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Africa To shape Its Data Laws To Support Digital Economy Says Shettima

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Shettima

Africa To shape Its Data Laws To Support Digital Economy Says Shettima

Africa to shape its data laws to support digital economy says Shettima. Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on African countries to unite to build a shared data governance framework that protects citizens’ privacy and strengthens the continent’s digital economy.

Shettima spoke on Tuesday at the opening of the 8th annual conference of the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA) in Abuja.

The three-day conference is themed ‘Balancing Innovation in Africa: Data Protection and Privacy in Emerging Technologies’.
Shettima was represented by Ibrahim Hadejia, deputy chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu.

The high-level forum drew data protection regulators and experts from over 30 African countries, as well as participants from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the United States.

Shettima said data had become a tool of trust in the digital age and must be governed by policies that reflect African values and realities.

He urged African nations to collaborate, exchange best practices and build legal frameworks that prioritise privacy and innovation.

“As the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement expands the scale of inter-African exchange, our ability to share data securely and lawfully will define our capacity to thrive,” he said.

“That is why forums like this are not only welcome but essential.  They offer us a chance to cross-pollinate ideas, to nurture human capital, and to strengthen mechanisms for mutual legal assistance.”

He added that a unified continental approach would ensure that Africa is not merely a passive consumer of global tech rules but a co-creator of digital norms.

FG LAUNCHES VIRTUAL PRIVACY ACADEMY

To deepen Nigeria’s leadership in data protection, the federal government also launched the Nigeria Virtual Privacy Academy.

Speaking at the launch, Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, said the academy would accelerate the government’s push for a secure and inclusive digital economy.

Tijani said the platform is designed to provide practical data privacy training to professionals in the public and private sectors.

“To fully harness the benefits of digital trade and identity platforms, we must ensure that our value chains are secure, fair and transparent,” the minister said.

On his part, Vincent Olatunji, national commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), said Nigeria had made significant progress in building a compliant and forward-looking data protection regime since the passage of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) in 2023.

Olatunji added that the commission had conducted over 5,000 compliance assessments, initiated 223 investigations and implemented remedial actions in 12 key cases.

He said the efforts had generated over $1.2 million in regulatory revenue within two years.

“Our focus remains on building a regulatory environment that supports innovation while safeguarding privacy,” Olatunji said.

The national commissioner also urged African countries yet to pass data protection laws to do so, stressing that “strong privacy regulations are not obstacles to innovation, but enablers of inclusive growth”.

Africa To shape Its Data Laws To Support Digital Economy

Africa To shape Its Data Laws To Support Digital Economy

Iro Adamou, NADPA chairperson, represented by the group’s vice-president, Immaculate Kassiat, said the Abuja conference reinforced Africa’s shared commitment to protecting personal data in a rapidly digitising world.

“Our presence here is a testament to our unity and collective vision for a digital future that respects privacy,” he said.

Inga Stefanowicz, Nigeria’s head of section green economy, European Union (EU), also pledged continued support for data protection efforts in Africa.

Economy

Okpebholo Threatening Me With Violence, I’ll Fight Back Says Obaseki

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Obaseki

Okpebholo Threatening Me With Violence, I’ll Fight Back Says Obaseki

Okpebholo threatening me with violence, I’ll fight back says Obaseki. Godwin Obaseki, the immediate past governor of Edo, has accused Monday Okpebholo, his successor, of threatening him with violence. Obaseki spoke during the weekend at an event in London, the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND
Since assuming office in November 2024, Okpebholo has initiated a series of actions aimed at scrutinising Obaseki’s tenure.

He first constituted a 14-member committee to investigate the assets, liabilities, contracts, and financial decisions made under Obaseki.

Okpebholo then expanded the scrutiny to the state civil service, ordering a probe into all recruitments conducted between May and November 2024, alleging a violation of due process.

Last week, Okpebholo asked the federal government to repatriate Obaseki to answer questions over public funds linked to the controversial Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project.

‘OKPEBHOLO THREATENING ME’

Obaseki said the governor is threatening him with violence and allegedly sent thugs to attack him in the UK.

“Those who live by the sword will die by the sword,” Obaseki said. “And to tell the governor, Okpebholo, I don’t know him; I have never met him. When you start with violence, you will reap violence.

“For one year since I left office, I didn’t say one word. I decided to respect myself and allow them to try [in governance] as well. Go and find out, you won’t see one thing I said about his government.”

He accused Okpebholo’s government of being behind the attack on diplomats during the exhibition in MOWAA.

“As if that was not enough, the government paid people to come to Manchester to attack me,” he said.
“Who has started this violence? Is it me? Last week, this governor held a disgraceful press conference in which he threatened me not to come to Benin.

Obaseki

Obaseki

“They have been threatening violence. So if I respond, nobody should hold me responsible. “I can’t leave myself empty to be hurt and attacked by deranged people.

“So I am going to fight back. I will fight back. I didn’t start the fight. They are afraid. They know they did not win the election.”

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Jigawa: 9,600 Teachers Register For Special Training

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Teachers Register For Special Training

Jigawa: 9,600 Teachers Register For Special Training

Jigawa: 9,600 teachers register for special training. No fewer than 9,600 teachers under the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) registered for a competency test to determine the specific training required to improve their skills and enhance teaching outcomes in the state.

The Executive Chairman of the Board, Professor Haruna Musa, revealed this while briefing journalists on the purpose of the examination, adding that 12,000 teachers were expected to register for the exam.

He explained that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Malam Umar Namadi, was committed to repositioning the state education sector as a key foundation for sustainable development, in line with its “12-Point Agenda.”

Prof. Haruna noted that while the government has been spending significant resources to improve educational infrastructure, meaningful learning improvements cannot be achieved without also enhancing the capabilities of teachers.

“Based on that, the State Executive Council approved for the board to organise a competency test for all teachers. This will enable us to understand the kind of training each teacher requires to improve his or her skills”.

“Out of the 9,600 teachers registered for the exam, over 70% have never attended any capacity-building training since they were employed, including some with over 15 years of service,” the Chairman added.

Teachers Register For Special Training

Teachers Register For Special Training

He stated that after the exam, the teachers will be categorised into three groups: Group A, those with both knowledge and teaching skills; Group B, those with knowledge but lacking teaching skills; and Group C, those lacking both knowledge and teaching skills.

“Each group will be offered specialised training. Those in Group C will undergo intensive training and subsequent examinations for a period to ensure they are equipped with the required knowledge and skills”.
“For those with slower learning uptake, we will attach them to competent teachers within their schools for ongoing guidance and mentorship,” Prof Haruna said.

He further stated that the project is not about retrenchment, but his primary goal is to enhance teachers’ capacity for better learning outcomes within the state’s basic education sector.

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PFA: Leadway Pensure Leverages Innovations For Quality Service Delivery

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Leadway Pensure

PFA: Leadway Pensure Leverages Innovations For Quality Service Delivery

PFA: Leadway pensure leverages innovations for quality service delivery. A Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), Leadway Pensure said, it is leveraging innovation to escalate quality

service delivery to its retirement savings account (RSA) holders. This milestone marks 20 years of trust, exceptional service delivery, and value creation as it celebrates its anniversary. It highlights two decades of dedication to protecting the financial wellness of Nigerian workers.

Over the last 20 years, the PFA has served thousands of customers across Nigeria and beyond, standing as a clear testament to its commitment to providing financial stability at various stages of workers’ career journeys.

Speaking on this remarkable achievement, MD/CEO, Leadway Pensure PFA, Olusakin Labeodan, stated that: “As we celebrate 20 years of Leadway Pensure PFA, this milestone is more than a celebration of longevity, it is a tribute to trust, service and innovation.

From the very beginning, our mission has been very clear, to deliver a pension system without barriersOver two decades, we have transformed this vision into reality by simplifying pension access, embracing cutting-edge technology, and ensuring our services are always within reach. With a nationwide presence, a robust mobile platform, and the AI-powered assistant LISA, we have made pension services accessible to eligible Nigerians.

“We have supported countless customers in achieving life goals, from retirement to home ownership, by ensuring access, clarity and care at every step. This is a testament to the strong relationships and legacy we have built with every customer. Trust is at the heart of our service, propelling us to uphold world-class standards and earning us global certifications such as ISO/IEC 27001:2022 for information security, a mark of our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our customers’ funds. ”

Leadway Pensure

Leadway Pensure

Looking ahead, the company said, it is committed to promoting youth-focused financial literacy, growing personal pension plans and strengthening customer engagement across every stage of the pension journey.

“The next years and beyond will be shaped by the same dedication that brought us this far, a future-forward mindset, a culture of excellence, and an unyielding promise to stand by our customers every step of the way,” Olusakin concluded.

As it commemorates 20 years of service, Leadway Pensure reaffirms its commitment to simplifying retirement planning, delivering consistent value, and driving financial inclusion across Nigeria.

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