SAY CHEESE: A peep into the life and lens of Nigeria’s presidential … – TheCable

On a pair of eyeglasses, through the double-glassed windows of an aircraft, between the dangling glitters of a chandelier’s many bulbs, details of a shoe and even its bloody-red soles, they create, build, speak a million words through the graceful silence of a camera’s lens.
From moments seemingly as insignificant as a handshake to those where pens sign life-changing policies on paper, they capture beauty, colours, emotions, culture, friendship, politicking, and most importantly, taking shots that hold history captive in the fleecing passage of time and releasing it into the everlasting preserve of memory.
Kneeling, running, squatting, jumping, they do all it takes. They surrender their bodies and crisply ironed clothes to the dust-laden floors, ride atop moving vehicles to capture shots, tell stories and document histories of their principals — the men who rule Nigeria. Welcome to the world of Nigeria’s presidential photographers.
TY Bello, Bayo Omoboriowo, Nosa Asemota, Novo Isoro, Tolani Alli — we take a peep into the life and work of these young talented creatives who are telling stories of the leaders of Africa’s giant and biggest economy through pictures.Advertisement

BEHIND BAYO OMOBORIOWO’S SHOT
Buhari departing in a chopper at sunset
Behind some of the glamourous shots we see are stories of failed attempts, persistence and motivation, like in the picture above with Buhari departing in a chopper at sunset.
“I failed the first time I attempted to create this image of PMB departing a chopper. The thing pained me because I had made every effort possible to get the frame. Some weeks later, everything added up and I finally succeeded at it. Sometimes you fail but don’t stop trying, you will succeed,” Omoboriowo said in a social media post on the image’s backstory.
Young Bayo in the street of Lagos doing what he loves
From taking mini photo passports as an undergraduate student of pure and applied chemistry, under the trees beside Jaja Hall, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Omoboriowo grew his photography journey, sometimes having to borrow a camera as he had none then, to becoming the Guinness World Record holder for largest photobook, and eventually the official photographer of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari — all in less than a decade.Advertisement

His journey to becoming a presidential photographer is one of passion, grit, determination, and a will to give it all. Though born by a photographer father, the dream life for Omoboriowo was to study chemistry and get a well-paying job with Chevron; but a N500-per-week stipend from his father would force him to explore an inner passion waiting to bloom.
Omoboriowo started out as a street/documentary photographer with a propelling force to think outside the box and fill existing gaps. He said he was “always looking for perspectives that would make me stand out”, and so the 36-year-old native of Ekiti state went on to become a political photographer.
A BLOOMING NICHE
President Buhari during a question-and-answer session shortly after delivering his Keynote Address at the Commonwealth Anti-Corruption Conference for Civil Society, Business and Government Leaders at the Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House London. 11th May 2016
The role of an official photographer is a relatively new addition to the presidential team. While it was non-existent in the administration of some past presidents, it was partly existing in some, though not officially; but it has now become a consequential part of the president’s team.
The inclusion started with Goodluck Jonathan, who employed the services of Toyin Sokefun-Bello better known as TY Bello. Bello, a graduate of Economics from the University of Lagos, started out as a journalist before venturing into music, alongside photography. She was also a go-to photographer for ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.Advertisement

Feb 12, 2013: Former President Goodluck Jonathan decorates the late Stephen Keshi, Super Eagles coach, after the team won the 2013 AFCON. Photo: TY Bello
May 30, 2015: Former President Goodluck Jonathan took the then-elected President Muhammadu Buhari on a tour of the presidential villa. Photo by TY Bello
Though barely a handful of her work with Jonathan can be found on her social media pages and website, she shared a picture of Buhari and Jonathan holding hands while the latter took the former on a tour of the villa during the transition in 2015. It was a period of high political tension after Jonathan conceded the 2015 presidential election to Buhari. Bello described the moment as “sacred” and “divine”.
But during a TEDx Talk in 2016, Omoboriowo claimed he was the first of his kind, arguing that Bello’s stint with Jonathan was not in an official capacity per se.
Omoboriowo speaking at TEDx Gbagada
“This is the first time there is what is called the personal photographer to the president. It has never existed in the history of Nigeria. Even TY Bello was not a personal photographer; she came just once in a while. So, they have never seen it before,” he said.
“In the history of the world, the people that become [presidential] photographers are nothing less than 50 years of age and most of them come from media houses. Most of them have 30, 35 years of experience, I only have four official years in photography.”Advertisement

Omoboriowo arguably brought a new dimension to political photography and expanded the spectrum of creativity with his shots, equally raising the bar for his peers and successors.
The vice presidents are not left out of this novel approach to the documentation of Nigeria’s leaders. Female photographers took centre stage in this regard with Novo Isioro documenting former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo between 2016 and 2019, a position she combined with her role as special assistant to the president on visual communication. Isoro handed over to Tolani Alli who carried the baton till the end of the Buhari administration.Advertisement

May 7, 2019: Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo during the Home Grown School Feeding Launch in Ekiti state… Photo by Novo Isioro
While Isioro’s stint lasted, she said she developed a father-daughter relationship with Osinbajo.
Isioro with Yemi Osinbajo, the former vice president, just after his swearing-in on May 29, 2019 inauguration
Alli first documented the late Abiola Ajimobi, a former governor of Oyo state, at a time when photography at that scale had limited female representation, before stepping into Isioro’s shoes when she left the job to pursue other endeavours.Advertisement

Before settling into photography, Alli worked as a health specialist in Genesee County, Michigan, and later as a software and hardware technician at Apple in the United States.
‘EXPRESS ENTRY’
The portfolio of an official presidential photographer comes with benefits that even those at the top may not be privy to enjoy.Advertisement

Speaking on the perks of his job, Omoboriowo said he had been “privileged” to eat the same food as the president, and that “where every other person does not go, even the chief security officer, the photographer will enter”.
Omoboriowo in a happy mood with Buhari
So important has the role of a presidential photographer become that congratulatory messages were posted on social media when Asemota became Tinubu’s photo boy, a day after he (Tinubu) was sworn in as president. Asemota began his role officially long before that of the president’s special advisers, service chiefs, and ministers.
Through their everyday encounter with their principals, they are also acquainted with the personal traits of the president that may not be known or fully understood by citizens. Asemota, through his shots across time, said the president is “so big on hugs”.
In a recent chat with TheCable, Omoboriowo said Buhari is a man of few words and also “cares less about pictures”, and that this part of the ex-president’s personality made photos of him “more genuine and realistic”.
In a sober mood, ex-President Buhari presided over the federal executive council which also served as the tribute session for James Ocholi, the late minister of state for labour and productivity, at the statehouse on March 9, 2016… Photo: Bayo Omoboriowo
“He was a natural man; he wasn’t trying to impress you. So, 95-98 per cent of the pictures of Buhari you’ve seen is who he is — undoctored, unaltered, unadulterated. A lot of people said he wasn’t talking; he wasn’t communicating; that is who he is. And for me as a storyteller, I was trying my best to project that personality of him, that reality of who he is,” Omoboriowo told TheCable.
For him, photographing the president was an indirect way of “making Nigeria look good” on a global stage.
President Buhari gestures as he bids farewell to H.E. Faure Gnassingbe, President of the Republic of Togo, after a meeting at the state house. August 2, 2016… Photo: Bayo Omoboriowo

ART FOR SOCIAL IMPACT
Omoboriowo said photographing a president is not just for aesthetics and social media validation: “For me, photographing the president is about documenting today for tomorrow’s audience”.
“What my pictures do is shape perception. It’s communicating narratives, enlightening and educating. It’s meant to serve as informative material but most importantly, it is meant to serve as a tool of communication for global and historical relevance,” he said in this interview with TVC.
Ex-President Buhari and the Emir of Daura, Faruk Umar Faruk (A moment of shared laughter)
Asemota shared the same stance when he said he takes shots to “make people feel in a particular way” and he worries that these feelings are being recalibrated by purveyors of fake news.
“An image makes people feel in a particular way and we can control the way people feel by what we put out there,” Asemota said in May at a media workshop on ‘Balancing Ethics and Patriotism – The Obligations of Journalists to their Country’.
“My images have been victims of fake news because a lot of my images were doctored during the campaign. If I take a picture of this event and I put it out there, it gives a perspective to the outside world.”
For Alli, her role as a storyteller is not to predict, but to document and capture moments as it unfolds. “The story continues, and so does the journey,” she said.
“The art of storytelling is as old as human civilisation. Even the act of recording history is storytelling as it uses the vehicle of a story to translate real-life events from one generation to another. Telling one’s story is important as it is also a form of narrative setting and reputation management.”
She added that this is most important, especially for public officers “in the age of fast-moving news, misinformation and disinformation”.
“…and it is for us to tell the truth and let everyone see both the good and bad of governance and power,” she said in this 2019 interview.
As much as these photos can make, so also can they break. “I must not release a wrong picture. I must not document him in a wrong way,” Omoboriowo said and went ahead to cite an example of a picture of Buhari picking his teeth which turned into an object of ridicule and mockery.
“That wasn’t my picture. For me, it was unethical and unprofessional to go into the president’s living room and photograph him after he had lunch and he was picking his teeth. I wouldn’t have done that. For 8 years, I was guided by the principle and the approach to professionalism; how is it done, what is the global best practice for photographing at that scale?”

A black and white portrait of Osinbajo… Photo: Tolani Alli
‘Eyes through the salute’ — former chief of defence staff, Irabor, salutes former VP Osinbajo
Osinbajo test-drive an electric car at the state house
Pastor Yemi Osinbajo heading for Sunday service
Succinctly captured! Dolapo, the wife of the former vice president captures her husband from the presidential jet while stepping out of the vehicle to join her… Photo: Tolani Alli
View from below!
THE SOFT TOUCH
In 2017, the presidency released ‘The Human Side of President Buhari’, a 55-minute documentary intended to shed light on the soft life of the former president that the majority of Nigerians had not seen. The documentary was received with mixed reactions; while some lauded the idea, another category of people argued that it was not relevant to good governance.
But leaders are humans, and they do have ordinary aspects of their lives beyond official duties — the fine details of a mother’s hug, a lover’s grip, a child’s embrace, and a morning jog.
Through shots devoid of the distracting allure of colours, the twirling veins on wrinkled skin are projected, a gapped tooth, grey hair — offering an opportunity to see things from a different perspective.
FROM START TO FINISH
Like Tolani with the flair for black and white photos, this photo taken by Asemota got people talking. President Tinubu and his vice, Shettima, are both seen from the windows of a private jet
While Asemota is in the early stage of creating magical images of the president, his counterparts have taken bowing-out shots as their principals shut the doors on this chapter of their political careers.
These images are points of reflection for the subjects therein as well as these young photographers who have their lives ahead of them and are poised to achieve even greater feats.
The 14th and 16th president of Nigeria — Jonathan visits Tinubu at the presidential villa

President Buhari walked out of his office for the last and final time as President Federal Republic of Nigeria Photo: Bayo Omoboriowo
“This picture of the president on his last day for me is quite exceptional. Another picture of the president walking out of his office on the last day says a lot about how power is transient, says a lot about how nothing lasts forever, says a lot about how we must prepare ourselves to know that we will not always be in a position forever,” Bayo told TheCable.

From moments seemingly as insignificant as a handshake to those where pens sign life-changing policies on paper, they capture beauty, colours, emotions, culture, friendship, politicking, and most importantly, taking shots that hold history captive in the fleecing passage of time and releasing it into the everlasting preserve of memory.

Kneeling, running, squatting, jumping, they do all it takes. They surrender their bodies and crisply ironed clothes to the dust-laden floors, ride atop moving vehicles to capture shots, tell stories and document histories of their principals — the men who rule Nigeria. Welcome to the world of Nigeria’s presidential photographers.

TY Bello, Bayo Omoboriowo, Nosa Asemota, Novo Isoro, Tolani Alli — we take a peep into the life and work of these young talented creatives who are telling stories of the leaders of Africa’s giant and biggest economy through pictures.

BEHIND BAYO OMOBORIOWO’S SHOT

Buhari departing in a chopper at sunset

Behind some of the glamourous shots we see are stories of failed attempts, persistence and motivation, like in the picture above with Buhari departing in a chopper at sunset.

“I failed the first time I attempted to create this image of PMB departing a chopper. The thing pained me because I had made every effort possible to get the frame. Some weeks later, everything added up and I finally succeeded at it. Sometimes you fail but don’t stop trying, you will succeed,” Omoboriowo said in a social media post on the image’s backstory.

Young Bayo in the street of Lagos doing what he loves

From taking mini photo passports as an undergraduate student of pure and applied chemistry, under the trees beside Jaja Hall, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Omoboriowo grew his photography journey, sometimes having to borrow a camera as he had none then, to becoming the Guinness World Record holder for largest photobook, and eventually the official photographer of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari — all in less than a decade.

Omoboriowo started out as a street/documentary photographer with a propelling force to think outside the box and fill existing gaps. He said he was “always looking for perspectives that would make me stand out”, and so the 36-year-old native of Ekiti state went on to become a political photographer.

A BLOOMING NICHE

President Buhari during a question-and-answer session shortly after delivering his Keynote Address at the Commonwealth Anti-Corruption Conference for Civil Society, Business and Government Leaders at the Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House London. 11th May 2016

The role of an official photographer is a relatively new addition to the presidential team. While it was non-existent in the administration of some past presidents, it was partly existing in some, though not officially; but it has now become a consequential part of the president’s team.

The inclusion started with Goodluck Jonathan, who employed the services of Toyin Sokefun-Bello better known as TY Bello. Bello, a graduate of Economics from the University of Lagos, started out as a journalist before venturing into music, alongside photography. She was also a go-to photographer for ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Feb 12, 2013: Former President Goodluck Jonathan decorates the late Stephen Keshi, Super Eagles coach, after the team won the 2013 AFCON. Photo: TY Bello

May 30, 2015: Former President Goodluck Jonathan took the then-elected President Muhammadu Buhari on a tour of the presidential villa. Photo by TY Bello

Though barely a handful of her work with Jonathan can be found on her social media pages and website, she shared a picture of Buhari and Jonathan holding hands while the latter took the former on a tour of the villa during the transition in 2015. It was a period of high political tension after Jonathan conceded the 2015 presidential election to Buhari. Bello described the moment as “sacred” and “divine”.

But during a TEDx Talk in 2016, Omoboriowo claimed he was the first of his kind, arguing that Bello’s stint with Jonathan was not in an official capacity per se.

Omoboriowo speaking at TEDx Gbagada

“This is the first time there is what is called the personal photographer to the president. It has never existed in the history of Nigeria. Even TY Bello was not a personal photographer; she came just once in a while. So, they have never seen it before,” he said.

“In the history of the world, the people that become [presidential] photographers are nothing less than 50 years of age and most of them come from media houses. Most of them have 30, 35 years of experience, I only have four official years in photography.”

Omoboriowo arguably brought a new dimension to political photography and expanded the spectrum of creativity with his shots, equally raising the bar for his peers and successors.

The vice presidents are not left out of this novel approach to the documentation of Nigeria’s leaders. Female photographers took centre stage in this regard with Novo Isioro documenting former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo between 2016 and 2019, a position she combined with her role as special assistant to the president on visual communication. Isoro handed over to Tolani Alli who carried the baton till the end of the Buhari administration.

May 7, 2019: Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo during the Home Grown School Feeding Launch in Ekiti state… Photo by Novo Isioro

While Isioro’s stint lasted, she said she developed a father-daughter relationship with Osinbajo.

Isioro with Yemi Osinbajo, the former vice president, just after his swearing-in on May 29, 2019 inauguration

Alli first documented the late Abiola Ajimobi, a former governor of Oyo state, at a time when photography at that scale had limited female representation, before stepping into Isioro’s shoes when she left the job to pursue other endeavours.

Before settling into photography, Alli worked as a health specialist in Genesee County, Michigan, and later as a software and hardware technician at Apple in the United States.

‘EXPRESS ENTRY’

The portfolio of an official presidential photographer comes with benefits that even those at the top may not be privy to enjoy.

Omoboriowo in a happy mood with Buhari

So important has the role of a presidential photographer become that congratulatory messages were posted on social media when Asemota became Tinubu’s photo boy, a day after he (Tinubu) was sworn in as president. Asemota began his role officially long before that of the president’s special advisers, service chiefs, and ministers.

Through their everyday encounter with their principals, they are also acquainted with the personal traits of the president that may not be known or fully understood by citizens. Asemota, through his shots across time, said the president is “so big on hugs”.

In a recent chat with TheCable, Omoboriowo said Buhari is a man of few words and also “cares less about pictures”, and that this part of the ex-president’s personality made photos of him “more genuine and realistic”.

In a sober mood, ex-President Buhari presided over the federal executive council which also served as the tribute session for James Ocholi, the late minister of state for labour and productivity, at the statehouse on March 9, 2016… Photo: Bayo Omoboriowo

“He was a natural man; he wasn’t trying to impress you. So, 95-98 per cent of the pictures of Buhari you’ve seen is who he is — undoctored, unaltered, unadulterated. A lot of people said he wasn’t talking; he wasn’t communicating; that is who he is. And for me as a storyteller, I was trying my best to project that personality of him, that reality of who he is,” Omoboriowo told TheCable.

For him, photographing the president was an indirect way of “making Nigeria look good” on a global stage.

President Buhari gestures as he bids farewell to H.E. Faure Gnassingbe, President of the Republic of Togo, after a meeting at the state house. August 2, 2016… Photo: Bayo Omoboriowo

ART FOR SOCIAL IMPACT

Omoboriowo said photographing a president is not just for aesthetics and social media validation: “For me, photographing the president is about documenting today for tomorrow’s audience”.

“What my pictures do is shape perception. It’s communicating narratives, enlightening and educating. It’s meant to serve as informative material but most importantly, it is meant to serve as a tool of communication for global and historical relevance,” he said in this interview with TVC.

Ex-President Buhari and the Emir of Daura, Faruk Umar Faruk (A moment of shared laughter)

Asemota shared the same stance when he said he takes shots to “make people feel in a particular way” and he worries that these feelings are being recalibrated by purveyors of fake news.

“An image makes people feel in a particular way and we can control the way people feel by what we put out there,” Asemota said in May at a media workshop on ‘Balancing Ethics and Patriotism – The Obligations of Journalists to their Country’.

“My images have been victims of fake news because a lot of my images were doctored during the campaign. If I take a picture of this event and I put it out there, it gives a perspective to the outside world.”

For Alli, her role as a storyteller is not to predict, but to document and capture moments as it unfolds. “The story continues, and so does the journey,” she said.

“The art of storytelling is as old as human civilisation. Even the act of recording history is storytelling as it uses the vehicle of a story to translate real-life events from one generation to another. Telling one’s story is important as it is also a form of narrative setting and reputation management.”

She added that this is most important, especially for public officers “in the age of fast-moving news, misinformation and disinformation”.

“…and it is for us to tell the truth and let everyone see both the good and bad of governance and power,” she said in this 2019 interview.

As much as these photos can make, so also can they break. “I must not release a wrong picture. I must not document him in a wrong way,” Omoboriowo said and went ahead to cite an example of a picture of Buhari picking his teeth which turned into an object of ridicule and mockery.

“That wasn’t my picture. For me, it was unethical and unprofessional to go into the president’s living room and photograph him after he had lunch and he was picking his teeth. I wouldn’t have done that. For 8 years, I was guided by the principle and the approach to professionalism; how is it done, what is the global best practice for photographing at that scale?”

A black and white portrait of Osinbajo… Photo: Tolani Alli

‘Eyes through the salute’ — former chief of defence staff, Irabor, salutes former VP Osinbajo

Osinbajo test-drive an electric car at the state house

Pastor Yemi Osinbajo heading for Sunday service

Succinctly captured! Dolapo, the wife of the former vice president captures her husband from the presidential jet while stepping out of the vehicle to join her… Photo: Tolani Alli

View from below!

THE SOFT TOUCH

In 2017, the presidency released ‘The Human Side of President Buhari’, a 55-minute documentary intended to shed light on the soft life of the former president that the majority of Nigerians had not seen. The documentary was received with mixed reactions; while some lauded the idea, another category of people argued that it was not relevant to good governance.

But leaders are humans, and they do have ordinary aspects of their lives beyond official duties — the fine details of a mother’s hug, a lover’s grip, a child’s embrace, and a morning jog.

Through shots devoid of the distracting allure of colours, the twirling veins on wrinkled skin are projected, a gapped tooth, grey hair — offering an opportunity to see things from a different perspective.

FROM START TO FINISH

Like Tolani with the flair for black and white photos, this photo taken by Asemota got people talking. President Tinubu and his vice, Shettima, are both seen from the windows of a private jet

While Asemota is in the early stage of creating magical images of the president, his counterparts have taken bowing-out shots as their principals shut the doors on this chapter of their political careers.

These images are points of reflection for the subjects therein as well as these young photographers who have their lives ahead of them and are poised to achieve even greater feats.

The 14th and 16th president of Nigeria — Jonathan visits Tinubu at the presidential villa

President Buhari walked out of his office for the last and final time as President Federal Republic of Nigeria Photo: Bayo Omoboriowo

“This picture of the president on his last day for me is quite exceptional. Another picture of the president walking out of his office on the last day says a lot about how power is transient, says a lot about how nothing lasts forever, says a lot about how we must prepare ourselves to know that we will not always be in a position forever,” Bayo told TheCable.

Southern Africa

Bezuidenhout ruled out of South Africa tour – NZC

WHITE FERNS wicket-keeper batter Bernadine Bezuidenhout has been ruled out of the tour of South Africa after being diagnosed with post-viral Pericarditis.
Bezuidenhout was assessed by the team doctor in Johannesburg and underwent specialist scans that revealed the condition.
The doctor has recommended that Bezuidenhout limit physical activity for 4-6 weeks until she is fully recovered.
Bezuidenhout has been cleared to fly and will return to New Zealand next week following a short stay with family in South Africa.
WHITE FERNS head coach Ben Sawyer said the team was disappointed for Bezuidenhout.
“We’re really feeling for Bernie,” he said.
“She’s a really important part of our team so we’re all disappointed she won’t be able to take part in this tour.
“She’s a strong personality and we know she will be fully committed to her recovery and we’ll be supporting her however we can.
“We’re very grateful for the doctors here in South Africa who have taken great care of Bernie and supported her through what has been a challenging few days.”
Auckland HEARTS wicket-keeper batter Izzy Gaze who was named in the ODI squad will now remain on tour for the T20Is.

WHITE FERNS wicket-keeper batter Bernadine Bezuidenhout has been ruled out of the tour of South Africa after being diagnosed with post-viral Pericarditis.

Bezuidenhout was assessed by the team doctor in Johannesburg and underwent specialist scans that revealed the condition.

The doctor has recommended that Bezuidenhout limit physical activity for 4-6 weeks until she is fully recovered.

Bezuidenhout has been cleared to fly and will return to New Zealand next week following a short stay with family in South Africa.

WHITE FERNS head coach Ben Sawyer said the team was disappointed for Bezuidenhout.

“We’re really feeling for Bernie,” he said.

“She’s a really important part of our team so we’re all disappointed she won’t be able to take part in this tour.

“She’s a strong personality and we know she will be fully committed to her recovery and we’ll be supporting her however we can.

“We’re very grateful for the doctors here in South Africa who have taken great care of Bernie and supported her through what has been a challenging few days.”

Auckland HEARTS wicket-keeper batter Izzy Gaze who was named in the ODI squad will now remain on tour for the T20Is.

West Africa

AFiGF 2023: Nigeria, Ghana, other African countries to collaborate … – Daily Post Nigeria

Nigeria, Ghana and about ten other African countries have vowed to raise the bar in the area of digital inclusion, enhanced security of cyberspace and innovation.
Representatives of these countries spoke to journalists at the end of the Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) organised by the Nigerian government and the United Nations and hosted by NCC in Abuja with the theme: “Transforming Africa’s Digital Landscape: Empowering Inclusion, Security and Innovation.”
The Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta said the Commission would ensure that the bar is raised in the area of digital inclusion, cybersecurity and innovation.
Danbatta said in today’s Nigeria the financial inclusion strategy of the Federal Government was telco-driven.
According to him, the idea behind leveraging the telecommunications infrastructure strategy is because of the pervasive nature of telecommunications infrastructure.
“Before the mobile money penetration was 1 per cent but not anymore because after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), gave licences to four of our network operators.
“As we speak today, the Payment Service Bank (PSB), the digital financial inclusion index, has risen to about 70 per cent.
He reiterated that the Unsupplementary Structured Service Data (USSD) code which drives transactions in the banking sector was made available by NCC.
“Nowadays Nigerians do transfers without having to go to the banking halls to fill tellers.which used to be the way we are doing it before.
“This important intervention is provided in all the six geopolitical zones of the country. It is a continuous exercise and intervention.
He stated that as a Commission, NCC has a number of initiatives driving the national system of innovation.
He said that NCC empowers the younger ones, the middle aged and mature Nigerians outside these brackets, to innovate by providing Interventions of computer systems and mifi.
About the enhanced security of cyberspace, he said the NCC has the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT).
The EVC said this provides advice on how telecommunication companies can take measures to protect themselves from malicious attacks within cyberspace.
“We even grade the nature of attack to be malicious, light, heavy etc,” Danbatta said.
The Secretary General (AFIGF), Samuel George, member of the Ghanaian Parliament, said it was important to have a unified African cybersecurity approach to an African problem.
George said the African Union (AU) data and policy framework had the synchronised ability to share information with the Nigerians and other African countries.
“Our military and security intelligence that just deals with security, intelligence gathering and all of that should be able to share critical information with the Nigerian military sector.
“If there is a risk that covers both Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria and they do not have similar protocols, then it affects this conversation.
“And that’s why as an African continent we need to ratify this convention because the things that were topical eight years ago in 2015 are mundane now, technology has moved on.
“So we will need to catch up with it,” George said.
On her path, the Chairperson, (AFIGF), Lillian Nalwoga said at the regional level, there have been the Africa cyber security conventions, adding that more countries were needed to be able to ascend.
Nalwoga said without determination, it would be a little bit difficult to be able to address cyber crimes at a regional level.
She also said that African countries need to have some sort of harmonisation of cybersecurity laws in their various countries to aid the fight against cyber crimes.
“We need countries that have not been able to ratify this convention to be able to resolve this and also for countries that are still lagging behind in terms of coming up with the right cybersecurity laws.
“It is not just about cybersecurity. We also need to have countries adopt data protection and privacy laws because it allows the government to do some level of surveillance.
“We need to have cybersecurity laws come up in the same framework as data protection for the rights of the citizens.
“Cybersecurity is important because it protects the citizen from non-state actors themselves, exposes citizens to risk and then from the state itself from surveillance,” she said.

Nigeria, Ghana and about ten other African countries have vowed to raise the bar in the area of digital inclusion, enhanced security of cyberspace and innovation.

Representatives of these countries spoke to journalists at the end of the Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) organised by the Nigerian government and the United Nations and hosted by NCC in Abuja with the theme: “Transforming Africa’s Digital Landscape: Empowering Inclusion, Security and Innovation.”

The Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta said the Commission would ensure that the bar is raised in the area of digital inclusion, cybersecurity and innovation.

Danbatta said in today’s Nigeria the financial inclusion strategy of the Federal Government was telco-driven.

According to him, the idea behind leveraging the telecommunications infrastructure strategy is because of the pervasive nature of telecommunications infrastructure.

“Before the mobile money penetration was 1 per cent but not anymore because after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), gave licences to four of our network operators.

“As we speak today, the Payment Service Bank (PSB), the digital financial inclusion index, has risen to about 70 per cent.

He reiterated that the Unsupplementary Structured Service Data (USSD) code which drives transactions in the banking sector was made available by NCC.

“Nowadays Nigerians do transfers without having to go to the banking halls to fill tellers.which used to be the way we are doing it before.

“This important intervention is provided in all the six geopolitical zones of the country. It is a continuous exercise and intervention.

He stated that as a Commission, NCC has a number of initiatives driving the national system of innovation.

He said that NCC empowers the younger ones, the middle aged and mature Nigerians outside these brackets, to innovate by providing Interventions of computer systems and mifi.

About the enhanced security of cyberspace, he said the NCC has the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT).

The EVC said this provides advice on how telecommunication companies can take measures to protect themselves from malicious attacks within cyberspace.

“We even grade the nature of attack to be malicious, light, heavy etc,” Danbatta said.

The Secretary General (AFIGF), Samuel George, member of the Ghanaian Parliament, said it was important to have a unified African cybersecurity approach to an African problem.

George said the African Union (AU) data and policy framework had the synchronised ability to share information with the Nigerians and other African countries.

“Our military and security intelligence that just deals with security, intelligence gathering and all of that should be able to share critical information with the Nigerian military sector.

“If there is a risk that covers both Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria and they do not have similar protocols, then it affects this conversation.

“And that’s why as an African continent we need to ratify this convention because the things that were topical eight years ago in 2015 are mundane now, technology has moved on.

“So we will need to catch up with it,” George said.

On her path, the Chairperson, (AFIGF), Lillian Nalwoga said at the regional level, there have been the Africa cyber security conventions, adding that more countries were needed to be able to ascend.

Nalwoga said without determination, it would be a little bit difficult to be able to address cyber crimes at a regional level.

She also said that African countries need to have some sort of harmonisation of cybersecurity laws in their various countries to aid the fight against cyber crimes.

“We need countries that have not been able to ratify this convention to be able to resolve this and also for countries that are still lagging behind in terms of coming up with the right cybersecurity laws.

“It is not just about cybersecurity. We also need to have countries adopt data protection and privacy laws because it allows the government to do some level of surveillance.

“We need to have cybersecurity laws come up in the same framework as data protection for the rights of the citizens.

“Cybersecurity is important because it protects the citizen from non-state actors themselves, exposes citizens to risk and then from the state itself from surveillance,” she said.

West Africa

Australia edge past PNG to win PM’s XIII clash – NRL.COM

Australia continued their dominance over Papua New Guinea in the annual Prime Minister’s XIII clash on Saturday afternoon, but were made to work for the full 80 minutes in an eventual 30-18 win.
Leading by just six as the closing minutes approached, it was only a Tyrell Sloan try just before full-time that secured victory for the visitors, who made 17 errors across the match and struggled to shake off PNG as a result.

Despite fielding only a handful of players with NRL experience – in comparison to Australia who had eight World Cup winners and 12 players who appeared at Origin level this year in their squad – PNG were right in the contest for the first hour and had Australia sweating before their late flurry of points.
In the end tries to Titans flyer Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Sharks workaholic Cameron McInnes and Sloan got Mal Meninga’s side home, with hooker Ben Hunt among their most impressive players as he pushed his claims for the Kangaroos’ No.9 jersey in next month’s Pacific Championships.
In what was one of their best showings in the end-of-year clash, the hosts got off to a dream start when Kyle Laybutt’s cross-field kick was fumbled by the Australians and Nene Macdonald touched down, sending the packed crowd in Port Moresby into a frenzy of celebration.

Australia continued their dominance over Papua New Guinea in the annual Prime Minister’s XIII clash on Saturday afternoon, but were made to work for the full 80 minutes in an eventual 30-18 win.

Leading by just six as the closing minutes approached, it was only a Tyrell Sloan try just before full-time that secured victory for the visitors, who made 17 errors across the match and struggled to shake off PNG as a result.

In the end tries to Titans flyer Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Sharks workaholic Cameron McInnes and Sloan got Mal Meninga’s side home, with hooker Ben Hunt among their most impressive players as he pushed his claims for the Kangaroos’ No.9 jersey in next month’s Pacific Championships.

In what was one of their best showings in the end-of-year clash, the hosts got off to a dream start when Kyle Laybutt’s cross-field kick was fumbled by the Australians and Nene Macdonald touched down, sending the packed crowd in Port Moresby into a frenzy of celebration.

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Nene Macdonald Try

While the 6-0 lead would last only 10 minutes before Murray Taulagi hit back, it was clear from the arm wrestle that was taking place that PNG were well and truly up for it.

On the back of Laybutt’s long kicking game – aided by a strong wind at the back of the hosts in the first half – the PNG side were able to keep forcing Australia to bring the ball back off their own line, but ended up going to the sheds down 12-6 after Hudson Young scored just before the break.

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Hudson Young Try

When Cruise Ten battled his way over to tie scores six minutes into the second period, coach Justin Holbrook looked on track to make a historic start to his coaching tenure in PNG, but eventually the class of Australia shone through.

Khan-Pereira continued his remarkable rookie season with a try, to go with the 20 he scored for the Gold Coast this year, before McInnes got over on 62 minutes to create some breathing room.

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Alofiana Khan-Pereira Try

After Epel Kapinias had hit back to make it a one-score game with 10 to play, Australia survived some nervous moments to hold on, with Sloan’s try just before the final siren and Zac Lomax’s fifth conversion of the day sealed the win.

Match Snapshot

Coached by Kangaroos mentor Mal Meninga, the Australian team featured several players with Test and Origin experience.
Last year’s corresponding game was won 64-14 by the Australia PM’s XIII.
No Australian forward ran for over 100 metres in the face of a spirited PNG defence.

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PNG attack through defence

Australia made five line breaks to PNG’s one.
Captain Cameron Murray led the way with 44 tackles, while Judah Rimbu had a team-high 30 for PNG.
Cruise Ten registered nine tackle breaks in the loss and ran for 98 metres.

Play of the Game

A try that summed up the effort and passion shown by the PNG PM’s XIII. Cruise Ten had no right to score at first as he took the ball into multiple green and gold jerseys, but kept fighting to emerge over the line and bring almost everyone at Santos National Football Stadium to their feet once again.

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Cruise Ten Try

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