghost pensioners.
Other salient but silent milestones of the Uzodimma's administration that are not easily discernible to the uninitiated, include the prompt signing into law the bill on Enhanced Criminal Justice Administration which aims at simplifying complex court proceedings and decongesting the prisons in line with Federal Government Reform efforts to make Nigeria Prisons more of Correctional facilities than punitive. Thus, innovations like speedy trials, alternatives to imprisonment such as Community paroles and Plea bargaining will be the hallmarks of Justice administration in Imo state which becomes one of the few states to domesticate this new law in consonance with the Federal government.
Sen. Uzodimma's greatest achievement in the past three months is unarguably his ability to forestall the entry of the dreaded Corona virus into the entire Imo state, which has received both local and International commendations. Doubtless the total lockdown of the state naturally affected social and economic development in the state especially the arrival of dozens of foreign investors that had been issued visas for business meetings with the governor and his team.
Some of these investors were to come from Japan to discuss alternative power generation and distribution potentials in the state, while another group from Canada were set to arrive Owerri for high level discussions on livestock and other agro based services. A third group from Israel had also gotten their visas to come for signing of agreements on affordable housing and construction projects and the beauty of all these engagements is that they are bringing their own funding from offshore and all imo government is expected to provide is just the enabling environment and political will to drive these businesses with the attendant multiplier job creating potentials.
Sen. Uzodimma sure has such political sagacity in quantum deposits and little wonder he prefers to call himself the Oracle of PROSPERITY as he gears up not just to create wealth for nde Imo but also to ensure that such wealth is equitably distributed among the rich and the poor with Special focus on the vulnerable groups in the state. The governor is fully convinced that if a greater percentage of imolites are gainfully employed, crime will reduce, tourism, for which Owerri has come to be known, will triple and Imo will become more prosperous.
Already, once the lockdown is over, the governor is personally set to engage the leadership of major professional organizations like NBA, NMA, ICAN, COREN, NUT, NLC, and so on, so they can come to Owerri for their Annual General Meetings, which he will personally attend the opening ceremonies and encourage the government owned hotel to offer them free venues and discounted rooms and services. The idea, which Uzodimma copied from the city of Miami, is to ensure that all round the year, the state capital and its environ will remain busy with activities such that hoteliers, restaurants, beer pubs, cab drivers, business owners and other tour operators will be fully engaged from January to December. With this plans comes the massive reorientation of all major stakeholders in the tourism sector to ensure that visitors to imo state go away with the desire to come back again and again, based on a solid impression.
The governor is committed to upgrading the infrastructural and environmental systems around the state, with urgent emphasis on Owerri the capital. He literally has taken over the daily supervision of waste disposal and monitoring of on going road construction projects in the state.
Sen. Uzodimma is so passionate about the Recovery, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of the New Imo he visualizes that he has vowed to go round by midnight once the lockdown is over, to physically inspect street lights, pot holes, security patrols and traffic lights to be sure that contractors don't try to compromise his aides. He Hope's to make the state free from such abuse like littering the streets and urinating publicly as first offenders will be used as scapegoats to test the determination of the state.
Sen. Uzodimma is aware that all eyes are on him, having made clear promises during his campaigns and inauguration. He does not have any slightest plans to go back on those promises. He sees the whole process of governance and politics as a hobby and is not in it for personal aggrandizement.
Sen. Uzodimma has a date with destiny and will rather quit than try to shortchange Ndi Imo. Uzodimma ultimately wants to make Imo the symbol of QUALITY east of the Niger. Quality people. Quality products. Quality services. Uzodimma has already dusted the original master plan for the state as created by the legendary Dr Sam Mbakwe and is willing and able to reinvent the New Imo of Mbakwe's dreams, which successive governments ignored.
Sen. Uzodimma will engage with all stakeholders in periodic town-hall meetings to review his strategies and plan new ones. At the end, all Sen. Uzodimma wants is for Ndi Imo to get the good life while God alone takes all the glory.
Let the Corona virus pandemic go away, so the good times can begin.
Toni Wakiki Akuneme
Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor, writes from Awo-Omamma.
In his inaugural address to Imo people in January this year, as their 6th democratically elected governor, Senator Hope Odidika Uzodinma reiterated his commitment to purposeful governance benchmarked by free enterprise, social security and rule of law. He pledged (on oath) to "restore financial discipline, entrench due process and conduct government business in the most transparent manner "
I met the man Sen. Hope Uzodimma sometime in 2011 when my cousin, Hon Uche Obiozor, presented me to him as his constituent who was posted to the Nigeria High Commission in Ottawa, Canada as Immigration attaché (then he had just become the senator for my Orlu Zone).
The next time I met Sen. Uzodimma again was in 2015 when I just returned to Nigeria after my foreign service and he had asked to meet with the youths of my town, as part of his non partisan constituency briefing. Fortuitously, I was nominated unanimously to tell the distinguished senator, the expectations of Awo-Omamma youths. After that meeting which held in the home of one of our elder statesmen, Sir Jerry Onuwa, the senator held my hand and whispered to me, "no wonder they made you their spokesman ". I smiled.
We never met again until in 2017 when I was elected president of the global forum for all Awo-Omamma people (ADF) and we paid the senator a courtesy visit in his Abuja office. Again, we interacted cordially on the need to include Awo-Omamma in his constituency program and projects. Instantly, the obviously impressed senator, asked his then Legislative Assistant, Ralph Nwosu, to allocate one civic center, one solar borehole and two feeder roads for Awo-Omamma community in their list of NDDC interventions. The borehole was completed within few weeks while the roads are still under construction and the civic center has been published by NDDC in their 2019 projects but yet to be commenced.
I cut a deep impression of the man Hope Uzodimma after those meetings and other more intimate contacts I had with him later on in 2017 and 2018 in company of my cousin Alloy Nnawugo, his classmate way back from Mgbidi Boys college, who always visited from London. I never saw Sen. Uzodimma as someone who pretended to be perfect. He rather came across as a simple, friendly but highly focused man who knew exactly what he wanted from life and possessed an unambiguous and charming style for pursuing his life's ambition.
Fast forward to January 2020 and behold Sen. Uzodimma had become the Executive Governor of Imo State after a two time stint in the Nigerian Red Chamber. The New Imo Governor must have come prepared, having had his eyes on the crystal ball in Douglas House since 2003, seventeen clear years before he finally wrestled the coveted seat from Mr Emeka Ihedioha of the rival People's Democratic Party.
I have no doubt that the new governor has come on board with an uncommon zeal that is already energizing the entire state towards sustainable development founded on inclusiveness and collective responsibility. His robust political experience and active Legislative career at the federal level must have equally exposed him to policymaking cum leadership strategies and skill sets that will help him navigate the curves of statecraft in his avowed bid to achieve the New Imo of his dreams.
I am convinced that Sen. Uzodimma fully understands the need to very quickly impress Ndi Imo who may not afford him a second chance for a good first impression, given their checkered political experience and against the backdrop of the remarkably divine way in which he launched himself into Douglas House, beginning with his dislodging of the Okorocha hold on Imo and then the unseating of an Ihedioha who claimed to be the governor albeit not meeting the mandatory two third spread of votes cast in the 27 local government areas of the State.
Recent political history in Nigeria shows that such governors who reclaimed their mandates by divine Judicial intervention like the Peter Obis and the Rotimi Amechis, wasted no time in giving their people real QUALITY service delivery, being naturally fired up by their peculiar circumstances.
Sen. Uzodimma is not likely to be any different, judging by his sure and steady flow in the last 100 days of his administration, by way of citizen based governance. His first moves included the continuation of all genuine policies and programmes initiated by the ousted, ill fated government of Mr Ihedioha, to truly underscore that government was a CONTINUUM, such as retaining the famous water engineer Emeka Ugoanyanwu who has started the reactivation of the hitherto moribund Otammiri Water scheme, retaining all the road construction contractors in the state especially in the state capital, Owerri, retaining all the panels of enquiries instituted by Mr Ihedioha against the activities of former governor Okorocha, prompt payment of workers salaries and pensions but with a caveat that only physically identified persons will be captured. No more ghost workers and ghost pensioners.
Other salient but silent milestones of the Uzodimma's administration that are not easily discernible to the uninitiated, include the prompt signing into law the bill on Enhanced Criminal Justice Administration which aims at simplifying complex court proceedings and decongesting the prisons in line with Federal Government Reform efforts to make Nigeria Prisons more of Correctional facilities than punitive. Thus, innovations like speedy trials, alternatives to imprisonment such as Community paroles and Plea bargaining will be the hallmarks of Justice administration in Imo state which becomes one of the few states to domesticate this new law in consonance with the Federal government.
Sen. Uzodimma's greatest achievement in the past three months is unarguably his ability to forestall the entry of the dreaded Corona virus into the entire Imo state, which has received both local and International commendations. Doubtless the total lockdown of the state naturally affected social and economic development in the state especially the arrival of dozens of foreign investors that had been issued visas for business meetings with the governor and his team.
Some of these investors were to come from Japan to discuss alternative power generation and distribution potentials in the state, while another group from Canada were set to arrive Owerri for high level discussions on livestock and other agro based services. A third group from Israel had also gotten their visas to come for signing of agreements on affordable housing and construction projects and the beauty of all these engagements is that they are bringing their own funding from offshore and all imo government is expected to provide is just the enabling environment and political will to drive these businesses with the attendant multiplier job creating potentials.
Sen. Uzodimma sure has such political sagacity in quantum deposits and little wonder he prefers to call himself the Oracle of PROSPERITY as he gears up not just to create wealth for nde Imo but also to ensure that such wealth is equitably distributed among the rich and the poor with Special focus on the vulnerable groups in the state. The governor is fully convinced that if a greater percentage of imolites are gainfully employed, crime will reduce, tourism, for which Owerri has come to be known, will triple and Imo will become more prosperous.
Already, once the lockdown is over, the governor is personally set to engage the leadership of major professional organizations like NBA, NMA, ICAN, COREN, NUT, NLC, and so on, so they can come to Owerri for their Annual General Meetings, which he will personally attend the opening ceremonies and encourage the government owned hotel to offer them free venues and discounted rooms and services. The idea, which Uzodimma copied from the city of Miami, is to ensure that all round the year, the state capital and its environ will remain busy with activities such that hoteliers, restaurants, beer pubs, cab drivers, business owners and other tour operators will be fully engaged from January to December. With this plans comes the massive reorientation of all major stakeholders in the tourism sector to ensure that visitors to imo state go away with the desire to come back again and again, based on a solid impression.
The governor is committed to upgrading the infrastructural and environmental systems around the state, with urgent emphasis on Owerri the capital. He literally has taken over the daily supervision of waste disposal and monitoring of on going road construction projects in the state.
Sen. Uzodimma is so passionate about the Recovery, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of the New Imo he visualizes that he has vowed to go round by midnight once the lockdown is over, to physically inspect street lights, pot holes, security patrols and traffic lights to be sure that contractors don't try to compromise his aides. He Hope's to make the state free from such abuse like littering the streets and urinating publicly as first offenders will be used as scapegoats to test the determination of the state.
Sen. Uzodimma is aware that all eyes are on him, having made clear promises during his campaigns and inauguration. He does not have any slightest plans to go back on those promises. He sees the whole process of governance and politics as a hobby and is not in it for personal aggrandizement.
Sen. Uzodimma has a date with destiny and will rather quit than try to shortchange Ndi Imo. Uzodimma ultimately wants to make Imo the symbol of QUALITY east of the Niger. Quality people. Quality products. Quality services. Uzodimma has already dusted the original master plan for the state as created by the legendary Dr Sam Mbakwe and is willing and able to reinvent the New Imo of Mbakwe's dreams, which successive governments ignored.
Sen. Uzodimma will engage with all stakeholders in periodic town-hall meetings to review his strategies and plan new ones. At the end, all Sen. Uzodimma wants is for Ndi Imo to get the good life while God alone takes all the glory.
Let the Corona virus pandemic go away, so the good times can begin.
Toni Wakiki Akuneme
Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor, writes from Awo-Omamma.
Tuesday 14 April 2020
Analysis II On Proposed Migration To 5G Network
By Fred Nwaozor
Few months back, sometime in August 2019, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Prof. Umar Danbatta said the agency had approved dedicated spectrum for trial deployment of the Fifth Generation (5G) network services in the country.
In his words, the boss acknowledged the evolving trends in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ecosystem, giving rise to such technologies as Internet of Things (IoT) applications and Smart cities and communities, among others, saying the NCC was well positioned to jump-start trial of the 5G deployment.
This, which was disclosed at the 4-day conference titled “Ist Digital African Week” organized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) as was hosted by the NCC at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, saw Prof. Banbatta empasizing that the commission, in line with its collaboration and strategic partnership drive, had taken steps to involve members of the academia as major stakeholders in its activities towards the development of the telecom sector.
He further stressed that the recent licensing of seven infrastructural frims to deploy metro and inter-city fiber and broadband point of Access with a minimum capacity of 10Gbps across the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Nigeria, was in accordance with the “8-point agenda of the commission for the provision of ubiquitous broadband infrastructures” within the shores of the country in the “Next Level document”.
He noted that such a regulatory move was consistent with Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020, which recognizes the importance and imperative of ICT, as part of the “new world order” and catalyst for sustainable socio-economic development.
He, therefore, boasted before the audience that Nigeria had not only achieved but exceeded the 30 per cent penetration target set by the National Broadband Plan 2013-2018, stating equally that by the end of June 2019, the country’s broadband penetration stood at 33.31%.
In a related development, at the 39th Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) that held sometime in October 2019 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami stated that the country was ready to deploy 5G network across the federation to ease network flow.
The minister said Nigeria was ready for the 5G network but preparation was key, as he equally mentioned that the 5G could not be deployed across the country yet due to some gaps in citizens being unable to access the 2G, 3G and 4G networks.
He, however, acknowledged that the gaps were already there among the teeming users of the networks in Nigeria but advancement should not be delayed because some people were not yet on the same page with others.
Dr. Pantami frowned at the situation whereby Nigerians don’t believe in their local products, as he recognized that a Nigerian in the United Kingdom (UK) was the first person globally to design, build and develop first real-time 5G network dedicated to self-organized networks in the UK, using general-purpose processors.
He landed by saying “we usually fail to deploy what we produce”. According to the boss, Nigerians were so much addicted to foreign products and whenever they hear anything ‘local’, it appears to them as inferior. He thus reiterated “the perception of undermining our effort is what we need to change”.
It’s pertinent to fully comprehend the meaning and essence of the 5G network. 5G, as the acronym implies, is a 5th Generation mobile network. It is dedicated to handle much larger role than that of the already existing ones such as the 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G networks, respectively.
5G is introduced to elevate the mobile network to not only interconnect people, but equally interconnect and control machines, objects, or any form of devices. It’s meant to deliver new levels of performance and efficiency that would empower new user experiences and connect new industries.
The 5G network will deliver multi-Gbps peak rates or faster speeds, ultra-low latency, massive capacity, as well as more uniform user experience. Hence, it’s imperative to note that the 1G was designed to solely deliver analog voice, 2G for digital voice, 3G brought mobile data, whilst the 4G ushered in the era of mobile internet, which we are currently enjoying.
In summary, the 5G is a new kind of network in the telecom sector. It’s a platform for innovations that won’t only enhance today’s mobile broadband services, but would equally expand mobile networks to support a vast diversity of devices and services, as well as connect new industries with improved performance, efficiency and cost.
5G is, therefore, an advanced wireless technology that has begun wide deployment in 2019. It’s worth noting that, presently, about four million Koreans have access to the 5G network as at October 2019, with about five million expected by year end or early next year.
It’s also amazing to comprehend that China has deployed over 100,000 base stations in her quest for 5G wide usage, hence about 150 million 5G mobile subscribers are expected in the Asian country by 2020.
Since it is obvious that the 5G mobile network will soonest dominate the telecom sector, Nigeria as an entity must therefore not act in abeyance than to concentrate on how best an effective and efficient 5G network can be duly introduced into the Nigerian society.
As Nigeria, likewise other developing countries, is still trial-testing her technologies and securities towards creating and launching a wholesome environment for the awaited 5G network, she must acknowledge the key parameters needed to be considered as the concerned authorities undergo the testing process.
First, a well-designed unit comprising tested and trusted experts must be inculcated into the NCC purposely to handle all the technicalities and intricacies that need to be put in place prior to the arrival and launch of the 5G network system in the country.
Moreso, the security aspect of the preparation mustn’t be overlooked. It’s noteworthy that the wider the broadband, the more available opportunity for the criminals in the telecom sector.
Considering the above assertion, aside the already constituted law enforcement agencies in the country, there would be a compelling need to further institute a special Security Intelligence unit within the NCC, to tactically handle issues pertaining to frauds. This very proposal requires a strict legislative back-up and apt implementation.
The 5G network will operate in a high-frequency band of the wireless spectrum, between 28 Gigahertz (GH) and 60 GHz. It’s expected to add unlicensed frequencies such as the 3.5 GHz to its list of new frequencies for mobile use. This means a lot of bandwidth would be available to the teeming users.
The aforementioned merit indicates that the 5G won’t only boost ease of communication among telecom subscribers but equally expand the economic band or prospect of any country involved. Hence, the need for the Nigerian government to act fast. Think about it!
Comrade Nwaozor is the
National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement
____________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Few months back, sometime in August 2019, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Prof. Umar Danbatta said the agency had approved dedicated spectrum for trial deployment of the Fifth Generation (5G) network services in the country.
In his words, the boss acknowledged the evolving trends in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ecosystem, giving rise to such technologies as Internet of Things (IoT) applications and Smart cities and communities, among others, saying the NCC was well positioned to jump-start trial of the 5G deployment.
This, which was disclosed at the 4-day conference titled “Ist Digital African Week” organized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) as was hosted by the NCC at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, saw Prof. Banbatta empasizing that the commission, in line with its collaboration and strategic partnership drive, had taken steps to involve members of the academia as major stakeholders in its activities towards the development of the telecom sector.
He further stressed that the recent licensing of seven infrastructural frims to deploy metro and inter-city fiber and broadband point of Access with a minimum capacity of 10Gbps across the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Nigeria, was in accordance with the “8-point agenda of the commission for the provision of ubiquitous broadband infrastructures” within the shores of the country in the “Next Level document”.
He noted that such a regulatory move was consistent with Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020, which recognizes the importance and imperative of ICT, as part of the “new world order” and catalyst for sustainable socio-economic development.
He, therefore, boasted before the audience that Nigeria had not only achieved but exceeded the 30 per cent penetration target set by the National Broadband Plan 2013-2018, stating equally that by the end of June 2019, the country’s broadband penetration stood at 33.31%.
In a related development, at the 39th Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) that held sometime in October 2019 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami stated that the country was ready to deploy 5G network across the federation to ease network flow.
The minister said Nigeria was ready for the 5G network but preparation was key, as he equally mentioned that the 5G could not be deployed across the country yet due to some gaps in citizens being unable to access the 2G, 3G and 4G networks.
He, however, acknowledged that the gaps were already there among the teeming users of the networks in Nigeria but advancement should not be delayed because some people were not yet on the same page with others.
Dr. Pantami frowned at the situation whereby Nigerians don’t believe in their local products, as he recognized that a Nigerian in the United Kingdom (UK) was the first person globally to design, build and develop first real-time 5G network dedicated to self-organized networks in the UK, using general-purpose processors.
He landed by saying “we usually fail to deploy what we produce”. According to the boss, Nigerians were so much addicted to foreign products and whenever they hear anything ‘local’, it appears to them as inferior. He thus reiterated “the perception of undermining our effort is what we need to change”.
It’s pertinent to fully comprehend the meaning and essence of the 5G network. 5G, as the acronym implies, is a 5th Generation mobile network. It is dedicated to handle much larger role than that of the already existing ones such as the 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G networks, respectively.
5G is introduced to elevate the mobile network to not only interconnect people, but equally interconnect and control machines, objects, or any form of devices. It’s meant to deliver new levels of performance and efficiency that would empower new user experiences and connect new industries.
The 5G network will deliver multi-Gbps peak rates or faster speeds, ultra-low latency, massive capacity, as well as more uniform user experience. Hence, it’s imperative to note that the 1G was designed to solely deliver analog voice, 2G for digital voice, 3G brought mobile data, whilst the 4G ushered in the era of mobile internet, which we are currently enjoying.
In summary, the 5G is a new kind of network in the telecom sector. It’s a platform for innovations that won’t only enhance today’s mobile broadband services, but would equally expand mobile networks to support a vast diversity of devices and services, as well as connect new industries with improved performance, efficiency and cost.
5G is, therefore, an advanced wireless technology that has begun wide deployment in 2019. It’s worth noting that, presently, about four million Koreans have access to the 5G network as at October 2019, with about five million expected by year end or early next year.
It’s also amazing to comprehend that China has deployed over 100,000 base stations in her quest for 5G wide usage, hence about 150 million 5G mobile subscribers are expected in the Asian country by 2020.
Since it is obvious that the 5G mobile network will soonest dominate the telecom sector, Nigeria as an entity must therefore not act in abeyance than to concentrate on how best an effective and efficient 5G network can be duly introduced into the Nigerian society.
As Nigeria, likewise other developing countries, is still trial-testing her technologies and securities towards creating and launching a wholesome environment for the awaited 5G network, she must acknowledge the key parameters needed to be considered as the concerned authorities undergo the testing process.
First, a well-designed unit comprising tested and trusted experts must be inculcated into the NCC purposely to handle all the technicalities and intricacies that need to be put in place prior to the arrival and launch of the 5G network system in the country.
Moreso, the security aspect of the preparation mustn’t be overlooked. It’s noteworthy that the wider the broadband, the more available opportunity for the criminals in the telecom sector.
Considering the above assertion, aside the already constituted law enforcement agencies in the country, there would be a compelling need to further institute a special Security Intelligence unit within the NCC, to tactically handle issues pertaining to frauds. This very proposal requires a strict legislative back-up and apt implementation.
The 5G network will operate in a high-frequency band of the wireless spectrum, between 28 Gigahertz (GH) and 60 GHz. It’s expected to add unlicensed frequencies such as the 3.5 GHz to its list of new frequencies for mobile use. This means a lot of bandwidth would be available to the teeming users.
The aforementioned merit indicates that the 5G won’t only boost ease of communication among telecom subscribers but equally expand the economic band or prospect of any country involved. Hence, the need for the Nigerian government to act fast. Think about it!
Comrade Nwaozor is the
National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement
____________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Fiction II WHAT A PANDEMIC!
Poet: Fred Nwaozor
Oh, what a pandemic
In this global village
Disrupting human isodemic
Even in our local village!
This is so demonic
To our collective existence.
Hence, needs severe demo
To quench the persistence.
As we mainly deploy exorcism
To free the bedevilled atmosphere,
It's noteworthy that this exodus
Needs more of forensic sphere.
So, while COVID-19 sputters
Let's jettison anything spurious.
Oh, what a pandemic
In this global village
Disrupting human isodemic
Even in our local village!
This is so demonic
To our collective existence.
Hence, needs severe demo
To quench the persistence.
As we mainly deploy exorcism
To free the bedevilled atmosphere,
It's noteworthy that this exodus
Needs more of forensic sphere.
So, while COVID-19 sputters
Let's jettison anything spurious.
Saturday 11 April 2020
Tech II Adamu's Digital Learning Advocacy Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
ADAMU’s DIGITAL LEARNING ADVOCACY AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC
By Fred Nwaozor
Digital (virtual) learning is any form of learning that is accompanied by technology or by instructional practice that makes effective use of technology.
It encompasses the application of a wide spectrum of practices including blended and virtual learning. Through the use of mobile technologies, digital learning can be used while travelling and other related activities.
It’s noteworthy that there are a plethora of tools and resources online, many which are free, that can be used to create and enhance a digital learning environment.
Some of the tools being used by the 21st Century digital learning tutors include Google+, YouTube, RSS, iTunesU, cloud-based Word Processors (Google Drive), Evernote, file-sharing platforms (Dropbox), Zotero and digital pocket.
Penultimate week, precisely on 2nd April 2020, unsure of how long the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic that causes pleurisy would linger, the Nigeria’s Minister of Education – Mallam Adamu Adamu – engaged 237 Vice-Chancellors (VCs), Rectors and Provosts of the various higher citadels of learning across the country on a rigorous talk concerning how to reopen their respective institutions using virtual learning.
In the amazing discussion that lasted for hours, which held via a teleconference, the said boss directed all universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to activate virtual (online) learning environment to enable students continue their studies through digital devices.
He however acknowledged the fact that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was still on strike, hence assured the Federal Government (FG) would do its best to resolve the lingering labour crisis.
Mallam Adamu who was physically flanked by the Executive Secretaries of the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) as well as the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), among others, further stated that the FG could not afford to shut schools for a long time, thus called for the meeting to ascertain remedies to the challenges posed to the nation’s school calendar by the COVID-19.
The minister who affirmed at the online session that he had tested negative to the COVID-19, said “We cannot be held down by the pandemic. We have to deploy all e-platforms to keep our universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other schools open.
He frowned that the outbreak of the COVID-19 had negatively changed everybody – both individuals and institutions – therefore asked the leadership of the higher citadels of learning to device alternative ways towards ensuring that the education of the young ones would not be truncated.
Mallam Adamu who urged the education leaders to take advantage of technology as it was found in other parts of the world, stating the country could not shut down all schools when it could boast of other means to teach the students, equally disclosed that the government was already collaborating with the World Bank and the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) on how to create platforms for virtual learning classrooms.
Having reiterated determination to end the ongoing impasse between the FG and the ASUU, the minister stated that the private universities that were not on industrial action could immediately commence the virtual learning prior to the anticipated resumption of the public varsities that were still on strike.
On their part, most VCs of the private varsities welcomed the idea, hence expressed readiness to reopen their institutions having claimed they already had top grade virtual (online) learning system. They however pleaded with the FG to amend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Act to enable private citadels benefit from the intervention funds.
Mallam Adamu went further to enjoin the UBEC to work out modalities on how primary school pupils and secondary students could learn by using digital channels such as the radio and television stations. He said the FG would involve the state governments in this regard.
This could be referred to as a clarion call made by the education minister, conscientizing the stakeholders in the education industry to embrace the current realities. He was apparently making effort to let them comprehend that digitalization – or technology at large – cannot be kept in abeyance at such a critical time like this.
It’s really appalling that at this moment when virtually everything is being digitalized across the globe, most Nigerian higher educational institutions are yet to fully key into the language of digitalization let alone granting access to the teeming students. It’s not news that till date, most of these citadels are still finding it difficult to engage their students in e-library platform.
Though face-to-face contact – or physical presence of a tutor – plays a very major role in impaction of knowledge, hence cannot be jettisoned, it’s imperative for these leaders of thoughts to acknowledge that the impact of a tech-driven teaching mode in the contemporary society cannot be overemphasized.
Hence, it’s needless to assert that time has come for our institutions to deploy a new and alternative means of learning in their various jurisdictions in line with the present global realities.
However, come to think of it; one of the prime reasons that informed the recent incessant industrial actions embarked upon by the varsities’ dons was reportedly the continued poor funding of the institutions by the governments at all levels.
The last time I checked, the main reason that resulted in the ongoing strike by the ASUU members remained the compelling need to revitalize the country’s various universities in the area of learning, infrastructure and research.
If the above paragraph holds water, we will then wonder how the minister would expect these institutions to duly embrace digital pattern of learning when they are ostensibly facing paucity of funds in their respective purses. This smacks of deceit.
It’s worthy of note that the Nigeria’s numerous varsities have recently been deprived of their rightful place. The current move by the government to totally denial them their right for autonomy is a tangible proof to this assertion. As if the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy wasn’t enough, the FG still went ahead to involve the varsities in the newly introduced Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) policy after several stakeholders had condemned the action.
The worst of these remains that the latter - as regards the aforementioned policies - is currently causing more harm than good in the sectors that have keyed into it. It suffices to assert that the IPPIS, which is primarily targeted to curtail corruption in the public sector, is rather reportedly constituting more corrupt practices.
For any society to move forward as expected by all, viable and feasible policies must be initiated and duly implemented by the apt authorities, and the existing ones that are perceived to be lofty and wholesome must equally be sustained at all cost.
It's more disheartening when realized that those who invariably embark on the countless industrial actions do so only for the sake of tokenism. It's, therefore, unarguably high time we faced reality squarely and vow to hold the bull by the horn.
As the days unfold, the country continues to witness myriad of brain drain both in the health and education sectors, yet those concerned would still observe the unfortunate incidence with amazing physiognomies.
As much as we eagerly want these citadels to improve or grow in terms of learning content and research quality coupled with patent development and innovations, the needed support must equally be granted without involving any element of pranks. Think about it!
*Comrade Nwaozor*, policy analyst & rights activist,
is the *National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement*
--------------------------------------------
Twitter: @mediambassador
frednwaozor@gmail.com
By Fred Nwaozor
Digital (virtual) learning is any form of learning that is accompanied by technology or by instructional practice that makes effective use of technology.
It encompasses the application of a wide spectrum of practices including blended and virtual learning. Through the use of mobile technologies, digital learning can be used while travelling and other related activities.
It’s noteworthy that there are a plethora of tools and resources online, many which are free, that can be used to create and enhance a digital learning environment.
Some of the tools being used by the 21st Century digital learning tutors include Google+, YouTube, RSS, iTunesU, cloud-based Word Processors (Google Drive), Evernote, file-sharing platforms (Dropbox), Zotero and digital pocket.
Penultimate week, precisely on 2nd April 2020, unsure of how long the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic that causes pleurisy would linger, the Nigeria’s Minister of Education – Mallam Adamu Adamu – engaged 237 Vice-Chancellors (VCs), Rectors and Provosts of the various higher citadels of learning across the country on a rigorous talk concerning how to reopen their respective institutions using virtual learning.
In the amazing discussion that lasted for hours, which held via a teleconference, the said boss directed all universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to activate virtual (online) learning environment to enable students continue their studies through digital devices.
He however acknowledged the fact that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was still on strike, hence assured the Federal Government (FG) would do its best to resolve the lingering labour crisis.
Mallam Adamu who was physically flanked by the Executive Secretaries of the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) as well as the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), among others, further stated that the FG could not afford to shut schools for a long time, thus called for the meeting to ascertain remedies to the challenges posed to the nation’s school calendar by the COVID-19.
The minister who affirmed at the online session that he had tested negative to the COVID-19, said “We cannot be held down by the pandemic. We have to deploy all e-platforms to keep our universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other schools open.
He frowned that the outbreak of the COVID-19 had negatively changed everybody – both individuals and institutions – therefore asked the leadership of the higher citadels of learning to device alternative ways towards ensuring that the education of the young ones would not be truncated.
Mallam Adamu who urged the education leaders to take advantage of technology as it was found in other parts of the world, stating the country could not shut down all schools when it could boast of other means to teach the students, equally disclosed that the government was already collaborating with the World Bank and the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) on how to create platforms for virtual learning classrooms.
Having reiterated determination to end the ongoing impasse between the FG and the ASUU, the minister stated that the private universities that were not on industrial action could immediately commence the virtual learning prior to the anticipated resumption of the public varsities that were still on strike.
On their part, most VCs of the private varsities welcomed the idea, hence expressed readiness to reopen their institutions having claimed they already had top grade virtual (online) learning system. They however pleaded with the FG to amend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Act to enable private citadels benefit from the intervention funds.
Mallam Adamu went further to enjoin the UBEC to work out modalities on how primary school pupils and secondary students could learn by using digital channels such as the radio and television stations. He said the FG would involve the state governments in this regard.
This could be referred to as a clarion call made by the education minister, conscientizing the stakeholders in the education industry to embrace the current realities. He was apparently making effort to let them comprehend that digitalization – or technology at large – cannot be kept in abeyance at such a critical time like this.
It’s really appalling that at this moment when virtually everything is being digitalized across the globe, most Nigerian higher educational institutions are yet to fully key into the language of digitalization let alone granting access to the teeming students. It’s not news that till date, most of these citadels are still finding it difficult to engage their students in e-library platform.
Though face-to-face contact – or physical presence of a tutor – plays a very major role in impaction of knowledge, hence cannot be jettisoned, it’s imperative for these leaders of thoughts to acknowledge that the impact of a tech-driven teaching mode in the contemporary society cannot be overemphasized.
Hence, it’s needless to assert that time has come for our institutions to deploy a new and alternative means of learning in their various jurisdictions in line with the present global realities.
However, come to think of it; one of the prime reasons that informed the recent incessant industrial actions embarked upon by the varsities’ dons was reportedly the continued poor funding of the institutions by the governments at all levels.
The last time I checked, the main reason that resulted in the ongoing strike by the ASUU members remained the compelling need to revitalize the country’s various universities in the area of learning, infrastructure and research.
If the above paragraph holds water, we will then wonder how the minister would expect these institutions to duly embrace digital pattern of learning when they are ostensibly facing paucity of funds in their respective purses. This smacks of deceit.
It’s worthy of note that the Nigeria’s numerous varsities have recently been deprived of their rightful place. The current move by the government to totally denial them their right for autonomy is a tangible proof to this assertion. As if the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy wasn’t enough, the FG still went ahead to involve the varsities in the newly introduced Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) policy after several stakeholders had condemned the action.
The worst of these remains that the latter - as regards the aforementioned policies - is currently causing more harm than good in the sectors that have keyed into it. It suffices to assert that the IPPIS, which is primarily targeted to curtail corruption in the public sector, is rather reportedly constituting more corrupt practices.
For any society to move forward as expected by all, viable and feasible policies must be initiated and duly implemented by the apt authorities, and the existing ones that are perceived to be lofty and wholesome must equally be sustained at all cost.
It's more disheartening when realized that those who invariably embark on the countless industrial actions do so only for the sake of tokenism. It's, therefore, unarguably high time we faced reality squarely and vow to hold the bull by the horn.
As the days unfold, the country continues to witness myriad of brain drain both in the health and education sectors, yet those concerned would still observe the unfortunate incidence with amazing physiognomies.
As much as we eagerly want these citadels to improve or grow in terms of learning content and research quality coupled with patent development and innovations, the needed support must equally be granted without involving any element of pranks. Think about it!
*Comrade Nwaozor*, policy analyst & rights activist,
is the *National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement*
--------------------------------------------
Twitter: @mediambassador
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Featured post
UZODINMA AND BUHARI’S ‘WORKING VISIT’ TO IMO
by Fred Nwaozor The last time I checked, Imo was conspicuously at it again, hence needs to be re-examined by all-concerned for the good ...
