GR Diary
GTBank Launches Days of Dorcas Online Photography Competition


Foremost African financial institution, Guaranty Trust Bank plc, launches the Days of Dorcas Online Photography Competition.
The contest is part of the bank’s Art635 Gallery initiative aimed at promoting Arts and supporting African artists.
The online competition gives budding African female photographers, between the ages of 18 – 39 years, the opportunity to enhance their career in visual arts and photography.
To participate in the contest, interested artists/photographers are expected to send in their entries on the theme “The elegance of the African people” via the website; www.art635.gallery/daysofdorcas.
Entries close on 17th of May 2018 and will be assessed by a panel of judges. The top 25 finalists will receive a 6-day workshop (between 28th May, 2018 – 2nd June, 2018), which will be facilitated by experts in the arts and photography industry.
The winner and the 1st runner up at the workshop will be rewarded with photography equipment.
The experts that will train the top 25 at the workshop are;
- BénédicteKurzen, renowned documentary and journalism photographer
- TY Bello, celebrity photographer and philanthropist
- Jumoke Sanwo, Video Art and Virtual Reality artist
- Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko, Founder of Camara-Studios
- Uche Okpa-Iroha, Founding member of Blackbox photography and the Nlele Institute
Commenting on the Days of Dorcas Online Photography Competition, the Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, Mr Segun Agbaje, said; “At GTBank, we support hard work and creativity by encouraging young people to embrace every opportunity for self-expression.
By organizing the Days of Dorcas Online Photography Competition, we are helping promising artists and photographers to boost their skills as well as explore various ways to make a living off their works.”
GTBank has consistently played a leading role in Africa’s banking industry and is geared towards enriching lives through the different arms of its corporate social responsibility, which is in the area of Community Development, Education, Environment and Arts.
Events
NOTAP Announces Plan for 2025 Technology and Innovation Summit
….Harnessing R&D and Innovation Potentials of Nigeria’s STI Ecosystem


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.
Events
Ortom, NOA DG, others to feature as Panelists at GOCOP 2025 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.
Events
Takang, Ladid Lead Africa’s Digital Sovereignty Debate At DACE 2025


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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