The Tanzanian Command and Staff College Course 39/24 on Tuesday visited the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) as part of a study tour aimed at fostering knowledge exchange and comparative analysis between Tanzania and Nigeria in the area of digital technology and national security.

The delegation, led by the Commandant of the College, Major General Stephen Mnkande, was received by the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, who was represented by Barr. Emmanuel Edet.

Welcoming the delegation, the NITDA boss underscored the agency’s evolving mandate, highlighting its role in integrating digital technologies across various sectors, including defence.

“NITDA was established in 2007 as a government vehicle to promote the integration of information technology into different sectors of Nigeria’s economy, including the defence sector. Our vision has since evolved to using digital technologies as a tool for economic development, which we refer to as the digital economy,” he stated.

He emphasized the agency’s role in ensuring that digital activities in the country are carried out in a safe and trustworthy manner, which directly intersects with national security.

“Even though we are not a law enforcement or security agency, we understand the strong relationship between digital technologies, defence, and national security,” he added.

In his remarks, Maj. Gen. Mnkande expressed appreciation for the opportunity to visit NITDA, describing it as a crucial institution for learning and experience sharing.

“This is the right place for us to come and learn, as well as exchange experiences from Tanzania. We are here to conduct a comparative analysis and allow our students to gain firsthand experience,” he noted.

Following the meeting, the delegation was taken on a tour of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), where they were introduced to various technological innovations and research initiatives aimed at advancing Nigeria’s digital and security architecture.

Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has trained 110 Jigawa civil servants on e-governance to enhance Nigeria’s digital transformation process.

The agency announced this in a statement on Friday signed by Kayode Adebisi, its Program Manager on Digital Governance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme, which held from March 18 to 20, is a capacity-building programme tagged: ‘Project for Building Foundations Towards Digital Governance in Nigeria.’

According to Adewusi, the training focuses on enhancing participants’ basic IT skills and understanding of e-governance to improve governance and service delivery.

Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa expressed his deep appreciation to KOICA for its unwavering support toward fostering capacity-building for the state’s civil servants.

“This training programme is a significant step toward realising our digital transformation agenda in Jigawa State.

“We are committed to leveraging the skills and knowledge acquired during this training to enhance governance, improve service delivery and drive sustainable development,” he said.

Namadi also urged all participants to put their newly acquired skills to good use in advancing the state’s digital future.

The governor also unveiled the Jigawa OneAPI programme, a strategic initiative aimed at enabling system interoperability and seamless data exchange between pilot ministries in the state.

According to him, the initiative marks a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to digitise governance and enhance service efficiency.

Mr. Kim Eunsub, KOICA’s Country Director, emphasised that KOICA was committed to supporting Nigeria’s digitalisation agenda.

He said that the agency was doing this by equipping government officials with essential skills to drive innovation, transparency, and effective administration through e-governance solutions.

“The extension of this training to the subnational level underscores KOICA’s unwavering commitment to ensuring inclusive digital transformation across Nigeria.

“By cascading these initiatives to state governments, we aim to bridge the digital divide between federal and state institutions, fostering a seamless and efficient governance framework,” he said.

KIM also commended the state government for its progressive digital transformation efforts, noting that the initiatives reflected a forward-thinking approach to governance.

He expressed confidence that the knowledge and skills acquired during the training by the 110 civil servant beneficiaries would serve as critical enablers for advancing the state’s digital agenda.

The Country Director also reiterated KOICA’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation journey through training, capacity building, and strategic partnerships that empower government institutions at all levels.

NAN also reports that the highpoint of the event was the award of special prizes to the top three participants in recognition of their outstanding performance during the training.

The Kano State Government has pledged its commitment to quality healthcare services for inmates in custodial centres across the state.

The Executive Secretary of the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA), Dr Rahila Aliyu-Mukhtar, made the pledge while presenting the allocation of a monthly capitation of N852, 400 to support medical services for inmates in custodial centres.

She lauded Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf, for supporting vulnerable individuals and prioritising healthcare for inmates.

The executive secretary also commended the Kano command of the Nigerian Correctional Service for its support and cooperation.

She commended Kano for being one of the first states to enrol inmates in a structured healthcare scheme.

Responding, the Controller of Corrections, Kano State Command, Ado Inuwa expressed appreciation to the state government for its unwavering support in the enrollment of inmates under the healthcare services scheme.

He assured that the allocated funds would be utilised judiciously to cover essential medical treatments and emergency care for inmates.

Inuwa lauded Aliyu-Mukhtar for her zeal, determination and commitment to humanity, particularly in ensuring that inmates have access to healthcare services.

NAN reports that on Dec. 31, 2024, the state government approved the enrolment of inmates in custodial facilities into the State’s Health Contributory Scheme, ensuring they now enjoy health insurance coverage.The scheme provides inmates with access to basic and comprehensive healthcare services while in custody.