OBJECTIVES OF ICT DEPARTMENT

• To carry out and work in line with the ICT policy developed for MDAs by the Federal Government through its regulatory body NITDA
• To provide and maintain security for all level of access and privileges in the ICT operation of the Board
• To ensure that the Board acquire the best ICT equipment that complies with the Federal Government approval.
• To periodically conduct ICT related need assessment and advise the Board accordingly

GENERAL SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES OF ICT DEPARTMENT.

1. Provision of universal platform for Information Communication Technology for the Board
2. Assessing Information Communication needs of end users
3. Management and administration of the Board electronic information system/database/servers.
4. Deployment and maintenance of Local Area Network (LAN) connectivity in the Board
5. To assess and recommend bandwidth requirement for the Board and efficiently administer its usage.
6. To develop and maintain effective personnel record with the use of ICT (Digitalization)
7. Liaise closely with service providers, equipment vendors for proper and effective implementation of ICT related projects.
8. To organise and coordinate ICT related skill acquisition programmes for the Board.

SCHEDULES OF DIVISIONS, SECTIONS AND UNITS WITHIN ICT DEPARTMENT.

1. Administration

 The ICT administrator is the one who is responsible for the upkeep, configuration, and reliable operation of computer systems, especially multi-user computers, such as servers. His/her works includes but not limited to the following:

• Maintain computer infrastructures 

• Assist new users with computer and software issues

• Train employees on new systems

• Perform software updates

• Renew licenses and other legal documents

• Monitor ongoing contracts with suppliers

• Ensure compliance with quality standards

• Assess potential threats

• Oversee data storage

2. Technical support

When people need access to computer systems or require troubleshooting assistance, they typically get referred to the technical support team in the ICT department. Tech support team are always handy at fixing problems related to hardware and software issues, though their role within the Board does not end there. Another large part of their job involves educating people and answering questions relating to the technologies they use. Their duties include the following:

• Install new software or hardware

• Research and procure IT hardware and supplies

• Participate in IT inventory asset management

• Assist in backup and recovery of digital assets

• Troubleshoot network issues

• Create work logs

• Process documentation

• Configure phone systems

• Install video and audio conferencing

• Install and configure new printers, copiers and other equipment

• Provide and install cloud-based applications/services

• Repair hardware

• Sourcing of ICT based Entrepreneurs.

• Implementation of Office automation system by automating work flow in the office and eliminating bottlenecks.

3. Communication

There are several instances where the ICT staff helps facilitate successful communication between organizations or with other branches of the agency. The Board may communicate with potential or existing clients through different methods of technology. Meetings and interviews via web technology are becoming increasingly popular with advancements in digital technology. Here's a more detailed list of ICT responsibilities tied to communication:

• Set up point-to-point phone calls and conference calls

• Prepare video and web conferences

• Maintain and troubleshoot email systems

• Serve as a consultant to department heads and staff

• Coordinate security system by adding/deleting users

• Provide end-user support for computer applications

• Create backup copies of data sources

• Load new data into the system

4. Programming

The roles within a programming division of an agency utilize the skills of a web developer, programmer and possibly other ICT professionals in creating new programs that ultimately help organizations achieve their goals. They often work with software developers and engineers to translate their designs into workable code. Here's a list of duties specific to this area:

• Develop and enhance business applications

• Establish new databases using productivity software

• Convert printed and electronic documents to ASCII, HTML, PDF and other file formats

• Use graphic editing applications to copy, edit and save graphics

• Implement knowledge of application development languages

• Code in programming languages

5. Board’s website

There are many steps to creating a successful, user-friendly website. The ICT staff collaborates with the various departments and Technology Incubation Centres to implement the overall vision of how the website should look and function. Most commonly, the departments (and centres) provide content for the site and then passes it along to the ICT staff for implementation. ICT staff work behind the scenes to test the functionality of the webpages and assist with any user experience issues. Here's a list of duties that ICT staff perform on a website:

• Configure site layout

• Test the site for usability

• Maintain the Board internal network (intranet)

Roles in the ICT Department

The following roles were assigned to each and every individual in the ICT department for the smooth operation of our work.

1. Email Administrator: This is the one in charge of allocation and maintenance of the Boards official emails. (allocation, removal, recovery of password etc.)

2. Website Administrator: This one is in charge of all aspects of the Boards website, updates, design change, consultation and all dealings with the website designer (Consultant)

3. Domain Administrator: This one is in charge of the Boards Domain, allocation and removal of User names to all staff. Allocation of domain rights and access. All consultation and dealings, where necessary, with the consultant as regards the Boards Domain.

4. SharePoint Administrator: This one is in charge of the maintenance of the Boards SharePoint site, creation of new pages, administration of the pages, working with the consultant on the customization of the software, etc.

5. Network Administrator/Engineer: This one is in charge of the Boards Network, internet, security, IP addressing, dealing with Galaxy Backbone and the Consultants on all aspects of the Boards Network.

6. User Support: This one is in charge of dealings with staff problems, software or hardware. Liaises with other role handlers to solve staff problems where necessary etc.

STAFF STRENGTH OF ICT DEPARTMENT

The department has nine (9) staff, three (3) of which are on secondment, two (2) at the Office of National Security Adviser(NSA) and one (1) at the Project Development Agency (PRODA) as Follows:

1. Mr.Olufemi Olugbenga                  Supervising Director ICT

2. Muhammad Sani Abdulkadir             AD Program Analyst

3. Engr.Stephen Badu                Asst Chief Comp Engr.

4. Engr.Umar Farouk                On Secondment

5. Engr Surayya Habib                Asst Chief Comp Engr.

6. Daniel Onyekpeze                      On Secondment

7. Aisha Rufa’I Adamu                Snr. Program Analyst

8. Muhammad Shagari                On secondment 

9. Madu Shedrack Jang            Program Analyst I

LIST OF STAFF AND THEIR SCHEDULE OF DUTY

1.  MR. OLUFEMI OLUGBENGA the Supervising Director of the department, supervise and direct all activities of ICT Department.

2. MUHAMMAD SANI ABDULKADIR is the Domain administrator in charge of the Boards Domain, allocation of and removal of User names to all staff. Allocation of domain rights and access. All consultation and dealings, where necessary, with the consultant as regards the Boards Domain.

3. ENGR. STEPHEN BADU is the website administrator in charge of all aspects of the Boards website, updates, design change, consultation and all dealings with the website designer (Consultant).

4. ENGR. SURAYYA HABIB is the network administrator in charge of the   Boards Network, internet, security, IP addressing, dealing with Galaxy Backbone and the Consultants on all aspects of the Boards Network.  

5. AISHA RUFA’I ADAMU is the share point administrator the maintenance of the Boards SharePoint site, creation of new pages, administration of the pages, working with the consultant on the customization of the software, etc.

6. MADU JANG is User Support in charge of dealings with staff problems, software or hardware. Liaises with other role handlers to solve staff problems where necessary etc.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT FROM 2020 -2022

ICT Department in conjunction with its Technical Partners developed a road map (2020 - 2023) for the development of NBTI-ICT Infrastructure to serve as a guide for the project implementation. The total financial implication for the proposed ICT integration into Board’s operations was put at Ninety-Five Millions, Eight Hundred & Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five Naira (N95, 803,785.00) only. See attached copy of ICT road Map.

Through Capital Projects Budgetary Provision by NBTI from 2020 – 2021, ICT department successfully deployed for the implementation of the first phase of Digitization in NBTI HQ as mandated by the Federal Government. This Process of Digitization involves office or work automation/paperless operation with the aim of increasing effectiveness, transparency and efficiency of Government businesses in line with the Government agenda of harnessing digital technologies for job creation, inclusive economic growth and sustainability.

The Infrastructure implemented under the first phase of Digitization in NBTI are as follows:

• Dynamic Website Design & Deployment for NBTI HQ

• Development of web portal and Database

• Development of static website pages for TICs

• Windows Server 2016: Standard Edition SharePoint Server 2016

• Procurement of Anti viruses licenses for systems security

• Standard Edition & User CAL .

• SQL Svr Std 2014 : Standard Edition (2 CALS)

• Rack Mountable Server

• 42u 600x1000 Rack Mount Server Enclosure

• HP Proliant Server DL 380 GEN10, 4114, INTEL XEON SILVER, 7 CORE, 2.2GHZ, 16GB, DVD,

• Server Hard Drive: 500GB HDD

• 16 Port LCD KVM Console Switch With 17"Monitor, Keyboard

• ProLiant,  500GB drive, 16GB RAM

• Backup Server Hardware: NAS, 2TB drive, 4GB RAM.

In summary, the infrastructural development of Digitization in NBTI is to serve as bedrock for ICT driven Technology Incubation Programs (TIP). In this regards works and projects are presently ongoing to integrate the operations of NBTI and its TICs.

ONGOING ACTIVITES IN ICT DEPARTMENT (2023)

1. Redesigning and Re-Engineering of NBTI website (a window to the global audience) is underway. 

2. Portal Development: Looking into the Future of NBTI between 2023 – 2027 from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), ICT department has positioned itself to lead the Board in delivery of its mandate through generation of IGR. Firstly, Once the development of portal is done with (within couple of weeks from today), Prospective Entrepreneurs will now begin to enjoy the dividend of ICT driven NBTI through e-Application and e-tracking of application outcomes among others.

3. Full Digitization of Human Resource Department.

4. As an upscale IGR creation for NBTI, E- Commerce as a tool of ICT Driven TIP is also underway as we speak. This will serve a One-Stop-Shop for all our accredited entrepreneurs’ products to reach the targeted consumers in Nigeria, Africa and beyond. Through the E-Commerce Platform, the vision of the ICT department is to development an adaptive mobile Application for IOS and Android users in order to access the platform as a customer of NBTI entrepreneurs’ products or as a merchant who wants to do business with NBTI

5. Furthermore, within the aforementioned time frame, the department intend to collaborate with NITDA, Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, Galaxy Backbone Plc on BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY to deliver the dividend of emerging Technology with potentials of creating millions of jobs annually and geometry progression of IGR for NBTI.

6. Finally, the Department intend to partner with Commercial department to bring the benefit of ICT closer home through deployment of social media platforms to create an aggressive marketing strategy in order to deliver NBTI message to every Nigerian(s) who is on social media.

CHALLENGES

• Low Budgetary provisions for ICT projects.

• Lack of Capacity Building for ICT staff in areas of Web development, Database Management and creation, Networking and Programming’

• Lack of adequate working materials

SUGGESTIONS OF WAY FORWARD.

1. Improve in funding of ICT projects through Capital Projects location.

2. The Board should encourage ICT department to partner relevant stakeholders and venture capitalists both local and foreign as well as NGO to funds ICT projects in order to boost IGR.

3. The Management of NBTI should support initiatives of the departments in areas of Innovative ideas as well as creating wealth using Technology tools

4. The Management should allow ICT staff to be fully involved in any ICT project implementation at the Board.