News
Microsoft returns as sponsor for Data Science Nigeria’s Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp 2019
For the second year running, Microsoft through the 4Afrika initiative, is the lead sponsor of the 2019 Data Science Nigeria (DSN) Artificial Intelligence (AI) bootcamp, an all-expenses-paid learning bootcamp that builds Nigeria’s capacity in the use of advanced machine learning and deep learning concepts and drives the application of AI for socio-economic development.
The bootcamp will be held between 19 and 24 November 2019 in Lagos and will focus on the use of modern tools, particularly Microsoft Azure in Deep Learning, applied to concepts including convolutional neural networks, cognitive systems and natural language processing.
The bootcamp is driven by a broader strategic intent to accelerate Nigeria’s development through the solution-oriented application of machine learning to solve social and business problems, and to galvanise a data science knowledge revolution improving employability, technological innovations and sustainable socio-economic development.
This reinforces the DSN’s vision to create one million new jobs in the next ten years through world-class knowledge and best practices applications.
To support developers at the bootcamp, international software and structure engineers from Microsoft will be on-ground to share knowledge and practical experience.
Selected under the volunteering programme, MySkills4Afrika, , these leading experts will have the extended opportunity to train and mentor students on the day, helping to build the capacity of local AI developers.
“We were so impressed by the talent at last year’s DSN, which tasked developers with creating solutions for financial inclusion, and look forward to collaborating with DSN again this year,” says Ryno Rijnsburger, Head of Skills Development, Microsoft 4Afrika.
“To ensure everyone in Africa benefits from technology and the fourth industrial revolution, we need locally-relevant solutions that address African challenges. These solutions sit in the hands of our developers, which is why we’re empowering them to create and excel.”
Microsoft 4Afrika has been aggressively upskilling the African developer community in their use of modern technologies, and equipping them to innovate in the fields of healthcare, education, finance and agriculture.
Through its 19 SkillsLabs), Interns4Afrika, MySkills4Afrika and startup/ISV development programs, , Microsoft has paired developers with technical experts to gain real-world experience in cloud computing, secure coding, machine learning, and data analytics.
The bootcamp will be heralded by a one-day industry stakeholders’ seminar on the theme, ’Artificial Intelligence for Socio-Economic Development’, on Tuesday, 19 November 2019 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The first artificial intelligence textbook for Nigerian primary and secondary schools written by the convener Data Science Nigeria, Bayo Adekanmbi, will also be unveiled at this event.
The 2019 Artificial Intelligence bootcamp is fully residential, with free meals, accommodation and travel grants to all qualified candidates, who have gone through the intensive Kaggle competition and all the pre-study activities. The bootcamp learning sessions will be enriched by 25 leading experts from different parts of the world, including Margaryta Ostapchuk,
Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Canada; Sabrina Smai, Software Engineer, Microsoft Canada; Tom Dietterich, Distinguished Professor at Oregon State University and founder of BigML; Dr. Nnana Orieke, Cloud Solution Architect, Microsoft; Kris Sankaran, of the Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms, Canada and Anima Anandkumar, Professor of Computing, CalTech, USA.
Others are; Kathleen Siminyu, AI4Development, Kenya; Dr. Stephen G. Odaibo, CEO, RetinaAI, USA; Samuel Edet, founder of Colloq Initiative; Wale Akinfaderin, Senior Data Scientist, Duke Energy; Emmanuel Doro, Data Science Director, Walmart, USA; Uzo Mkparu, Group Head, CRM, Customer Analytics & Insights FCMB; Pascal Bernard, Head of Data Science, OneFi; Elaine Nsoesie, Assistant Professor, Boston University; Kunle Olukotun, Professor at Stanford University; Nicholas Litombe, Data Scientist and Physicist; Robert John, Data Science Officer, EnterFive; Dr. Sakinat Folorunsho, Lecturer, Computer Science, OOU; Olubayo Adekanmbi, Convener of Data Science Nigeria and Chief Transformation Officer, MTN Nigeria, among others.
Participation in the 6-day AI bootcamp is based on pre-competition Kaggle qualification at https://www.kaggle.com/c/intercampusai2019 and 100 Days of Machine/Deep learning classes at https://t.co/wBm6Qsul6b
Data Science Nigeria is a non-profit initiative of MTN’s Chief Transformation Officer, Bayo Adekanmbi, spurred on by a compelling drive to raise a new generation of data scientists and knowledge entrepreneurs who will lead high-impact artificial intelligence research for socio-economic development, transformational innovation, and the economic prosperity of Nigeria and the African continent at large.
The Enugu State government has inaugurated a steering committee to eliminate Gender-Based Violence, GBV, in the state, declaring zero tolerance for the social malaise.
The inauguration took place at the Government House Enugu.
The panel, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, draws its membership from the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education as well as the Civil Society.
Inaugurating the panel known as the Steering Committee for Strengthening Institutional and Community Responses to End Gender-Based Violence/Domestication of Enugu State Gender Policy using the Oputa Panel approach, Governor Peter Mbah restated his administration’s commitment to not bringing perpetrators of GBV to book, but also putting in place proactive measures – activities, infrastructure, and systems in place to prevent them.
Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said, “We take gender-based violence seriously. We have zero tolerance for it, and in Enugu State, we are ready to go the extra mile to deal with it.
“If you notice, the government has selected people that are very committed to this goal. This is not an activity where we just want to check-off the list. We will track this. We will monitor this, and we will have quarterly engagements on the successes that this particular committee has achieved in terms of reference that we are going to send.
“We will tighten those terms of reference indicators, so that we monitor what we are doing both in terms of cost input and the value added. It’s very important to us. Many people will be involved – civil society, the police and various ministries.”
He however, said that the effort was to protect everyone, men and women alike, as GBV was not restricted to any gender.
“The whole idea is to hold people responsible that are involved in matters relating to gender violence and deter people that by culture or by association get involved in that, protect women, protect our children, and in the case of violence against men, protect our men because most times we misconstrue gender violence to mean women, but it can also be men too.
“We encourage our men to speak out and to make sure they understand that the policy that Enugu State is soon going to domesticate is for everyone, and not only for the female gender,” he stated.
In her remark, Mrs. Enih, explained that the Oputa Panel approach was inspired by the need to cover all local peculiarities in domesticating the policy on GBV, restarting government’s confidence in the members of the panel.
“The approach we are going to use is the Oputa Panel approach, and in the Oputa Panel approach, we are going to tour the 17 Local Government Areas to get firsthand information about what our people are going through because policy is meant for the people, and a policy should suit the people.
“Again, every community has its peculiar problems, so that’s why the government decided that if we have to domesticate the gender policy, we have to hear from the people who own the policy and know the changes that they desire to see. That is the reason we are using this approach.
“The committee members are to also serve as judges. As we gather this information from our people, we will come back to tailor it in a way to suit the people of Enugu State, and then our policy is ready.
“We want the people to know that there is a gender policy for them. I can assure you that when the people are aware that there is such a policy, they will seek for the enforcement of that policy. So, this is not going to be one of those policies that will just lie on the shelf,” she said.
Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.
The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
Tinubu The Audacity To Hope – Two Years After
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Flags off Free to Shine Campaign Against HIV/AIDS, other STDs in Enugu
The Intellectual Sins of June 12: A Reckoning with Nigeria’s Democratic Conscience
LASG Acquires New Outboard Engines For Optimum Boat Performance
Elon Musk builds Hotel in Mars, Sets to launch soon at $5million per night – Photos
