Tag Archives: education

Nigeria’s Military Pay Raise Signals a Broader Debate Over Security in Africa

Posted on by Leave a comment

By Paul Ndiho | Ndiho Media

Nigeria has made one of its biggest investments in the military in years. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a 30 to 80 percent salary increase for roughly 250,000 active-duty personnel, raising the annual military payroll from 660 billion to 924 billion Naira. The new pay takes effect on September 1, 2026, with the largest increases going to junior enlisted soldiers—the men and women carrying the heaviest burden in counterinsurgency operations across the Northeast, Northwest, Niger Delta, and Southeast.

At first glance, the announcement sounds like a breakthrough. In reality, it’s more of a long-overdue correction. Years of inflation and a weakening naira have steadily eroded soldiers’ purchasing power, making it harder for many to support their families. The raise helps close that gap, but it doesn’t put Nigerian troops among the continent’s best-paid forces. Soldiers in countries such as South Africa, Algeria, Morocco, and Kenya still receive stronger overall compensation packages, often including housing, healthcare, tax incentives, and other benefits.

Still, the importance of this decision goes far beyond the size of the paychecks.

Military experts have long argued that poor pay affects much more than household finances. It chips away at morale, encourages experienced personnel to leave the service, and can create opportunities for corruption when soldiers are forced to make impossible financial choices. Viewed through that lens, improving military pay isn’t simply an employment issue—it’s an investment in national security.

The salary increase also opens the door to a much broader conversation about how African militaries have been structured for decades.

Many governments across the continent have relied on what’s often called “coup-proofing”—directing the best funding, equipment, and political attention toward elite presidential guard units while conventional forces receive fewer resources. The logic has been to protect those in power. Yet history has exposed the weakness of that approach. Ironically, many of the same elite units created to safeguard governments have gone on to lead coups across West and Central Africa, highlighting the dangers of concentrating military power around the presidency instead of strengthening the armed forces as a whole.

Of course, higher salaries alone won’t solve Nigeria’s security challenges.

Building a modern, professional military requires much more than better pay. Transparent payroll systems, reliable pensions, stronger welfare programs, quality training, and sustained investment in modern equipment all matter just as much. Compensation is only one piece of a much larger puzzle.

By giving its biggest raises to junior enlisted personnel, Nigeria has acknowledged where the greatest pressures exist. That’s an important first step. The bigger test is what comes next. If this pay increase becomes part of a broader effort to strengthen military institutions, improve accountability, and invest in the people who serve, it could mark the beginning of meaningful reform. If not, it risks becoming another temporary fix in a much longer struggle to build a military capable of meeting Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

Why Africa’s Students Need Their Phones: A Personal Take on the Smartphone Debate

Posted on by Leave a comment

By Paul Ndiho| Ndihoi Media

When Australia’s government announced plans to ban smartphones for kids under 16, I couldn’t help but think about how different our reality is here in Africa. The news sparked heated debates across our continent about whether smartphones belong in our classrooms. Trust me, this isn’t just another policy discussion – it’s about the future of an entire generation.

I found myself speaking with journalist Sheila Ndikumana on SABC’s “African Diaries” radio show.  I was miles away, but the studio felt charged with energy as we tackled the question that’s dividing parents, teachers, and policymakers: Should we ban smartphones in schools?

Here’s what I told Sheila and her global audience: Africa can’t afford to fall behind while the world moves forward. While critics worry about distractions and mental health – valid concerns, I admit – they’re missing a crucial point. For millions of African students, smartphones are more than just luxury gadgets or toys. They’re the only computers these kids will ever own.

Think about it. A teenager in rural Uganda or Ghana holding a smartphone has the same access to information as a student in New York or Tokyo. That’s not an exaggeration – it’s the reality that could transform our continent. Access to technology and smartphones has become an opportunity for employers.

The Digital Bridge

Let me paint you a picture. Across Africa, I’ve met young innovators who taught themselves coding on secondhand Android phones. In Lagos, I watched a 19-year-old create a mobile app that helps local farmers check market prices.  In Nairobi, a group of students built a platform connecting tutors with struggling classmates. In Uganda, the SchoolPay platform has changed the way parents and students pay for their tuition. These aren’t isolated success stories – they’re glimpses of what’s possible when we embrace technology instead of fearing it.

The numbers back this up. Recent data shows that 65% of online learners in Sub-Saharan Africa access their courses through smartphones and tablets – the highest percentage globally. In Nigeria alone, 76% of learners use mobile devices for education. This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about necessity.

Critics often point to studies from countries like Norway and Finland showing improved academic performance after banning phones. But here’s what they’re missing: those countries already have computers in every classroom, reliable internet, and well-trained teachers. Their students aren’t relying on phones as their primary source of knowledge.

Africa’s Tech Leap

We’ve seen this story before. Africa skipped landlines and went straight to mobile phones. We pioneered mobile money while other continents were still writing checks. Now, we’re poised to leapfrog traditional education models, too.

The smartphone represents our chance to democratize learning. It can be a library for villages without books, a science lab for schools without equipment, and a creative studio for budding artists who can’t afford expensive software.

Of course, we need to address the real concerns. Cyberbullying, distraction, and mental health issues aren’t trivial. But banning phones? That’s like banning books because some people read inappropriate content. The solution isn’t prohibition – it’s education.

Teaching Digital Wisdom

What we need is digital discipline. Schools should establish clear guidelines for responsible phone use instead of imposing outright bans. Parents and teachers must work together to set boundaries. Most importantly, we need to teach digital ethics, media literacy, and online safety as core parts of our curriculum.

I shared a story with Sheila that still resonates with me. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, once told students that if he had kids, he’d prioritize teaching them to code over multiple languages. That stuck with me. When I got home, I introduced my two daughters to technology early – not for endless scrolling, but for creation and learning. Today, they navigate digital tools confidently and even write simple code. They’re growing up in a world where tech fluency is as essential as reading or math.

The Stakes Are High

Here’s the truth: Africa cannot afford to lock away the tools that could shape our future. Smartphones connect young Africans to global conversations, provide access to online education, and equip them with skills for tomorrow’s job market. Removing them from schools would widen the digital divide, not close it.

As I told the SABC audience, our goal shouldn’t be controlling technology but empowering students to use it wisely. If we deny them access now, we risk raising a generation that’s digitally illiterate in a world run by code and connectivity.

Africa’s young people deserve the same opportunities to innovate, compete, and contribute globally. The future is already digital – and it’s already in their hands. The question isn’t whether we should take it away, but how we can help them use it to build the Africa we all want to see.

The future isn’t something that happens to us – it’s something we create. And right now, that future is sitting in our students’ pockets, waiting to be unlocked.

Nigerian School Shines at Global Robotics Championship

Posted on by Leave a comment

By Paul Ndiho – Ndiho Media AI & Robotics Series

In a world where technology is redefining education, one Nigerian school is making waves. Glisten International Academy, based in Abuja, has established itself as a model for integrating STEM and robotics into everyday learning. Earlier this year, the school proudly represented Nigeria at the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas — the world’s largest robotics competition, featuring over 24,000 students from more than 60 countries.

For Abba Saidu, the Executive Director of Glisten International Academy, this journey has been about much more than building robots. “We’ve been running the school for 17 years, and technology has always been at the heart of what we do,” Saidu told Ndiho Media. “From the start, we wanted our students to have the skills and mindset for the future — to think, create, and solve problems.”

Saidu, who describes himself as a mentor and basketball enthusiast, says his motivation stems from a deep desire to see young Nigerians thrive in the technology sector. “When I see a four or five-year-old light up while building something, it melts my heart,” he said. “We’re not just teaching; we’re nurturing problem solvers.”

At the Dallas competition, Glisten’s students competed in multiple categories, representing Nigeria with three teams — from elementary to high school. “It was a life-changing experience,” Saidu recalled. “Imagine the Olympics, but for robots — countries from around the world, cheering, collaborating, and learning from one another. It showed our students that innovation has no borders.”

Saidu believes that robotics education is the key to unlocking Africa’s technological future. “We focus on robotics because we’ve seen its power,” he explained. “It teaches teamwork, coding, and creativity. These students are building robots today, but they’re really building confidence for tomorrow.”

Looking ahead, Saidu says the academy is investing heavily in makerspaces — hands-on innovation labs that let students design, test, and build. “We’ve changed the way students think,” he said. “From coding to AI to drones, they’re exploring technologies that will shape Nigeria’s future.”

For Glisten International Academy, it’s not just about winning medals — it’s about inspiring a generation. As Saidu put it, “Even if we take baby steps, every small effort helps close the gap between Africa and the rest of the world.”