Tinubu meets Google CEO in France, lauds company’s digital transformation in Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has commended The Chief Executive Officer of Google, Mr Sundar Pichai, for the interest of the company in advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital transformation in Nigeria.

Tinubu met the Google team in Paris on Wednesday in company of Mr Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman said in a statement.

“The Google team engaged in constructive discussions with President Tinubu aimed at forging a strategic partnership to enhance Nigeria’s journey toward AI and digital transformation.

“The collaboration seeks to position Nigeria as a prominent technology and innovation hub, leveraging AI, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure to foster economic growth and enhance global competitiveness.”

It stated that the conversations focussed on key initiatives such as expanding digital infrastructure in Nigeria and equipping the workforce with essential digital skills for the future.

They also included promoting AI-driven research and innovation, encouraging greater cloud adoption across various industries, and establishing Nigeria as a key player in the global digital economy.

“President Tinubu emphasised that this partnership aligns seamlessly with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, centred on economic diversification through industrialisation, technology, and innovation.

“The federal ministry of communications, innovation, and digital economy will provide strategic oversight, while the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) will coordinate efforts alongside the private sector to ensure widespread and meaningful impact.”

Speaking at the meeting, Pichai reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation.

He stated that, “Nigeria has an incredible opportunity to lead in AI and digital innovation in Africa. Google is excited to continue working with the Nigerian government to create an ecosystem that fosters innovation and economic growth.”

Speaking on the engagement with the President, Tijani said the partnership between Nigeria and Google represented an important opportunity to accelerate Nigeria’s technological advancement and strengthen our digital economy.

He further stated that Nigeria remained committed to ensuring that AI and digital transformation, created tangible benefits for businesses and citizens across the country. (NAN)

University Professor denies soliciting for female Student’s n*de pictures

Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL) on Wednesday, denied allegations that he solicited for nude photographs of the female student.

Ndifon, denied the allegations before Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court in Abuja while being cross examined by the the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha.

The professor said the female student, identified as TKJ, was like a daughter to him.

” I got to know her from her uncle. She did not send her nude pictures to me and I did not demand for her nude pictures,” he said.

Ndifon denied that the conversations, pictures and videos extracted by the ICPC were from his phone.

“They are not. If you look at it, we can’t vouch for them, they have been edited. I don’t even know where they got the conversations and videos from,” he said.

He said he did not present the phone he claimed to have used in communicating with TKJ to the ICPC because the anti-corruption commission did not request for the student’s own phone.

“The prosecution did not deem it necessary to investigate her phone, so why should I bring mine?” he said.
Ndifon, who admitted to have sent the N3, 000 to TKJ from his First Bank account, said he had given her money many times.

“I sent more than N3, 000 to her, sometimes I give her cash,” he said
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until Thursday for continuation of trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspended dean is standing trial on alleged sexual harassment.

Ndifon, is charged alongside his lawyer, Samuel Anyanwu, with a four counts of charge sexual harassment, cybercrime and attempt to pervert the course of justice.

The ICPC alleged that Ndifon, while serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at UNICAL, requested the female Diploma student, identified as TKJ and a star witness, to send him “pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs of herself” through WhatsApp chats.

Anyanwu, one of the lawyers of the defence, was joined in the amended charge filed on Jan. 22, 2024, by the commission on the allegation that he called the star witness on her mobile phone during the pendency of the charge against Ndifon to threaten her.
They both pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.(NAN)

JUST IN: Police officers undergo 4-weeks Training to enhance operational excellence

In a move to enhance operational excellence in Imo and the country at large, 500 police personnel on Wednesday, began a four-week capacity-building training in Owerri.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Aboki Danjuma, declared the training open at the MOPOL Headquarters 18, at Ogbakwu near Owerri.
Danjuma said the capacity building was at the instance and directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to the continuous training and development of its personnel to ensure optimal service delivery and heightened security in the state.
“You are here for weapons handling, ambush and counter-ambush, stop and search, stripling and assembling of weapons, among other police mobile force trainings.
“Although, the rate of crime is going down, the moment you finish, you will be deployed to the forests and other criminal hideouts,” he said.
Danjuma said the command changed its strategy by taking the fight against crime to the criminals in the forests and hideouts.
“We are now carrying the fight to them in the forest. Even though we have dismantled most of their hideouts in the forests, we will still deal with the remnants.
“Also, we are having clearance operations going on in Njaba and Orsu areas of the state where we have recorded huge successes.
“So many of the insurgents have been dismantled, arrested and weapons seized,” he noted.
Danjuma said peace had returned to the three Local Government Areas under siege by insurgents in the state.
He also said the crippling sit-at-home directive, which had brought economic and social activities to a halt, had finally been lifted, paving the way for normalcy to return to the state.
He charged the officers, selected from every division, area commands and tactical teams across the state, to know when to justify the use of their fire arms.
“The fire arms are not to be used on innocent citizens but to defend the innocent citizens,” he stressed.
The police chief equally urged them to use the knowledge gained from the training in the discharge of their duties, to protect lives and property, and to maintain law and order in the society.
He commended the state governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, for supporting the command with logistics for their operations and the training.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the training is “Enhancing Operational Excellence for Effective Threat Response and Community Safety”. (NAN)