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.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday congratulated Mr Ifejola Arowolo, an administrator and public health icon, on his 80th birthday.

“The President joins family, friends, and well-wishers in celebrating the life of a respected pharmacist whose career has spanned the public and private health sectors in Nigeria and the United States,” Mr Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman, said in a statement.

The President commended Arowolo’s service as the pioneer Chairman of the National Drug Abuse Committee in Ondo State and former Director of Pharmaceutical services in the state.

Tinubu lauded Arowolo for his relentless fight against counterfeit drugs, legacy of hard work, integrity and accountability in public service and for instilling these values in his children, including Mrs Olu Verheijen, the President’s Special Adviser on Energy.

Arowolo was recognised for pioneering efforts to integrate indigenous Nigerian medicine with Western practices, making healthcare more accessible and affordable for the average Nigerian.

Tinubu described Arowolo as an advocate for education as a fundamental tool for poverty alleviation.

He said the pharmacist’s unwavering commitment to civic duty and adherence to principled governance, rooted in his faith-based academic background, had earned him widespread admiration as a forthright and disciplined leader.

The President wished the octogenarian continued health, happiness, and fulfilment as he marked the significant milestone.

The Police Command in Jigawa, has arrested six suspected vandals in the Kazaure Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Lawan Shiisu, confirmed the arrest in a statement in Dutse on Monday.

Shiisu said that five of the suspects, aged between 28 and 53, were arrested for vandalism, while the sixth suspect, a 30-year-old, was apprehended for allegedly receiving stolen items.

He explained that two of the suspects were arrested on Feb. 26 after allegedly vandalising streetlight, armoured cable wires and individual conduit service wires in the Bandutsi area of the LGA.

He added that three more suspects were arrested on Feb. 28 after allegedly conspiring to vandalise approximately 2,000 meters of high-tension wire in the Faru and Daba villages of the same LGA.

According to him, during interrogation, the suspects identified Musa Yahaya, a 30-year-old from the Wajen Gabas area in Kazaure town, as an accomplice and the receiver of the stolen items.

The command’s spokesperson alleged that Yahaya was aware that the cable wires belonged to the government and were stolen items.

He added that the suspects, who had allegedly confessed to the crime, had since been charged to court.