He said the investment in STI was in line with the African Union resolution that member nations should invest at least one per cent of their respective nations’ GDPs to the development of science, technology and innovation.

Buhari, who was represented by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the 2021 Science and Technology EXPO yesterday in Abuja.

In a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology in Abuja, the President said the science and technology EXPO should serve as vanguard to establish Nigeria’s economy as an innovation driven one.

This came as the Federal Government granted full scholarship up to doctorate degree level to three secondary school students who emerged winners at this year’s Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award Competition.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami is expected in Lagos for the official commissioning of the Tech Experience Centre cited within the prestigious eight-storey building Yudala Heights on Idowu Martins Street, Victoria Island on October 1, 2020.

Also expected to attend the launch of the auspicious project are stakeholders from the technology sector, corporate egg-heads and other dignitaries, not exceeding 50 in line with the current guidelines on public gatherings occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The revolutionary Tech Experience Centre, the first of its kind in Africa, is set for launch on Thursday, October 1, incidentally the occasion of Nigeria’s 60thIndependence Anniversary by 12noon, with the launch streamed live online for the benefit of tech enthusiasts.  

This is first time in the history of man and technology that global tech giants such as Cisco, Dell EMC, HP, Microsoft, Samsung, Philips, Bosch, Schneider Electric and Zinox, among others, are coming together to establish their respective experience centres under one roof to create a truly immersive and rich experience of latest technologies in action.

For the first time, Nigeria will play host to the latest global technologies including those not normally available in Africa, offering all classes of visitors a first-hand experience of new gadgets, solutions and infrastructure that would have previously required a visit abroad, thereby saving corporate organizations, government establishments and individuals money or scarce foreign exchange expended on these trips.

After weeks of anticipation and suspense, excitement, TD Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest tech, lifestyle and solutions distributor and one of the companies in the Zinox Group, is set to raise the curtains on the Tech Experience Centre, an ambitious technology project that is widely expected to bridge the gap to cutting-edge technology for millions of Nigerians.

The Tech Centre is widely expected to boost Nigeria’s relevance in the global technology race and shore up the country’s march to technology independence.

Also raising the excitement for the launch of the Tech Experience Centre is its status as one of the greatest achievements in Nigeria’s technology history and a huge confidence-booster in the Nigerian economy, despite the challenges faced by the current administration which has shown greater commitment in leveraging technology in building a digital economy for all Nigerians.

Nevertheless, the event will be streamed live to millions of Nigerians via various digital channels.

Already, a number of globally-renowned international tech giants, all of whom will be housed within the Tech Experience Centre, will provide real time information, support and expertise to visitors and other prospective customers, eager to be acquainted with the technologies on ground.

Quite significantly, the unveiling of the Tech Experience Centre resonates with the recent call by the Chairman, Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh on the Federal Government to declare October 1st 2020 Nigeria’s technology independence day. Ekeh, a serial digital entrepreneur, had based his recommendation on the giant strides recorded by the country in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

‘‘October 1^st 2020 is traditionally Nigeria’s Independence Day. It is a day that commemorates Nigeria’s emergence as a sovereign state. Considering the massive strides recorded so far in our journey to technological emancipation, the Federal Government should strongly consider declaring October 1^st Nigeria’s technology independence day,’’ Ekeh had suggested.

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, has reconfirmed its commitment to offer regular security and software updates across its range – irrespective of price point.

While key competitor brands have fewer than a third of their sub-US$200 smartphones updated to the latest Android version, HMD Global is proud to announce it is adding another value smartphone to its line-up of Android 10 devices – the Nokia 2.1.

According to the latest data from Counterpoint Research, more than 90% of Nokia devices in the price tier get updated to the latest and most secure operating system.

HMD Global, which leads among the top Android brands with the regularity of its software and security updates, has now updated 18 Nokia smartphones to Android 10 within a year of its release. That confirms the business belief that a phone should be built on the basis of security, reliability and dependability from the moment it is devised – a commitment that it has been investing heavily in over the last few months.  

With the latest data showing that 94% of the portfolio of Nokia phones gets updated to the latest Android version within a year of release, HMD Global is the fastest manufacturer to reach that level of updates. The company offers up to two years of free operating system (OS) upgrades which include new features to optimise the overall experience and improve the security of the device. 

Olamide Amosu, Head of Marketing, West Africa at HMD Global, said: “Maintaining optimal software performance is critical to the long-term health of a smartphone which is why we are investing in this part of the process. Consumers deserve to have a secure and up-to-date Android experience, with no bloatware for added peace of mind. Recent research found that pre-loaded applications in handsets with custom Android skins can create flaws and gaps that can be taken advantage of for malicious intent – something that we want to ensure against.”  

As part of its long-lasting commitment to security, earlier this year, the company announced that the acquisition of Valona Labs and was the launch of a brand-new Centre of Excellence in Tampere, Finland.  

Bringing together HMD Global’s commitment to delivering secure, reliable and dependable mobile experiences and Valona Labs’ expertise in mobile, enterprise and cybersecurity software, the move further built upon the company’s reputation as a global leader in smartphone software updates and security. The Centre of Excellence specialises in researching and developing new ways of delivering technology. This includes investigating remote device locking, enterprise mobility management, mobile device software security, secure network communication and black box testing.