₦airaland Forum

Computer scientist Chinasa Okolo makes Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence

Time Magazine has listed renowned Nigerian-American computer scientist Chinasa Okolo among the 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence.

The magazine revealed this in a video showing the recipients on its website on Thursday.

TIME magazine explained that Mrs Okolo, a Brookings Institution fellow, has contributed passages to the International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI led by Yoshua Bengio, the African Union’s strategy for responsible AI adoption, and Nigeria’s national AI strategy.

It explained that through these, along with her research, Ms Okolo is raising awareness about the benefits using AI could bring to African countries.

According to TIME, the benefits include the detection of floods and crop diseases and their potential harms, such as digitally-enabled harassment on microlending platforms.

Speaking to TIMES, Ms Okolo expressed optimism that “AI could help fuel socioeconomic development that has been much needed in Africa for the last half-century.”

Ms Okolo was “also concerned that this competition could limit the autonomy of African countries and perpetuate neo-colonial practices that have negatively impacted their economies.”

Throwback:
Instead of you to commiserate with him over the pressing medical issue in his family.

Typical Obi in Black supporter.

FreeStuffsNG:
If this is true then this is commendable. It's always family first.

RenaissanceGuy:
I scanned through the whole writeup and couldn't see where he said that. So, wrong headline by ThisDay.

US-Based Yoruba Group Leader, Gbonka Ebiri Threatens To Invade Edo, Kidnap Monarch, Rape Wife

A US-based leader of a Yoruba group, Yoruba First, Gbomka Ebiri, has threatened to invade Edo State and kidnap their monarch, rape his wife and chase him to Calabar in Cross River State.

The Yoruba group leader whose LinkedIn profile shows that he was a student at University of Calicut from 2013-2018, and is based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, made the threat during a social media live meeting.

In the disturbing audio of the live meeting posted on social media by a user with the account, @Voiceofigbos, Ebiri said, "I will invade Edo and kidnap your king and have his wife r@ped and chase him to Calabar like the white people did."

SaharaReporters called the mobile number of the spokesperson for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abdurrahman Balogun, for comments on the action the commission will take against Ebiri, but he did not answer. He had also not replied to a text message sent to him at the time of filing this report.

Ebiri’s threat comes amid nationwide outrage generated by a Nigerian woman based in Ontario, Canada, Amaka Patience Sonnberger’s threat and call for mass poisoning of Yoruba and Benin people.

Sonnberger, who made the call in a TikTok live meeting video making the rounds on social media, had vowed to start poisoning Yoruba and Benin people at her place of work.

Her threat generated a nationwide outrage with the Nigerian House of Representatives and the NiDCOM taking swift actions by writing to the Canadian authorities which led to her arrest.

Since Sonnberger’s made the threat against Yoruba and Benin people and the swift actions of the Nigerian authorities, there have been calls by some Nigerians for the arrest of President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Bayo Onanuga and one of the President’s loyalists, MC Oluomo, and others from different parts of the country who have made one threat or the other or hate comments against Igbo people or other tribes.

PMS Prices are Determined by Free Market Forces---NNPC Ltd

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has stated that foreign exchange (forex) illiquidity has been a significant factor influencing the fluctuation in prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which are governed by unrestricted free market forces, as provided for in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.

Speaking on TVC News' “Journalists' Hangout” show on Thursday, the Executive Vice President of Downstream, NNPC Ltd., Mr. Adedapo Segun explained that the current fuel scarcity was expected to “subside in a few days as more stations recalibrate and begin selling PMS.”

He said Section 205 of the PIA, which established NNPC Ltd., stipulated that petroleum prices were determined by unrestricted free market forces.

According to him, “The market has been deregulated, meaning that petrol prices are now determined by market forces rather than by the government or NNPC Ltd. Additionally, the exchange rate plays a significant role in influencing these prices.”

On the commencement of lifting PMS from the Dangote Refinery, Segun said that the NNPC Ltd. was awaiting the September 15th timeline provided by the Refinery.

Segun, who said no right-thinking individual would be comfortable with the current fuel scarcity, added that the NNPC Ltd. has nearly a thousand filling stations nationwide and was collaborating with marketers to “ensure that stations open early, close late, in order to maintain adequate fuel supply to meet the needs of Nigerians.”

He assured Nigerians: “We are also engaging relevant authorities to ensure products diversions are prevented and timely deliveries to all stations are ensured. The scarcity should ease in the next few days as more stations recalibrate and begin operations.”

Olufemi Soneye
Chief Corporate Communications Officer
NNPC Ltd.
Abuja

5th September, 2024

MadamVanessa:


Wale just insulted the whole north that gave Tinubu power. The north is nothing before them again.

nedu666:
The entire epistle was simply about obi

Chimarto:
They mean southern Yoruba, Wike's South and Akpbio

Kobojunkieee:
Rice again?

The Federal Government has recently provided all 36 states and Abuja, with 20 trucks of rice each for distribution. Our Governors should please expedite the distribution process to ensure that these essential supplies reach the targeted people swiftly and effectively.

pointblank247:
It's like you guys are tired of fingering Peter Obi, even though he doesn't have kitten. Na waa for those that like to finger men. Tuée