Nigeria Now Top Destination For Tech Startups – Minister  

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has said that Nigeria is now a top destination for tech startups.  He disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Digital Nigeria International Conference in Abuja said, that Nigeria has become Africa’s top destination for technology startups.  He lauded the efforts put underground by trailblazers such as NITDA, Galaxy Backbone and other innovative companies in the country that have set the baseline for technology development.  According to him, of the $5 million invested in tech startups in Africa, 20 per cent is domiciled in Nigeria.  “Today, Nigeria is the top destination for technology startup capital in Africa, with about 5 million dollars invested in tech startups in the continent last year; we took 20 per cent of that total investment just to Nigeria. So, we recognize the amazing work that has been done,” he said.  On his part, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, said this conference is key to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed Hope Agenda of inclusive economic growth, productivity and prosperity for all. “Today’s symbolizes our collective aspiration to position Nigeria at the forefront of digital innovation.  “Firstly, we live in an exciting time of technological advancement.  “Secondly, at the core of the renewed hope agenda are inclusive economic growth, productivity and prosperity for all. And to achieve digital is the best tool for us.  “The vision is to use digital technologies to foster job creation”, he stated.  He added that the conference will facilitate networking and activation of conversation that can lead to innovation, policy direction, regulatory framework for a more robust ecosystem, bringing about global visibility.

Subsidy Removal Has Reduced Nigeria’s Fuel Consumption By 33% –Minister

The Minister of State for Environment, Kunle Salako, has said that the courageous decision by Bola Tinubu’s administration to remove fuel subsidy has reduced the country’s consumption rate by about 33 percent. Salako said on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, that the action has reduced the emission generated by petrol. “The singular action has reduced Nigeria’s consumption of petrol by 33 per cent, reduced the level of emission generated by Nigerians,” he said. “The courageous decision to remove subsidy from petroleum is furthering climate action by Nigeria. “I had highlighted this development in some of the meetings I attended or represented the President and at the meeting of Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change and at the meeting of Commonwealth Ministers of Environment and Climate. “Nigeria participated in the meeting of Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change where I represented President to pass a resolution to adopt the Nairobi Declaration for final vetting by the meeting of AU. “The first meeting of Commonwealth Ministers of Environment and Climate in which the Ministers decided to approach the 28th Conference of Parties in Dubai come late November to early December with common front of pushing for better financing for climate action. “I represented Nigeria at the meeting, and I established that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by taking the courageous decision to remove subsidy from petroleum is furthering climate action by Nigeria. “It has also focused the attention of Nigeria at corporate and individual levels to renewable energy,’’ he said. Earlier in his statement delivered to the “High Level Event for Nature and People: from Ambition to Action”, on behalf of the President, Salako said achieving the world’s ambitious conservation targets, like 30×30, would require that we all do more to prioritise nature finance. 30×30 is a global target to protect 30 per cent of the planet for nature by 2030. “Last year, at COP15, the world agreed to fully close the nature finance gap and set a near term target of delivering at least $20 billion in international finance to the Global South by 2025. “Last month in Addis, African countries came together and issued a declaration that underscored the importance of these nature finance targets. “Nigeria would like to urge all countries to increase their efforts on this issue and to work with us to ensure that the world follow through on these crucial finance commitments. “This is our vision for the future, and we invite everyone to act and envision solutions that will preserve nature for future generations,’’ he said. According to him, as a responsible State Party to several Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), including the Convention on Biological Diversity, Nigeria is doing its utmost to promote transformation actions. The minister said that Nigeria was doing its best to promote transformations actions that are commensurate with the scale of the biodiversity crisis. “We are exerting these efforts within our own country in addition to supporting countries in our Sub-region to increase their capacity in this regard,’’ he said. In addition, Salako said that he attended Blue Leaders High Level Meeting, where in his statement, he said Nigeria was doing its best to promote transformation actions that were commensurate with the scale of the biodiversity crisis. He told the leaders that Nigeria was exerting these efforts within the country in addition to supporting countries in our Sub-region to increase their capacity in this regard. “This is an ambitious goal, a goal shared by the Blue Leaders and by ECOWAS countries, including Nigeria. “The high sea is an essential part of the marine ecosystem which plays critical role in maintaining the health of our planet and people. “Nigeria being the country with the longest coastline in West Africa understands the adverse effect of unregulated high sea and is therefore committed to the agenda of the ‘BBNJ’ Treaty. “Prompt ratification of the newly adopted high seas treaty is an essential means to reach this goal. We must urgently ensure that the treaty is ratified and implemented,’’ he said. He announced that through Nigeria’s rallying efforts, the 55 member States of the African Union have reached a consensus to support ratification of the earliest feasible date, the new international ocean treaty for the high seas, as enshrined in Addis Ababa Declaration. The declaration was adopted at the 19th ordinary session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-19, August 2023). “Let us be bold for Oceans Conservation together and join African region to promptly ratify the new treaty,’’ he said.

Zamfara Students’ Abduction: FG Not Negotiating With Terrorists –Minister

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has described as misleading, allegation that the Federal Government was negotiating with the Zamfara terrorists to secure the release of the abducted students of Federal University, Gusau. This is contained in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, by Mr Hope Attari, Acting Director of Press and Public Relations, MoD. Attari said that the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, was reacting to a statement credited to a governor that the Federal Government was negotiating with the terrorists to secure the release of the students. Badaru, while condemning the act and reassuring Zamfara residents, said that the Federal Government was doing everything possible to secure their release. He explained that President Bola Tinubu had given marching order to the military and other security agencies to ensure the release of those abducted. According to him, the Federal Government is not negotiating with the Zamfara terrorists to secure the release of the abducted. The government is working assiduously round the clock to ensure that the girls and others return home. “The allegation is false and misleading as the ministry has not mandated any body or group to negotiate on behalf of the Federal Government.” He reassured Zamfara residents and Nigerians at large of the progress being made for the quick return of the female students and others of Federal University Gusau. He expressed confidence that the joint security task forces was working discreetly round the clock to get the students rescued. He extended his heartfelt sympathy to the parents, the academic community, and the entire residents of the state for the tragic abduction. He, however, noted that the order of the president had started yielding result as 13 of the abducted students and 3 others regained their freedom on Monday. “This feat was achieved through the professional efforts of the military. “I condole with the families of the girls and others that were abducted; I share in your pain and strongly condemn this reprehensible act carried out by suspected bandits,” he said.