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NITDA, NYSC unveil Smart ID for 700 corp members

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has unveiled a new Innovation Space at its Abuja headquarters alongside a Smart ID solution, in a move aimed at transforming over 700 corps members.

Unveiled in Abuja, the initiative is providing a collaborative environment where members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and IT students are ideating, building and scaling solutions to national challenges. The programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is prioritising job creation, youth empowerment and digital inclusion as pillars of economic growth, according to the government tech agency.

At the centre of the rollout is the Smart ID, a digital identity solution enabling centralised and secure access to personal and business information via Near Field Communication (NFC) and QR code technologies. The platform is expected to streamline identity verification and improve how individuals and organisations exchange data across formal and informal ecosystems.

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Kashifu Inuwa, Director General, NITDA. Image credit: NITDA/X.

 

 

According to NITDA, the Innovation Space is functioning as a space for the more than 700 corps members engaged annually by NITDA, providing access to training, mentorship and a testbed for product development. The facility is bridging the gap between theoretical learning and practical application, enabling participants to transition from skill acquisition to enterprise creation.

 

Smart ID offers digital identity solution for corp members, NITDA says

NITDA is also introducing the COPA App, an NYSC Information Management System designed to strengthen the coordination of corps members’ activities. The platform is enhancing deployment processes, enabling real-time monitoring of engagements and streamlining administrative workflows, reflecting a broader government push towards end-to-end digitalisation of public sector operations.

Speaking at the unveiling, Kashifu Inuwa, NITDA Director-General, says the initiative is positioning young Nigerians to take ownership of their careers in a labour market increasingly shaped by emerging technologies.

He is urging corps members to improve their professional visibility, actively promote their skills and convert knowledge into deployable solutions that address real-world challenges. According to him, corps members currently serving at NITDA have already developed artificial intelligence-driven tools supporting the agency’s AI transformation agenda, with some solutions nearing deployment within the agency and across the country through the NYSC network.

According to NITDA, the Innovation Space is functioning as a space for the more than 700 corps members engaged annually by NITDA, providing access to training, mentorship and a testbed for product development. The facility is bridging the gap between theoretical learning and practical application, enabling participants to transition from skill acquisition to enterprise creation.

“Before you finish NYSC, you can either build your business using NITDA to promote your product, or do something outstanding and join us,” Inuwa says.

The Director-General of NYSC commended the initiative, describing corps members as solution providers capable of contributing meaningfully to national development. He is calling on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to leverage the growing pool of digital talent within the scheme, while also proposing the establishment of an NYSC innovation hub to deepen collaboration and co-create solutions to national challenges.

Beyond immediate benefits to corps members, the initiative is signalling a broader policy shift positioning national service as a platform for innovation and economic participation. By integrating digital skills development, mentorship and enterprise support within a unified framework, NITDA is building a pipeline that connects young talent to opportunities in Nigeria’s expanding digital economy.

The agency says it is working closely with the NYSC to scale the model nationwide, with plans to replicate the Innovation Space across multiple locations. The expansion is expected to decentralise access to innovation infrastructure and widen participation in technology-driven development.

NITDA adds that the initiative aligns with its strategic priorities around digital literacy, talent development, innovation and enterprise support, while reinforcing efforts to build a sustainable ecosystem where ideas evolve into impactful solutions and scalable businesses.

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Education

Kogi Varsity Expels Two Students Over Alleged Lesbianism, Sanctions Others for Assault and Misconduct

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The management of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Kogi State, has expelled two 200-level female students over alleged involvement in lesbianism.

The university also announced the expulsion of two other students over offences including physical assault, stabbing, and cloning of fellow students’ pictures, while another student was rusticated for one academic session for involvement in fighting and physical assault.

The institution disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, May 10, 2026.

According to the statement, the disciplinary actions were approved by the Senate of the university during its 30th Regular Meeting held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

The Deputy Registrar, Academic Affairs, Mr. Eli Usman Gbadafu, in separate letters addressed to the affected students, stated that the decisions of the Senate took immediate effect.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Abdulrahman Asipita Salawu, commended the Students’ Disciplinary Committee for what he described as a thorough and diligent handling of the cases.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the university remains committed to producing students with sound character and academic excellence, stressing that the management would not compromise on discipline or adherence to the institution’s rules and regulations.

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Plateau attacks: BYM passes vote of no confidence in OPEP Sector Commander 

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The Berom Youth Moulders-Association, BYM, has passed a vote of no confidence on the Commander of the Sector 4 of the Special Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, OPEP, in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Col. Victor Asuquo, and the Operations Officer, Captain Bello, following recurring and incessant attacks in the council.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the National Publicity Secretary of BYM, Rwang Tengwong on behalf of the National President, Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, the group stated that it was deeply concerned and worried about the deteriorating security situation in Barkin Ladi, as the OPEP troops continue to display incompetence, apathy, and a lack of seriousness in tackling the situation.

The BYM said the decision the failure in addressing the worsening wave of attacks and killings across Barkin Ladi and surrounding communities under their jurisdiction.

“The Association notes with pain and outrage that between April and 9th May, 2026, no fewer than 34 innocent natives have been brutally killed in separate attacks across communities within Sector 4, while over 70 hectares of farmlands have been destroyed by armed Fulani militias, further worsening the humanitarian and economic hardship faced by residents,” the statement reads.

The Association added that it has observed with serious concern that despite the visible presence of security personnel and checkpoints strategically located across Barkin Ladi, attacks have continued unabated, leaving communities vulnerable, helpless, and abandoned to the mercy of armed invaders who move freely from one village to another unleashing terror on defenseless citizens.

“Particularly heartbreaking is the gruesome killing of Mr. Gyang Kim Choji, a patriotic citizen who provided part of his home as accommodation for personnel of the STF stationed in his community. 

“Shockingly, he was slaughtered by suspected Fulani militias just a few metres away from the checkpoint situated directly in front of his house. 

“Rather than demonstrating empathy and professionalism, residents were further devastated after a video circulated on social media showing the Guard Commander at the checkpoint dismissing allegations against Fulani attackers without providing any explanation as to who then carried out the killing.

“The Association further recalls that members of the community had allegedly raised repeated complaints against the conduct and attitude of the said Guard Commander to the Sector Commander on several occasions. 

“These complaints reportedly bordered on threats, intimidation, and unprofessional conduct. 

“Sadly, no action was taken until angry women of the community, who were protesting and demanding the removal of the officer, dismantled the checkpoint on the day Mr. Gyang Kim Choji was buried.

“What appears even more shocking is an alleged statement credited to the Sector Commander, Col. Victor Asuquo, to the effect that the people “will see what will happen in the next two months since they are rejecting the military.” 

“This disturbing statement raises serious concern and leaves room for dangerous interpretations, especially as the security situation has continued to deteriorate since then with little or no visible effort by security personnel to stop the killings.

“Even more alarming is the latest attack currently unfolding in Sabon Layi, in the heart of Barkin Ladi town, where heavily armed terrorists invaded the community in broad daylight, shooting sporadically at residents with little or no meaningful response from security operatives.

“As at 6:15pm today, one woman had reportedly been shot dead, while another victim — a man who sustained severe gunshot injuries — was being rushed to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) for emergency medical attention.

“Disturbingly, reports further indicate that as at 7:59pm, simultaneous attacks were being carried out within the central town of Barkin Ladi in areas including Sabon Layi, Rakung, Gangare, and the General Hospital area (Zat and Bet). Residents now live in fear of further attacks as the situation continues to deteriorate before the eyes of security agencies.

“The Berom Youth Moulders-Association states categorically that the continued killings, destruction of property, and occupation of farmlands under the watch of Sector 4 of Operation Enduring Peace have exposed the apparent failure of the current leadership of the sector to protect lives and property.” 

According to Mwantiri, the BYM demands the immediate redeployment of Col. Asuquo and Captain Bello from the Sector, insisting that the people of Barkin Ladi have completely lost confidence in their ability to secure the area or inspire hope among traumatized communities.

“The lives of the people of Barkin Ladi matter, and no community should continue to bury its people daily while security checkpoints merely count casualties after every attack,” the BYM concluded. 

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