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Bianca Ojukwu pens down ‘love letter’ to Governor Ugwuanyi over Milliken Hill + Photos

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Milliken Hill: In My Lifetime…By Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu

Today I had to pass through the legendary Milliken Hill,  constructed almost a century ago by the British colonial government when coal was discovered in Enugu, and named after the head engineer who designed the road. The road was constructed in those days ( from 1909 )by the sheer efforts of vast numbers of Labourers drawn from the neighboring villages, using pick and axe to cut through the huge boulders and the dense forest. This was my first time in many months. 

This rollercoaster of a road is the umbilical cord that binds Enugu to to my paternal home community of Ngwo, 100 meters above sea level. There is no other road that offers a more breathtaking panoramic view of the sprawling Enugu metropolis as the Milliken Hill road peak.

Sighting Enugu at night from Millikin Hill

During my childhood, I had to pass through this meandering road on a daily basis in order to attend elementary school at All Saints School, Enugu.

This is a road that holds so many fond memories most especially that picturesque brook at the hilly rock where we used to halt in order to fill up our water bottles with the purest spring water available for our school lunchtime break.

This was a high risk engagement…alas, we did not realize this at the time. Innocence and a sense of immortality are great premiums that come with childhood. Even today, I can still predict almost instinctively every sharp bend and turn of this fright inducing and previously thread narrow road.

Beneath the Milliken Hill lies the Iva Valley where there exists a waterfall within a natural cave. It was also rumored to be the habitat of leopards, pythons and all manner of wild animals. As a matter of fact, one of the resident pythons in the thick forest valley was reputed to have swallowed whole a hapless Nigerian soldier at the end of the Biafra war, leaving behind only one of his boots to convey a stern warning to other intending intruders.

This was also the valley of the shadow of death; a veritable death trap and the scene of so many horrific accidents involving so many cars that had tumbled into the deep ravine below. Many drivers would perform the sign of the cross before approaching this stretch. Many decades of neglect had taken its toll on the historic road.

Today, however, the story is different. Weaving through this 4.8km winding road  I felt I was literally on the Grand Canyon freeway. The massive restoration works on Milliken Hill road have turned it into a leisure rider’s dream. I never believed I could witness this remarkable transformation in my lifetime…

The road has been expansively widened, there are functional street lights, Jersey Kerbs, security posts…Milliken Hill is now a traveller’s delight.

Kudos to the visionary Governor Ugwuanyi Of Enugu State for the laudable feat in preserving this magnificent heritage site and national treasure for future generations. My father would have been very proud. And so am I today. Your Excellency, May your shadow never grow dim.

May God transport each and every one of us safely to our various destinations to perform our civic duty and cast our votes . And May He have mercy on our country.

GrassRoots.ng is on a critical mission; to objectively and honestly represent the voice of ‘grassrooters’ in International, Federal, State and Local Government fora; heralding the achievements of political and other leaders and investors alike, without discrimination. This daily, digital news publication platform serves as the leading source of up-to-date information on how people and events reflect on the global community. The pragmatic articles reflect on the life of the community people, covering news/current affairs, business, technology, culture and fashion, entertainment, sports, State, National and International issues that directly impact the locals.

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NOTAP Announces Plan for 2025 Technology and Innovation Summit

….Harnessing R&D and Innovation Potentials of Nigeria’s STI Ecosystem

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NOTAP

The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has announced the forthcoming NOTAP Technology and Innovation Summit (NTIS 2025), scheduled to hold on Thursday, 6th and Friday, 7th November 2025 at THE HALL, 16 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, commencing daily at 9:00 AM.

Themed “Harnessing R&D and Innovation Potentials of Nigeria’s STI Ecosystem,” the two-day summit will convene key leaders from government, private sector, academia, development partners, and the startup ecosystem to explore strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s innovation landscape and positioning the nation as a hub for technology-driven economic growth.

Speaking on the upcoming summit, Dr. Lady Obiageli Amadiobi, the director-general of NOTAP, emphasized that the forum will serve as a strategic platform to foster dialogue and action around innovation policy, technology transfer, intellectual property, and commercialization.

Our goal is to accelerate the transformation of research and creativity into commercially viable enterprises that drive national development,” she noted.

Summit Highlights

The NOTAP Technology and Innovation Summit 2025 will feature:

  • Ministerial Address and Keynote Sessions by renowned leaders in innovation, policy, and technology.
  • High-Level Panel Discussions on key themes such as technology transfer, intellectual property sovereignty, and building an AI-ready human resources.
  • Launching of Project NOVA (Nigeria’s Outsourcing Value Acceleration) and promotion of the NOTAP Local Vendor Policy (LVP) across all sectors of the economy.
  • Workshops and Breakout Sessions on IP management, funding access, and talent development.
  • Exhibitions and Innovation Showcases, featuring startups, research institutions, and technology companies.
  • Hackathon and Pitch Showcase, for emerging innovators and young entrepreneurs.
  • Networking and Partnership Sessions to foster collaboration across sectors.

The Summit will also host a Special Exhibition Pavilion to highlight Nigeria’s emerging technologies, research outputs, and development partnerships, reflecting NOTAP’s commitment to bridging the gap between invention and commercialization.

Partnership and Collaborations

The event is organized by the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) in partnership with Crestsage Limited and collaboration with stakeholders, to ensure a world-class experience that aligns with NOTAP’s mission of accelerating technology, promoting innovation and sustainable development across Nigeria.

The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, mandated to regulate the acquisition of foreign technology, promote local research, and encourage the development and commercialization of indigenous technologies. Through strategic partnerships, policy advocacy, and capacity development, NOTAP continues to play pivotal roles in advancing Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.

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Ortom, NOA DG, others to feature as Panelists at GOCOP 2025 Conference

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GOCOP speakers
Panelists at GOCOP conference

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has announced that Chief Samuel Ortom, former Governor of Benue State, will serve as one of  the  panelists  at the upcoming GOCOP 2025 Conference.

The conference theme is “Reconciling Campaign Promises with Governance Realities: Challenges and Prospects.”

A press statement by GOCOP publicity secretary, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, disclosed that the panel discussion will feature esteemed panelists, including Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, Registrar, Base University, Abuja; Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika,2025 Director, Institute of Continuing Education (UNILAG); and Alhaji Lanre Issa-Orilu, Director-General, National Orientation Agency.

The conference, he said, will take place on October 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. 

He recalled that GOCOP had earlier announced that the keynote speaker will be Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and immediate past Governor of Katsina State.

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Takang, Ladid Lead Africa’s Digital Sovereignty Debate At DACE 2025

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LADID-TAKANG - DACE 2025
L-R: Prof. Latif Ladid and Dr. Armstrong Takang

How can Africa remain safe and powerful in a world being rapidly redefined by Artificial Intelligence?

That pressing question will take centre stage at the 13th Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition (DACE), scheduled for October 28–29, 2025, in Abuja.

The two-day gathering will be anchored by two powerhouse keynote speakers: Dr. Armstrong Takang on Day 1 and Prof. Latif Ladid on Day 2, each bringing unique expertise to Africa’s digital sovereignty conversation.

Dr. Armstrong Takang, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), will open the conference with a keynote that situates Africa’s digital sovereignty within the broader context of economic reform, institutional innovation, and strategic governance.

A consummate professional and visionary thinker, Dr. Takang has spent decades bridging the gap between public reform and private investment across Africa and the United States. Before his current role at MOFI, he served as Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, where he led the MOFI Transformation Team. 

His career includes leading Growth Alliance Partners (GAP), a pan-African firm that helped turn around several businesses to create shareholder value, and working at KPMG in New York.

He has been instrumental in designing and implementing key national initiatives such as the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), and the ICT components of EFCC/NFIU systems.

Dr. Takang has also chaired national ICT committees and contributed to landmark policies, including Nigeria’s Content Development in ICT and the country’s 50-year Development Plan. His keynote will highlight how digital and financial sovereignty intersect to secure Africa’s long-term competitiveness.

On the other hand, Prof. Latif Ladid, Founder & President of the IPv6 Forum and Chair of the AI & Blockchain Global Forum, brings decades of global leadership in internet architecture, digital policy, and emerging technologies.

His expertise spans across pivotal roles from IEEE Future Networks to the Internet Society, 3GPP, and EU research on next-generation networks.

Organizers say his keynote will set the tone for the conference, unpacking how Africa can assert digital sovereignty, safeguard its data, and lead in shaping the ethics and standards of AI on the global stage.

“This year’s theme, ‘Sovereign Intelligence: Africa’s Voice in the Global Digital Order,’ isn’t just a concept, it’s a necessity,” said Dr. Evans Woherem, Chairman of Digital Africa Consult. “Prof. Ladid’s keynote will highlight what it takes for Africa to remain safe, independent, and powerful in the new AI era.”

At a time when global powers are racing to define AI norms and secure digital dominance, Africa risks being left behind if it fails to act. Much of its technology remains imported, its data stored abroad, and its languages invisible in mainstream AI systems.

DACE 2025 is designed to change this narrative, by equipping Africa with the tools, strategies, and partnerships to become a proactive co-author of the digital future.

The conference will feature high-level dialogues on digital sovereignty, policy innovation, and cross-border cooperation, alongside exhibitions of homegrown startups, developer workshops, and showcases of African-built AI tools for health, agriculture, finance, and education.

Beyond the panels and showcases, DACE 2025 is expected to produce a concrete roadmap for Africa’s digital sovereignty.

“This isn’t just about technology,” noted Woherem. “It’s about agency, safety, and independence. With Prof. Ladid setting the stage, we hope to leave Abuja with a united vision of Africa’s place in the global AI order.”

With delegates expected from across Africa and the world, the two-day gathering promises to be a defining moment in the continent’s digital journey.

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