The Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR), Dr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi says Nigeria now has a new curriculum incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology.

This is part of the Nigerian government’s drive to digitally transform the public service system.

Dr Arabi made the disclosure while presenting a paper on artificial intelligence and blockchain adoption in the Nigerian public service at the first Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain Conference and Training (AIBIC–Abuja 2025), organised by Havel Corporate Concept Limited.

“The government remains committed to creating a digitized public service for school children to responsibly operate and manage. Policies and programs have been set up to enable them effectively key into technology,” he said.

Dr Arabi said that “Nigeria now has an e-government master plan to further entrench technology use.

“School children should key into technology. Policies and programs have been set up for them. We have a new curriculum that is supporting adoption of AI, creating a space where they will be safe within the space of technology utilisation.”

“This initiative began in 2004 under the National Strategy on Public Service Reforms, with the aim of fully digitising the public service. Significant progress has been made in digitising public financial management, which is now handled entirely through paperless processes across all MDAs.

“By the end of December 2025, all ministries are expected to have their activities fully digitised. Between 2002 and 2003, the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to deepen the adoption of artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies. Today, Nigeria has an e-government master plan, ”Dr Arabi explained

He emphasised that the strategy aims to improve transparency, accountability, fight corruption, and enhance the effectiveness and quality of public service.

“Over 10 ministries are fully paperless, and we hope others will join before year-end,” he said.

The CEO of Havel Corporate Concept Limited, Dr. Ahmed Badanga highlighted the importance of combining AI and blockchain, noting that “it creates intelligent, secure, and transparent systems across industries.”

He said the conference also aimed to examine legislation, regulatory frameworks, and ongoing bills related to AI in Nigeria.

As part of the initiative, an AI Club for Nigerian schools has been launched to empower students as ethical digital citizens, with pilot programmes approved by the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) and the FCT Secondary Education Board (FCT-SEB).

Lady Florence Wenegieme, Director of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at FCT UBEB, said forming AI clubs in secondary schools would allow students to engage in extracurricular digital learning while networking with peers and teachers.

The event featured the unveiling of the first beneficiaries of the AI school project, with 30 students from Junior Secondary Schools Wuse Zone 3 and Government Day Secondary Schools Wuse 2, Abuja.

Awards were also presented to innovators, policy makers, and companies driving AI technology forward in Nigeria.

The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) has intervened to quell rising tensions in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.

The move came following allegations involving the Dangote Refinery group and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The committees, led by Mr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Mr. Henry Okogie, convened an emergency meeting to address what they described as “growing tension” capable of undermining the fragile stability recently achieved in the sector.

They summoned both parties to present their grievances and ordered a halt to all media hostilities pending the outcome of the investigation, which is expected to be concluded within days.

“The key issue that necessitated this emergency meeting was the growing tension that has returned to the downstream sector as a result of concerns and allegations raised by Alhaji Aliko Dangote against the NMDPRA,” Ugochinyere said.

He explained that “the committee’s goal is to obtain a clear understanding of the issues to broker lasting solutions without fear or favour.”

“We can only find sustainable solutions when we identify the critical issues leading to this tension. That is why the committee resolved to write to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the NMDPRA chief to meet with us and give insights into what is driving these allegations and counter-allegations,” he said.

In a bid to calm the situation, the committee appealed to both parties to halt public exchanges and media comments while the legislative intervention is ongoing.

“We resolved to plead with the contending parties to cease fire, especially media comments, so that the situation does not escalate further,” Ugochinyere noted.

The committee has also received petitions relating to critical industry concerns, including the issuance of import licences and the capacity of domestic refineries to meet Nigeria’s daily petroleum needs.

“By the time Aliko Dangote, the NMDPRA, and other stakeholders meet with the committee, we will get the real gist of what is happening and come up with resolutions that provide sustainable solutions for the sector,” he assured them.

He reiterated that all outstanding matters would be thoroughly examined, urging stakeholders to suspend further accusations while the House works to resolve the dispute in the national interest.

“The decisions announced reflected the unanimous outcome of the committee’s closed-door deliberations,” Ugochinyere said, affirming the committee’s readiness to stabilize the sector amid heightened public scrutiny.

The Nigerian Senate, through its Committee on Finance has expressed concern over the Nigerian government’s practice of implementing multiple budgets within a single fiscal year, a situation experienced in 2025.

During an interactive session on the 2026–2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), the Senate tasked the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to increase its projected revenue target for 2026 from N31 trillion to N35 trillion.

This comes as the Nigerian government reported a shortfall of N30 trillion from its N40 trillion revenue target for 2025.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun explained that while revenues for the 2024 budget were fully realised, the 2025 budget fell short.”

“Funding for the capital components of the 2024 budget has been met through realization of the total projection of N26 trillion revenue, but that of 2025 has not been met. Out of the projected N40 trillion revenue for 2025, only N10 trillion has been realized, leaving a shortfall of N30 trillion and consequently making the federal government roll over 70% of capital projects captured in 2025 fiscal year to 2026,” he said.

Several Senators, including Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), Olalere Oyewumi (Osun West), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), and Aminu Iya Abbas (Adamawa Central), expressed displeasure with the practice of multiple budget implementations.

Senator Goje said: “This ugly situation we found ourselves on multiple budget implementations should please end by this year. It is not acceptable. Things must be normalized from next year.”

Senator Oyewumi urged the government to present realistic budget proposals saying “Since budgetary proposals were not given to the government by the governed, government should please present realisable proposals to avoid non-implementations which usually dovetail into multiple implementations in subsequent years.”

Senators Victor Umeh and Ireti Kingibe questioned why the Nigerian government did not use borrowings approved by the National Assembly to fill the revenue gaps.

Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Finance Committee, promised that budget normalisation would start in 2026.

He announced that a three-man ad hoc committee would liaise with the Minister of Finance and the Accountant-General of the Federation to ensure payment of local contractors for projects executed in 2024 before the budget expires on 31st December.

The Committee also directed FIRS Chairman, Mr. Zacch Adedeji, to work toward realising N35 trillion as the 2026 revenue target.

Adedeji noted that “while FIRS realized N20.2 trillion in 2024 and N25.2 trillion in 2025, the gains are often eroded by multiple budget implementations within a fiscal year.”

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, and Minister of State (Petroleum), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, defended the parameters set for the N54.4 trillion 2026 budget, including 1.84 million barrels of oil production per day, $64.85 per barrel oil price benchmark, and N1,512 to 1 USD exchange rate.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas has described young African entrepreneurs and professionals as critical drivers of innovation, job creation, and economic resilience.

Speaker Abbas stressed hat their passion and willingness to take risks will continue to expand opportunities across sectors.

He stated this at the CEOs Network Awards Gala and Cocktail Night, organised by CEOs Network Africa at the National Assembly.

“It is inspiring to acknowledge that young entrepreneurs and professionals remain central to innovation, job creation, and economic resilience. Nigeria’s, and indeed, Africa’s future prosperity depends in large measure on how well this group is supported, guided, and empowered,” he said.

According to the Speaker, the event provided a platform to examine some of the most pressing challenges facing Africa, particularly the quality of leadership shaping enterprise, governance, and development across the continent.

He noted that the gathering not only celebrates leaders working towards a stronger and more adaptable Africa, but also serves as a networking hub that brings together people and resources to foster a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Speaker Abbas said the urgency of the forum lies in its focus on building a strong community of young professionals capable of advancing Africa’s vision for a united, resilient, and prosperous continent, especially at a time of global economic uncertainty.

“Our only chance lies in establishing a continent-wide single economy that will expand our market, making it highly attractive and increasing direct foreign investment,” he said.

While reaffirming the House’s commitment to youth empowerment and inclusive economic participation, the Speaker stressed that laws encouraging enterprise and removing barriers to opportunity remain vital to national progress.

Speaker Abbas said; “The 10th House is committed to building a policy environment that protects enterprise, rewards innovation, and gives young Nigerians the confidence to invest their talent and resources in the future of this country… Legislative action would continue to focus on fairness, access, and growth.”

He further stated that the House remains determined to strengthen institutions, promote accountability, and ensure that economic growth is driven by laws that are just, inclusive, and responsive to the aspirations of the next generation.

Speaker Abbas also commended CEOs Network Africa for emerging as a significant force in national and continental development over the past seven years through its consistent promotion of leadership, entrepreneurship, and ethical standards.

Speaker Abbas said the organisation’s programmes align with the eight-point Legislative Agenda of the 10th House, particularly in the areas of economic growth, youth engagement, institutional strengthening, and inclusive governance.

“The House places high value on platforms that prepare citizens to contribute meaningfully to national progress, and the work of this Network speaks directly to those priorities through practical engagement and capacity building,” he said.

Speaking at the event, the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Alhaji Jibrin Baba Ndace, described CEOs Network Africa as “a source of national pride, noting that the organisation proves that “a lot is possible in Nigeria.”

While congratulating the Network for its consistency, Ndace urged young entrepreneurs to prioritise mentorship.

“Mentorship is key. Even when you have ideas, you must have serious mentorship… it’s not enough to be intelligent; it’s not enough to have intellectual capacity; you must nurture relationships with people,” he said.

Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku challenged young entrepreneurs to live lives of legacy.

He said; “It is not enough for us to feel excited; it is important for us to live a life of legacy,” he said, urging participants to commit to initiatives that positively impact humanity.”

Dr. Neliaku also dismissed negative international perceptions of Nigeria, insisting the country compares favourably with many others globally.

“Nigeria is not as bad as the narratives that the international community wants to make us believe… The only difference is that they know how to manage their challenges,” he said.

In his remarks, the founder of CEOs Network Africa, Mr. Alli-Bob Cinwon, said the organisation began eight years ago as a small idea-sharing group and has since grown to over 20,000 young entrepreneurs across Africa.

He disclosed that the Network has hosted seven award gala nights, 15 power networking events, and trained over 200 young people through its entrepreneurship and leadership master classes.

“This dream just started with young people that had zeal, courage, and were committed to the cause,” he said, thanking supporters for their continued backing.