Ict/Telecom
US Consul, Others To Train 57 Girls On ICT
A Non-Governmental
Organisation, Hacey Health Initiative, on Thursday said it would train 57 Nigerian girls in software engineering and Information Communication Technology (ICT) entrepreneurship.
The Project Director of the NGO, Mr Isiah Owolabi, said this at a pre-training session tagged; “Code4Impact’’.
He said that the training was being put together in conjunction with Access Bank and the United States’ Consulate General.
Owolabi said the programme would be free for the beneficiaries, adding that it was geared ýtoward addressing the problems of the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs).
He said that technology was the biggest way to accelerate entrepreneurship development and achieve the SDGs, by giving more access to education and close the gender-gap in the education sector.
According to Owolabi, the programme aims at training young girls as software engineers and ICT entrepreneurs.
The director said the girls would be trained on how to create mobile word application, games and also utilise micro electronics.
Owolabi said the girls, between ages 18 years and 30 years, were selected among 1,518 applicants based on their interests and willingness to acquire knowledge in ICT.
.He said the beneficiaries would undergo the programme every Saturday, beginning from April 2, for 12 weeks.
“We cannot train all the girls in Nigeria to become coders or ICT entrepreneurs.
“But, we believe the selected girls can be a point of contact for so many communities and other young girls,’’ he said.
Also speaking, the Head of Sustainability unit, Access Bank, Mrs Omobolanle Laniyan, said the bank partnered the organisers because there was a global focus on empowering women and addressing the challenges of the SDGs.
Laniyan said the programme was unique as it aimed at utilising Information Technology (IT) to provide innovative solutions to challenges of the SDGs.
She said the programme would harness the high potentials in women, as females have the ability to do multiple tasks at the same time.
“When you empower a woman, you empower the society because women gently influence decisions in the home, which translate into the society,’’ she said.
According to Laniyan, the organisers are optimistic that the participants will turn out to become computer applications and IT experts as well as being coders at the end of the programme.
Similarly, Mrs Dehab Ghebreab, the Public Affairs Officer of the United States Consulate General, said the consul was proud to partner the organiser in developing young girls.
Ghebreab remarked that training young girls in coding and ICT entrepreneurship was a great innovation that was worth the investment.
She advised girls to be focused and dedicated, so that they could become ICT entrepreneurs and coders which would solve the challenges of the SDGs.
A participant, Miss Kemi Rotimi, told newsmen that she was happy to be among the beneficiaries.
Rotimi, a young graduate, said she was interested in ICT, coding and Web developing and this would avail her the opportunity to explore it.
The Tide source reports that the training would hold at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) every Saturday between 10 a.m. and 5p.m. from April 2.
The event would be supported by some computer companies.
The Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Company Limited (SNEPCo), Elohor Aiboni, said Bonga, Nigeria’s first deep-water asset, has recorded major milestones, due to effective leadership, cutting-edge technology, continuous improvement and collaboration with stakeholders.
She noted that since coming on stream in November 2005, Bonga has maintained a track record of production that saw it achieve one-billion-barrel export on February 13, last year.
In her presentation, titled “The Bonga Journey to a Billion Barrels”, at the ongoing 2024 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, United States, Aiboni, said: “SNEPCo is grateful for the contributions of all the parties to the Bonga story and we can all be proud of the milestones.
“Bonga has been consistent. In 2014, nine years after coming onstream, it achieved half a billion barrels of crude and doubled it in 2023. We have worked relentlessly to ensure excellent asset management, project and wells delivery and deployment of technology and innovations in our operations”.
According to her, these factors, “coupled with the supportive partnership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and our co-venturers – TotalEnergies, EP Nigeria Limited; Nigerian Agip Exploration; and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, make Bonga stand out as a world-class investment case”.
She continued that, “SNEPCo also enjoyed the support of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in the success of Bonga operations”.
Aiboni also listed the challenges of keeping the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel full as the asset ages and dealing with unexpected developments with subsea wells and equipment.
She said: “SNEPCo responded with a campaign of operational excellence, which among other initiatives, led to the creation of a programme known as the Bonga Business Improvement Plan that continually reviews and identifies improvement initiatives and drives sustainability in operations and upskilling of staff.
“The Bonga success story has been led by Nigerians who have been managing directors of SNEPCo since it was established in 1993, in a deliberate policy by Shell to develop indigenous manpower for deep-water operations in Nigeria.
“Today, some 97percent of the SNEPCo workforce is Nigerian and overall, Bonga has helped to create a new generation of Nigerian deep-water professionals.
“Our vision at SNEPCo remains to be the best deep-water business, powering growth and achieving net zero emissions in line with Shell’s Powering Progress strategy”.
Banks’ borrowings from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) fell month-on-month, (MoM) by 44 percent to N12.16 trillion in April from N21.7 trillion in March.
Analysis of latest data from the CBN shows that the 44percent drop represents the first MoM decline in banks borrowing from since January when it increased by 268.7 percent to N3.6 trillion from N976.29 billion in December 2023.
However, further analysis showed that banks’ deposits in the CBN SDF grew MoM by 118.4 percent to N428.97 billion in April from N196.37 billion in March 2024.
Banks make use of the SLF to access liquidity to run their day-to-day business operations while the Standing Deposit Facility window (SDF) on the other hand, is an overnight deposit facility that allows banks to lodge excess liquidity (money) with the CBN and earn interest.
The decline in banks’ borrowing from SLF may reflect an increase in banking system liquidity and also the decision of the apex bank last year to remove the limit on the remunerable daily placements by banks at the SDF.
According to the CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, the CBN removed the cap on the remunerable SDF to increase activity in the SDF window and manage liquidity.
A Financial technology expert, Olatunji Akinrinola, has highlighted the exponential growth of the FinTech industry, which according to him, was driven by technological advancements.
Akinrinola made this assertion in a press release recently, where he stressed that the role of technology in driving this exponential growth in the FinTech sector was very outstanding.
According to him, Technology has revolutionised the way financial services are delivered, making them more accessible, efficient, and inclusive.
“Through innovations such as mobile banking, digital payments, and blockchain technology, FinTech companies have been able to reach a larger population and provided them with access to financial services”, he stated.
Akinrinola emphasised the role of technology in enabling financial inclusion, adding: “Technology has democratised access to financial services, particularly in regions with limited banking infrastructure.
“Mobile money platforms and digital wallets have empowered individuals to conduct financial transactions conveniently and securely, without the need for traditional banking services”.
He also underscored the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics in driving innovation within the FinTech industry, noting: “AI-powered algorithms and predictive analytics have revolutionised risk assessment, fraud detection, and customer personalisation in financial services.
“These technologies enable FinTech companies to provide tailored solutions and mitigate risks more effectively, ultimately enhancing the overall customer experience”.
Akinrinola stressed the importance of regulatory frameworks in fostering the growth of the FinTech industry.
“While technology has accelerated the growth of FinTech, it is essential to establish robust regulatory frameworks to ensure consumer protection and maintain market stability. Regulators play a crucial role in balancing innovation with risk management, thereby creating a conducive environment for the sustainable growth of the FinTech sector”, he stated.
Akinrinola underscored the role of technology in driving the exponential growth of the FinTech industry, saying, “Technology has been a game-changer for the FinTech sector, enabling innovation, expanding access to financial services, and driving economic growth.
“As technology continues to evolve, the FinTech industry will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the future of financial services ecosystem”.
Corlins Walter
