03072019 - Buhari's Ruga policy, an explosive issue — SOYINKA

Hitachi opens data discussion in Abuja
By Juliet Umeh
H
I T A C H I
Vantara has said it is set to
drive the next wave of multiplied
innovations with Data driven insights
using Cloud Based technology
to empower and manage
modern workforces in Abuja.
The company said it would use
the forum to present solutions in
its stable that can help organisations
put their data into better use,
leading to monetizing such data.
The company said since everyday
business is under pressure to
meet up with set goals and objectives,
only digital transformation,
can help businesses accelerate
cost efficiency and time to market
by automating operations and
processes.
The company added that data
Vanguard, Wednesday, JULY 3, 2019 — 23
transformation would help increase
loyalty and grow revenue
by improving customer experience
and unlock innovations.
The company’s Managing Director
for West and East Africa, JP
Smith, said “Hitachi remains the
only OEM that guarantees you
100% data protection- no data
loss”.
Also, the company’s Regional
Managing Director, West Africa,
Wale Awosokanre, said “the company’s
data solution helps people
scale into the untapped potential
of data, riding on the company’s
experience on how to store, enrich,
activate and monetize data from
the business landscape”.
The event aims at engaging specific
organizations in both public
and private institutions on how to
become more effective at leveraging
data and analytics to power
their business models.
It is scheduled to hold at
Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja,
Nigeria on Tuesday.
At this event customers will
learn how to achieve smarter, faster
insights with integrated data
services and proven blueprints
that make the most of their data.
Achieve their business outcomes
and service levels with intelligent
resource deployment that streamlines
IT and reduces costs and
risks.
Modernize for digital transformation
using the right cloud strategy
built for their businesses with
the most flexible, open and trusted
choices
•Garment line of
Ariaria Market, Aba
Aba on the world
map again
•As Google takes digital training to Enyimba city Artisans
•Abia govt demands ICT policy, internet city from Google
•Promises to flag off Economic city, December
•Shoeline of Ariaria
Market, Aba
By Prince Osuagwu,
Hi-Tech Editor
The ancient town of Aba,
Enyimba City, Abia state has
remained a commercial city,
even before 1901 when the British
Colonial administration imposed
a military post there. yet the
presence of the military did not
change the status quo, but rather
emboldened the commercial
activities and in no time, the city
became a collecting point for
agricultural products following
the British established railway
line running through it to Port
Harcourt.
Its commercial nature is
original considering that it sits at
the intersection of roads leading
to Port Harcourt, Owerri,
Umuahia, Ikot Ekpene, and Ikot
Abasi - the unique feature which
original owners, the Ngwa clan,
may have seen before establishing
it as a market town, long before
the arrival of the colonial masters.
Although Aba was not made the
capital upon the creation of Abia
state in 1991, it however, remained
a major urban settlement and
commercial centre of not only the
state but the South East region.
The economic viability of
Enyimba city is not in doubt,
having naturally been endowed
with oil wells and a 30 kilometres
gas pipeline from the Imo River
natural gas repository, which
powers the city.
Aba is well known for its
handicrafts resulting in major
economic contributions being
Textiles and Palm Oil,
supported by pharmaceuticals,
plastics, cement, and cosmetics.
These, made the popular Ariaria
International Market the largest
in West Africa, exporting made in
Aba shoes, bags, garments, skin
artefacts among others to other
markets in Africa and beyond.
However, the down side of this
beautiful city is that nearly its over
three million population, which
are mainly craftsmen and traders
are plying their trade in crude and
analogue methods.
The alleged failing of successive
governments to keep the state up
to date with development did not
help matters. Road networks in the
city began to fail and eventually
deteriorated. Refuse now litter the
city in abysmal form, making it
become infamously the dirtiest city
in Nigeria.
Aba is well known
for its handicrafts
resulting in major
economic
contributions being
textiles and Palm
Oil, supported by
pharmaceuticals,
plastics, cement,
and cosmetics
However, between the current
Abia state government and
technology company, Google,
some changes appear to be on the
way.
While the tech company has
launched a digital skills training
to the ancient city, capable of
digitizing businesses of the
teeming Artisans, the state
government is making
preparations to flag off an
economic hub called Enyimba
Economic City, EEC. The hub is
located in a 9,803 hectares of land,
spanning three Local Government
Areas of Abia State, Ukwa East,
Ukwa West and Ugwunagbo.
The land is at the centre of the
five Southeast and four Southsouth
States and has the right
characteristics and ingredients to
drive massive economic
expansion of the region and by
extension Nigeria.
It has major arterial, intercity
roads connections. It is near
existing sea ports,Onne and
PortHacourt and proposed Akwa
Ibom deep sea port.
It has proximity to Owerri,
PortHacourt and Uyo Airports. It
has functional gas pipelines and
boarder Owaza gas fields. It is
transversed by existing National
rail line from PortHacourt to
Maiduguri .
The key pillars of Enyimba
Economic City is to create a
global business hub that has the
capacity to provide over 700,000
jobs, urban housing of over
300,000 units, urban population
of more than 1.5 Million people.
It is projected that the city will
provide more than
2,000industrial/ business units,
with estimated annual value
output of more than $5 Billion.
Google digital skills
Meanwhile, Google Nigeria at
the weekend launched its Digital
Skills for Africa program in the
city and other local communities
in Abia State.
Google’s Digital Skills for
Africa program offers training
courses to help individuals and
communities develop and grow
digital skills, find jobs and
advance in their careers. The
program provides free online
courses, tools, and in-person
digital training to students,
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