The Discarded Gems in Your Midst By Don Kenobi
OBI KENOBI
By Don Kenobi
Lagos
Sunday, May 20, 2012
I just returned from a walk on the Lagos Bar Beach.
Though an avid photographer, I have no photographs documenting the horrid conditions in which some of our fellow citizens live.
I’ve learned to write in précis—to keep my emotions from clouding my advocacy.
Suffice it to say this: Fellow Nigerians, we are all sinners.
With due respect to Dr. Tilde for his excellent article—a counterpoint to the CNN/Time piece that described hunger in Niger as “Hunger Games on steroids”—I say to you that we must all, you and I, go to the bar beaches around us... and search for Aisha there.
Let members of the ruling class go in search of Aisha—in disguise, barefoot or wearing torn shoes, and bearing gifts.
Gifts to meet the physiological needs of the poor in our midst.
But also to receive a gift in return: the gift of a simple, uncluttered existence.
Let them return to their marble-floored offices with a renewed determination to perform their assigned tasks with honor.
As I walked down the Bar Beach, I thought of the enormous buildings in Abuja—Ministry of This, Ministry of That—and struggled to see how these structures matter to the people I saw.
People relieving themselves openly, without shame.
I saw a middle-aged man sitting alone in what looked like a discarded canoe, eating by himself.
I wanted to ask his story.
And then I thought of the government’s plan to build 13 new federal secretariats across the country.
Why?
Shouldn’t we instead be considering the merging of state and federal civil services?
Shouldn’t the rule of law forbid government actions that serve no purpose beyond enriching contract awarders and recipients—projects that may never be completed or used?
I haven’t even mentioned the convoy of jerrycan-bearing trucks pushed by eager youths—making their way from the Kuramo end of the Bar Beach to the NTA side.
They will return, pulling those trucks, now heavy with water.
And yet... these people live barely 80 meters from one of the largest bodies of water on Earth.
Salt water, yes—but water, nonetheless.
Clearly, some Nigerians expect a desalination plant—complete with user manuals and spare parts—to fall from the sky.
You’d think, if Nigeria were the only country you’d ever known, that technology was never meant to solve problems.
Father in Heaven!
Why are we like this?
Please—send us a road map along with the desalination plant.
I’ll conclude with a poem written by KD Lee, a character in Gods and Negroes:
The gems in your midst are crying for warmth
(The spark of the gems lies smoldering in dust)
And the dust in your midst is swirling and tossing
And shaking the faith of their gentle souls.
And the gentle ones, like the spark in your midst,
Will smolder in your dust of iniquities...
And with the loss of the diversity in your midst...
You’ll crumble, as you have done
Since 1914.
Nigeria, be gentle to yourself.
Don Kenobi
May 2012
[Before I met the #OldManInTheMolue]
Pastor Emeka Okala:
This is another one for your ignorance.
Enjoy!
Kayode
Bosun Tijani: Nigeria’s digital economy attracted $191m FDI in Q1 2024
The federal government says Nigeria’s digital economy sector recorded $191 million foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024 — a sharp rise from $22 million in the same period of the previous year.
Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, spoke during an interview for a forthcoming state house documentary to mark the second anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Tijani said the growth was driven by foundational reforms and strategic investments aimed at transforming the sector into a key engine of economic growth.
In Q1 2023, the sector had about $22 million; by Q1 2024, with this administration well underway, we reached $191 million,” the minister said.
The trend continued in Q2, increasing from $25 million in 2023 to $114 million in 2024.”
He credited the improvement to workforce development programmes such as the ‘3 million technical talent’ (3MTT) initiative, which has “trained over 117,000 Nigerians in digital skills — far exceeding its initial target of 30,000″
He added that an additional 35,000 are currently in training.
He added that an additional 35,000 are currently in training.
We hope to reach the full 3 million target before the end of this administration,” Tijani said
We are preparing a $2 billion investment to ensure every Nigerian can access affordable, high-quality connectivity regardless of location. Increasing connectivity hubs by just 10% could yield a 2.5% GDP growth.”
According to Tijani, the government’s push for digital inclusion also targets rural areas, with plans to deploy 7,000 telecom towers nationwide to achieve 98 percent connectivity coverage.
The project, he said, has received the federal executive council (FEC) approval, noting that 12 states have adopted zero-rated right-of-way policies — a development he described as a “game-changer” for broadband expansion.
The government aims to increase broadband penetration from 48% in 2024 to 90% by 2025,” he said.
‘NIGERIA NOW AMONG TOP 60 COUNTRIES IN AI READINES’
Highlighting Nigeria’s rise in the global tech landscape, Tijani said the country is now ranked among the top 60 nations in AI readiness.
He also noted the creation of a homegrown large language model (LLM) and the launch of the AI Collective platform, backed by partners such as Pierre Omidyar, Google, and Microsoft.
The minister said N300 million has been invested in 10 startups using AI and blockchain to enhance agricultural productivity, while 55 researchers have received funding to explore tech applications in healthcare, education, and farming.
Tijani said over 500 government technologists have been trained in artificial intelligence and digital public infrastructure (DPI).
The minister said N300 million has been invested in 10 startups using AI and blockchain to enhance agricultural productivity, while 55 researchers have received funding to explore tech applications in healthcare, education, and farming.
Tijani said over 500 government technologists have been trained in artificial intelligence and digital public infrastructure (DPI).
He also confirmed that the digital economy bill has passed its first reading in the national assembly.
The minister projected that the sector’s contribution to GDP could rise from 16 percent to 22 percent, citing the “transformative potential” of digital technologies.
If a sector can increase its contribution by three to four per cent to the GDP, we’re about to see the economic growth—we’ve not seen it before,” he said.
“Technology allows us to break the gap between governments and the people.”
Tijani said the government is focused on long-term impacts “that will transform our economy for generations to come.
Afis
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