News
Updated: WTO promises to support Nigeria after Tinubu, Okonjo-Iweala meeting
Updated: WTO promises to support Nigeria after Tinubu, Okonjo-Iweala meeting
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday met with the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Prof. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
She arrived at the Presidential Villa at about 2:50pm with a former Minister of State for Health under Goodluck Jonathan administration, Dr Ali Pate.
Okonjo-Iweala was the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy during the Jonathan government.
Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Okonjo-Iweala said her team at the WTO would do their best to support Nigeria at this difficult time.
She said the focus of her discussion
with the President was what they could do to support Nigeria.
According to her, they are considering a grassroot programme that can help the young people as well as women.
The WTO DG said, “We want to help them in digital trade so that they can create more jobs,” she said.
“We all know that things are very difficult for Nigerians outside; everyone is struggling. I’m here on a quiet visit. So this was not really an official WTO mission but we’re able to engage with Mr. President, talk about what are the kinds of programmes that could be put in place to make sure that the sufferings of Nigerians are alleviated.
“And we had a really good conversation on trying to look at the community and grassroots programmes that can be put in place to create jobs for young people, trying to support women and children, who are bearing the brunt of some of the suffering in the country.”
She also said, “We’re already working in Nigeria with women in particular, who own Small and Medium Enterprises to try to help them upgrade the quality of their products; whether it’s in the agricultural area, in textiles and in other areas so that they can sell more internationally.”
News
Catholic bishops caution on use of Artificial Intelligence
Catholic bishops caution on use of Artificial Intelligence
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has raised concerns over the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly by youths in Nigeria and beyond.
Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Archbishop of Owerri and President of CBCN, expressed this during the CBCN maiden edition of the Communications Week (ComWEEK) Public Lecture in Abuja on Wednesday.
The event, themed ‘Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Opportunities for Evangelisation and Social Development,’ was part of the activities marking the 2024 ComWEEK of the CBCN, the 58th edition since the Pope established World Communication Day (WCD) in 1967.
READ ALSO:
- DSS state directors meet in Kano over security threats
- Killing, looting in Okuama after troops pull-out
- Reps want cybersecurity levy suspended, Senate backs CBN policy
Ugorji emphasized, “Despite the enormous benefits, the development and deployment of AI digital technology must be approached with ethical rigour. We must strive for a balance that prioritizes human welfare alongside technological progress, mindful of the ethical and moral dilemmas, as well as risks such as job displacement, threat to peace in the world, spread of falsehood through propaganda, manipulation of the human person, and privacy concerns through advanced hacking and deepfakes.”
Speaking on the theme, Prof. Anthony Akinwale, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Lagos State, highlighted that despite the fears associated with AI and other technologies, religion cannot ignore the accomplishments of science and technology.
Additionally, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, noted that Pope Francis’ position aligns with the consistent magisterium of the Church, emphasizing that all scientific progress is a gift of God to humanity, to be used for human well-being and the glory of God.
Catholic bishops caution on use of Artificial Intelligence
News
Killing, looting in Okuama after troops pull-out
Killing, looting in Okuama after troops pull-out
Suspected peasants have killed an invader and macheted three others, who allegedly encroached on the Okuama-Ewu Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, to loot zinc, iron, rods and related scraps, barely 24 hours after the Nigerian Army pulled out of the embattled community.
Soldiers started withdrawing from the community, on Monday, and finally pulled out, on Wednesday, following negotiations between Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the Army authorities.
Vanguard learned that soon after, some youths from neighbouring villages, observing that soldiers had withdrawn from Okuama-Ewu, went to the community to scavenge for things to sell.
Meanwhile, the people of Akugbene community in Bomadi Local Government Area of the state, have raised the alarm that one of the six persons attacked and macheted, by returnees of the embattled Okuama Community in Ughelli South was still missing.
They ambushed, macheted our people—Akugbene resident
A source from the neighbouring Akugbene Community in Bomadi Local Government Area of the state told Vanguard that they noticed soldiers leaving the Okuama-Ewu Community, on Tuesday. It explained that Okuama returnees ambushed and attacked four Akugbene indigenes with machetes.
His words: “As I talk to you, there is a problem: the Okuama returnees ambushed and butchered four indigenes of our community with machetes.
“They (Akugbene indigenes) were on their way to the Ezebiri Community along the footpath linking various communities on hearing that the road was free when the Okuama returnees ambushed them.
“One of them, who escaped to our community with machete cuts, narrated that the Okuama returnees pointed guns at them and attacked them, while on their way to Ezebiri.
“They attacked them with machetes, but he managed to escape while others were led towards the jetty in the community waterfront.
Killing, looting in Okuama after troops pull-out
News
Reps want cybersecurity levy suspended, Senate backs CBN policy
Reps want cybersecurity levy suspended, Senate backs CBN policy
The Senate and House of Representatives have sharply disagreed on the controversial 0.5 per cent cybersecurity levy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
While the Senate said there was nothing wrong with the levy since the national assembly passed it into law, the House of Representatives asked the CBN to suspend its implementation based following public outcry that had trailed it.
The Senate contended that the cybersecurity levy came into being through a collaborative effort that involved the National Assembly’s ICT and Cyber Security Committee and a transparent public hearing process, with contributions from various stakeholders.
READ ALSO:
- Shan George recovers N3.6m stolen from bank account
- Kano Disco official narrates how he killed colleague over N3m
- You’re not my son – Ooni tells self-acclaimed prince
According to the Senate, both arms of the National Assembly unanimously passed it before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed it into law.
It also argued that the levy was not punitive, but aimed at protecting national security and the economy.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Shehu Umar Buba, APC Bauchi South, who addressed the controversy surrounding the proposed implementation of the cybersecurity levy by the CBN yesterday , said that the levy was provided for in the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Senator Buba noted that the provisions of the cybersecurity levy had been in place since 2015 but were delayed due to unclear interpretations and applications.
He, however, clarified that the levy was not punitive as it had numerous exemptions to protect and relieve ordinary citizens, particularly the poor.
According to him, the exemptions include salary payments, intra-account transfers, loan disbursements and repayments, and other financial transactions.
But the House of Representatives directed the CBN to suspend implementation of the proposed levy.
It also mandated its Committees on Banking Regulations, and Banking and other ancillary institutions to guide the CBN properly.
This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by the House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, PDP Rivers, and 359 others
Reps want cybersecurity levy suspended, Senate backs CBN policy
Several students abducted as bandits attack Kogi varsity
Catholic bishops caution on use of Artificial Intelligence
DSS state directors meet in Kano over security threats
-
Politics3 days agoAbia deputy gov candidate, lawmaker dump PDP
-
metro3 days agoThree siblings attack school teacher for flogging brother in Port Harcourt
-
metro1 day agoCleric allegedly sets wife’s house ablaze following prayer disagreement in Ekiti
-
metro2 days ago33 states face flooding risk, NEMA warns
-
metro2 days agoDSS nabs wanted Oyo motorpark boss
-
metro2 days agoEkiti university expels students over viral bullying video
-
Education3 days agoJAMB releases more results, says no one obtained scores without writing UTME
-
Business2 days agoFuel: Independent marketers introduce new pump price