StreetToolz ready for 2017 Digital Coffee

ITREALMS:

The Nigeria’s leading interactive marketing and advertising agency, Street Toolz,

is set to hold the 2017 edition of its annual proprietary industry event, Digital Coffee on Friday December 8, 2017 at the Zowasel Office, 29 Adeniyi Jones Lagos, reports ITRealms.

Chief Executive Officer, Street Toolz, Semira Mammud, disclosed to ITRealms, explained that Digital coffee is a gathering of players in the interactive marketing and advertising industry to discuss trends and issues that will shape brand management and business outlook in the coming year and also do a critical examination of activities that impacted the industry in the outgoing year.

“We are glad to announce the date for the much anticipated 2017 edition of Digital Coffee which has been a platform for industry players to discuss global trends and matters that define the growth of the industry,” Mammud said.

Stressing that the past editions have helped agencies understand and use global trends to their advantage, resolutions from the event have also helped consultants in making vital business decisions in line with what is currently obtainable in other parts of the world.    

Also, she said that the theme for the 2017 edition; ‘Digital Revolution: Now & the Future’ is strategically selected to stimulate new thinking in the industry.

“There will be 3 sessions, the first will discuss the topic; Artificial Intelligence: Technology & Trends while the second session will discuss Consumer Centric Content” she said.

As said by her, experts lined up to speak at the event include Dr Tunde Adegbola, a research scientist, consulting engineer and cultural activist speaking on Artificial Intelligence: Technology & Trends and Olubunmi Adeleye, Head, Corporate Communications/Services at Leadway Assurance Company Limited who will speak on Consumer Centric Content.

Part of the highpoints of the event will be the panel session which will discuss 2018 Outlook for the marketing communications industry in Nigeria and Africa in general.

ITRealms gathered that confirmed discussants for the panel include, Fanen Acho , CEO, Medleypark Limited; Segun Martins, Head, Digital at Insight Publicis, Jerry Oche, Chief Executive Officer, Zowasel and Semira Mammud, Chief Executive Officer, Street Toolz.

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Libya Slavery: AFLI invites UN Security Council

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The African LeadershipInstitute (AFLI) under the aegis of Archbishop Tutu Fellows (ATF) has invited the United NationsSecurity Council (UNSC) to intervene in the African slavery abuse in Libya, reports ITRealms.

AFLI also called upon the UN related organs to urgently declare the practice of slavery, particularly in Libya- a threat against humanity and to work closely with civil society and member states to arrest the slave trade and create an effective punitive framework to combat against the slave trade globally.

AFLI in a statement available to ITRealms to the African Heads of State and the international private sector, Civil Society and multilateral organisations on its stand against the Libyan slave called on Africa Union (AU) to demonstrate continental leadership in aggregating national voices on ensuring slavery remains a historical footnote.

AFLI equally called upon all African heads of State to take action to hold each other accountable, and to engage with other states beyond the continent who can make a contribution toward eradicating the Slave trade, and to stanch the capital flows and lack of consequence which makes this vile economy thrive.

“We call upon businesses invested in countries such as Libya- which have failed to abide by the unwritten laws of humanity- to divest and support the removal of the Great Stain.

“We call upon the NGO community invested in the fight against human trafficking, forced labor, involuntary migration, social justice and the betterment of the planet to support the removal of the Great Stain.”

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SPDC JV introduces UK summer scholarship for NNPC/Shell Cup Most Valuable Players

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The Shell Petroleum Development Company Joint Venture (SPDC JV) has introduced an additional education award to the prizes for one of the two Most Valuable Players in the 2017 NNPC Shell Cup for All Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championship, aside from attending the Feyenoord Youth Academy. The scholarship will take either of Masters Ernest Ojelum and Arase Iyobor of Henson Demonstration Secondary School, Benin to a four-week international summer school at the University of Sussex in Brighton, United Kingdom in 2018. Henson Demonstration Secondary School won the 19^thedition of the school football competition on July 4 in Lagos and received the Winners’ Trophy and a cheque of N2.5 million.

“We are proud of the performance of Henson Demonstration Secondary School for producing the Most Valuable Players and winning this year’s championship,” said the General Manager, External Relations of SPDC, Igo Weli, who was represented by the Social Investment Manager, Emmanuel Ekpenyong at the presentation of the coveted football cup and prizes to the winners in Benin, Edo State. He said that in keeping with the championship goal of ensuring healthy interest in football and education, SPDC introduced a scholarship award to a fully paid four-week education programme for either of the two best players who fulfils the required academic qualifications to the 2018 Sussex International Summer School, with possibility for participation in youth and footballing activities of the newly-promoted English Premier League team, Brighton and Hove FC.

Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr Christopher Adesotu thanked SPDC and its joint venture partners for the continuous promotion of education and youth development through the school football competition since 19 years now, even in the face of funding challenges.

Representative of the National President of the Nigerian School Sports Federation (NSSF), Mallam Ibrahim Muhammad, Mrs. Olabisi Joseph said, “What SPDC leadership has done is to give the victorious students from Henson Demonstration School enormous exposure and encouraging them not to miss out on education because of their love for football”.

Former striker of the Nigerian national football team, Mr. Sola Akinwale said that one of the beauties of the championship is that it encourages children to stay in school since they cannot participate if they dropped out of school.

Henson Demonstration Secondary School defeated Holy Ghost College, Owerri, Imo State by 2:0 to lift the NNPC/Shell Cup in Lagos. A total purse of N8.2 million was won by the four finalist schools — Henson Demonstration Schools, Benin; Sambo Secondary School, Gusau; Holy Ghost College, Owerri; and Government Secondary School, Maiduguri — for the development of sports facilities in their schools. NNPC/Shell Cup debuted in 1998, and has grown to be the largest secondary school football championship in Nigeria.

*GEE

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2 Nigerians inducted into Presidential Youth Advisory Group

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Two Nigerian youthful entrepreneurs have been inducted into the 9-man Presidential Youth Advisory Group (PYAG) recently set up by the African Development Bank (AfDB), reports ITRealms.

The award-winning author, Uzodinma Iweala, and the chief executive officer (CEO), Agrolay Ventures, Ada Osakwe, made the PYAG to be chaired by a Tanzanian CEO, Mara Group, Ashish Thakkar.

Other members of PYAG include Mamadou Toure, Founder / CEO, Africa 2.0 / Ubuntu Capital, Cameroon; Vanessa Moungar, Human and Social Development Director, AfDB and member of President Macron’s Presidential Council for Africa, Chad; Francine Muyumba, President, Panafrican Youth Union, Democratic Republic of Congo; Jeremy Johnson, Co-founder, Andela, USA; Clarisse Iribagiza, CEO, Hehe, Rwanda;  and Monica Musonda, CEO of Java Foods, Zambia.

PYAG, ITRealms gathered is comprised nine members under the age of 40 who have made significant contributions to the creation of employment opportunities for African youth.

On the rationale behind the setting up of the advisory group, President Adesina explained that they recognize the enormous amount of energy, creative and innovative thinking, and entrepreneurial excellence that many of the youth bring to the table.

“For this reason, the Bank must ensure that it is well advised by cutting-edge youth representatives on its policies, actions and programmes, for the benefit of Africa’s youth.

“The members of the Presidential Youth Advisory Group are expected to actively engage private sector partners, government leaders, civil society, donor partners, and other stakeholders; and support the significant amount of work that the Bank is already doing and promoting across the continent through its Jobs for Youth in Africa strategy,” Adesina said.

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Pix: Group photo of PYAG members with AfDB President, Adesina.

‘NCC’s CSIRT to complement ngCERT’

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is setting up a telecommunications targeted sectorial Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) centre, just as there are enormous potential for growth and investment, reports ITRealms.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, made this disclosure in his remarks to the 27TH AFRINIC Meeting (AFRINIC-27)  on-going in Lagos.

According to the EVC, the NCC Computer Security Incident Response Team center, would collaborate with the compliment the efforts of the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) which is domicile in the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

He explained that CSIRT would complement ngCERT in tackling issues that relate to the telecommunications industry in the fight against cybercrime.

Equally, he noted highlighted that NCC at the international level, is partnering with International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to set up Africa Regional Cybersecurity Center (RCC) in Abuja.

“The center will be used for Africa Regional Cybersecurity information sharing (cyber-attacks, threats, malwares and viruses etc) and also to train countries within the Africa sub-region on Cybersecurity related issues,” he said.

Further, he said, Broadband access is key to any national development agenda, and the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2013 has set a target of 30 per cent penetration by 2018,

“The Commission (NCC) recognizes its prime responsibility in the actualization of the NBP, as one of the strategic objectives revered in its 8-Point Agenda, “facilitation of broadband penetration” which will enable the NCC meet and even surpass the 30 per cent target of broadband penetration in the country by 2018, as at September 2017 (Broadband Commission 2017), the Nigeria broadband penetration stands at 21.8 per cent..

In addition, he pointed out at the meeting with the theme “Taking the African Internet to the Next Level through Policy, Collaboration and Education” that the African Regional Internet Registry AFRINIC, has contributed a lot in providing platforms for Internet Development in Africa, from about 4.5 million Internet Users in 2002 to over 388 Million users in 2017.

Danbatta further said that with regards to growing broadband penetration in Nigeria, the Commission has planned for two slots in the 700MHz band have been earmarked for Commercial Broadband deployment;  The 800MHz band also known as the Digital Dividend 1 has been re-planned and licensed for 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) deployment;  and the 900MHz E-GSM band has been licensed for 4G LTE deployment;.

The NCC boss equally said that 70/80GHz band (E-Band) has been opened to facilitate Broadband deployment; whereas 2.3 GHz band was licensed for 4G LTE deployment; part of the 1800MHz band has been re-farmed by some Mobile Operators for 4G LTE deployments.

“This means that there is enormous potential for growth and investment,” he declared.

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Pix: Prof. Danbatta

Interconnecting legacy technologies, LTE to revolutionise MCC

ITREALMS:

The technologies in Mission Critical Communications (MCC) are incorporating functionality with the Long Term Evolution (LTE), reports ITRealms.

Also, ITRealms gathered that during this transition period, the performance must not be affected, says Pierre Minot, President of ETELM, a leading manufacturer of advanced Mission Critical communications infrastructures.

Speaking during a session titled ‘PMR broadband communication – technical implementation’ at PMRExpo in Germany, Minot said “LTE offers new broadband and data-hungry possibilities; however, it brings its own challenges. At present, there is a major drive to introduce more MC standards by working with users and manufacturers to ensure services are adopted internationally. 

The process of standardisation, he said, is a long one – it takes time for standards to be tested and vendors to implement enhancements. While LTE is currently being utilised with consumers in mind, it is expected to take around five to seven years to reach full maturity for MC users, although certain features will be implemented sooner.”

ETELM has long championed LTE and TETRA working together, as opposed to replacing each other. This will enable legacy equipment and infrastructure to be revitalized, without the expense of upgrades each time a new technology becomes available. Minot explained the different use cases of migration from TETRA to LTE and the challenges that each of these use cases bring in terms of services, performances and devices.

Minot continued: “As smart cities develop around the world, it is important that MCC infrastructures are built during the initial planning, development, and design phase, rather than being an afterthought. This is the only way to ensure smart cities become safe cities. As blue light services continue to face increasingly challenging and complex situations, there is a need to bridge the channels between individual services, so they may come together and act as one, while utilising advanced applications.”

In response to the need for hybrid networks, ETELM’s 4GLinked solution is the first fully integrated platform connecting multiple MC technologies over a single LTE EPC core, allowing seamless communications and services across technologies – to the benefit of any use case.

“Performance is a key factor that only a fully standardized solution that doesn’t bring any third-party technology can ensure,” continued Minot. “With ETELM’s 4GLinked solution, it is one unified, standardized platform that is much easier to maintain and operate than having several infrastructures connected by gateways.”

4GLinked was successfully tested with many vendors at the ETSI MCPTT Plugtests in June 2017 and all interfaces are compliant with ETSI/3GPP LTE rel13. 4GLinked has also been successfully deployed and tested by customers.

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AfDB sets up PYAG

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The President, African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has launched the Presidential Youth Advisory Group (PYAG) to provide insights and innovative solutions for job creation for Africa’s youth, as outlined in the Bank’s Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy (JfYA) , reports ITRealms.

The Jobs for Youth in Africa initiative aims at creating 25 million jobs and impacting 50 million youth over the next ten years by equipping them with the right skills to get decent and meaningful jobs. It is currently the largest effort going on for youth employment in Africa today.

The advisory group, inaugurated on the sidelines of the 6^th EU-Africa Business Forum in Abidjan will work with the Bank to create jobs for Africa’s youth.

“This is a huge opportunity for Africa. If we fix the youth unemployment challenge, Africa will gain 10-20% annual growth. That means Africa’s GDP will grow by $500 million per year for the next thirty years. Africa’s per capita income will rise by 55% every year to the year 2050,” Adesina, said at the inauguration of the Group.

Adesina, who identified Africa’s greatest asset as its youth, observed that out of the 13 million youths that enter the labour market each year, only 3 million (about 33% of African youth) are in wage employment, while the rest are underemployed or in vulnerable employment. The annual gap of more than 8 million jobs is going to worsen, with the number of youth expected to double to more than 800 million in the next decades.

“Africa has an unemployment crisis among its youth,” he stressed, noting that unless employment opportunities are created for them, Africa’s rapidly growing population of youths can give rise to serious social, economic, political and security challenges.

Africa’s youths, though strong and dynamic, cross the desert or the Mediterranean sea because they do not find decent jobs in Africa. Graduates are wandering in the streets, jobless. The low level of employment opportunities is also fueling violence and extremism in Africa. “40 per cent of African youths engaged in armed violence join gangs or terrorist groups because of limited opportunities in their countries,” Adesina said.

“66 million African youths earn less than $2 a day, less than the price of a hamburger,” the AfDB President emphasized. “66 million is 8 times the size of Switzerland, 6 times the size of Belgium, the same size as UK, France or Italy, and 80% of Germany’s population,” he added.

The Presidential Youth Advisory Group (PYAG) comprises nine members under the age of 40 who have made significant contributions to the creation of employment opportunities for African youth.

The PYAG members are: Ashish Thakkar, CEO, Mara Group, Tanzania (Chair); Uzodinma Iweala, award-winning author, Nigeria; Mamadou Toure, Founder / CEO, Africa 2.0 / Ubuntu Capital, Cameroon; Vanessa Moungar, Human and Social Development Director, AfDB and member of President Macron’s Presidential Council for Africa, Chad; Francine Muyumba, President, Panafrican Youth Union, Democratic Republic of Congo; Jeremy Johnson, Co-founder, Andela, USA; Clarisse Iribagiza, CEO, Hehe, Rwanda; Ada Osakwe, CEO, Agrolay Ventures, Nigeria; and Monica Musonda,CEO of Java Foods, Zambia.

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Africa Union names OAU, 12 others GMES implementing centre

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The African Union Commission (AUC) has named the Nigeria’s Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and 12 others the regional implementing centres for the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security and Africa (GMES and Africa) Support Programme, reports ITRealms.

OAU is the only Nigerian university that made the top 13 awarded this grant for water and natural resources service, while West Africa saw the Senegalese Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE) and University of Ghana (UG) for Marine and coastal areas service making the list.

The Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology at the African Union Commission, Professor Sarah Anyang Agbor, revealed this at a ceremony during the 5th AU-EU Summit in Abidjan, Cote d`Ivoire, to unveil the winners of GMES and Africa support programme.

Agbor also commended the successful institutions on their selection, which she said was based on their experience and proven capacities, just as she implored them to deliver the goods.

ITRealms also reports that other 12 institutions to serve as Regional Implementing Centres GMES and Africa Support Programme, to include the Central African based Agence Gabonaise d'Etudes et d'Observations Spatiale (AGEOS) and Commission Internationale du Bassin Congo-Oubangui-Sangha (CICOS) for Water and natural resources service.

At the East Africa, ITRealms reports that the IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC) and Regional Centre for Mapping off Resources for Development (RCMRD) for Water and natural resources service, in addition to Mauritius Oceanography Institute (MOI) for Marine and coastal areas service made the consortia.

While the North African-based National Authority for Remote Sensing & Space Sciences (NARSS) for marine and coastal area service, as well as the Observatoire du Sahara et du Sahel (OSS) for water and natural resources service were successful.

And in the Southern Africa, AUC said the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for marine and coastal areas service; Southern African Development Community Climate Services Centre (SADC-CSC) and Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) for water and natural resources service, made the awardees list.

ITRealms recollects that in May 2017, a number of African institutions operating in the areas of water, natural resources, marine and coastal areas, applied for the GMES and Africa Support Programme Grants.

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Season 2 NCS scholarship: Jim Ovia fulfills support, doles out N15.75m

ITREALMS:

In fulfillment of his pledge to support the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) scholarship programme, the chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr Jim Ovia has doled out the sum of N15.75 million for the season 2, reports ITRealms.

Confirming this to ITRealms in Lagos, the President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and organisers of NITMA, President, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, said, again that Mr. Ovia, has funded scholarship awards this year, just like he did last year.

According to him, the scholarship would be awarded to some 35 students studying Computer and Information Technology (IT) related courses in Nigeria Universities.

“In line with his commitment at the 2015 NITMA event, he committed N15.75million to the scheme in 2016 and now again in 2017,” NCS President said.

He also said that Ovia, a former President of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) has shown dedication to the progressive of NCS and moreso, the youths who are going to be leaders in the IT industry in the near future.

Prof. Aderounmu expressed gratitude from the entire NCS membership for his kind, noble and generous heart.

“His dedication to IT education and human capital is undeniable and worthy of emulation. May God continue to keep and bless him,” he said.

Further, NCS president, revealed to ITRealms that the interest groups of society would be using the forthcoming Nigeria IT Merit Award (NITMA) scheduled at MUSON Centre, Onikan-Lagos, to also present their awards within their areas.

Just as long service awards will be given to NCS Secretariat staff who have meet the requirements and demonstrated diligence and commitment in carrying out their functions.

“IT is critical to enabling economic recovery and growth as well as achieving sustainable development. All who desire progress should work with NCS to recognize, honour and reward those that are doing great work. The society not just NCS should reward them for their impact, service and untiring efforts,” he said.

NCS, he said, must encourage those in the IT environment who are using their knowledge, creativity and resourcefulness to develop local technology solutions that are so essential to the drive for socio economic, growth, recovery and development.

“NCS calls on you to celebrate them because this is about progress and the future of our nation. The NITMA event is a strong and purposeful indication of our commitment to celebrating talent and highlighting the innovation, excellence, vision, and dedication of individuals and organizations within the IT industry and community,” Prof. Aderounmu said.

Even as he said, NCS appreciates all its members and strategic partners who have been supporting the realization of the NCS mission and vision.

“The media comes in for special mention. You are to be saluted for your interest and commitment to this most worthy cause,” NCS president said.

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Pix: NCS President, Prof. Aderounmu and Mr. Jim Ovia

Akpororo, others storm Gbagada for Yudala offline marketplace launch

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Ace comedian Akpororo and a host of other entertainers are expected to storm Redemption Crescent in Gbagada, Lagos; headquarters of pioneer online and offline e-commerce outfit Yudala, as the company officially launches its Offline Marketplace on Saturday December 2nd, 2017 from 9am-5pm.

The Yudala Marketplace will offer shoppers an assorted variety of genuine products at best prices from top brands such as HP, Apple, Samsung, Infinix, Tecno, Nokia, Huawei, Dell, Lenovo, Haier Thermocool, LG, Zinox, InnJoo, Polystar, APC by Schneider, Hennessy, Moet and Chandon, Remy Martin, and much more. Also on offer are products from a host of premium FMCG brands such as Nestle, PZ, Suntory, Philips and others.

Among the wide range of items expected to go on sale every weekend from December 2nd, 2017 at the Yudala Building in Gbagada are washing machines, gas cookers, air-conditioners, microwaves, cameras, games and consoles, laptops, printers, inverters, freezers, TV sets, UPS, stabilizers, rechargeable fans, toasters and sandwich makers; beverages and cereals including Milo, Choco Milo, Golden Morn, Nido milk, Pure Life water, Ribena, Lucozade, Lucozade Boost, Horlicks and bags of rice; variants of cooking oil from brands including Mamador and Kings; personal care products such as cosmetics, hair clippers, face shavers, face stylers and grooming kits, hair removal and hair care; kitchen appliances such as air fryers, coffee makers, electric kettles, food processors and blenders, among others; lighting products such as LED lighting, LED lamps and tubes, indoor luminaires and outdoor luminaires as well as household products including vacuum cleaners, electric irons, TV sets, Home Cinema sound and portable audio, etc.

Head of Offline Retail, Oyeronke Atoyebi affirms the unique opportunity the Yudala Marketplace will afford millions of Nigerians who will benefit from the landmark initiative.

“With the Yudala Offline Marketplace, we are recreating the open market environment many Nigerians are traditionally used to, right here in our office. What’s more, you are assured the double Yudala guarantee of shopping guaranteed genuine products all sourced directly from the manufacturers and best prices that you cannot find elsewhere. Christmas is around the corner so the Yudala Marketplace is a great opportunity to get all your Christmas shopping needs at prices that make sense.

“Plans are also in place to replicate the Yudala Offline Marketplace experience at other locations across Nigeria by leveraging on our physical presence in major cities in the country,” she disclosed.

With ace comedian Akpororo and other entertaining acts expected to thrill attendees at the Yudala Marketplace launch with rib-cracking jokes, alongside music, world class entertainment and a wide range of products on offer, anticipation is rife of an exciting time for residents of Lagos this weekend.

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Lai Mohammed berates BON over media reports on corruption

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has berated the media, especially the members of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), reports ITRealms.

He also appealed to the media to fully support the administration's fight against corruption, saying the fourth estate of the realm cannot afford to sit on the fence as far as the battle to rid the nation of corruption is concerned.

Declaring open the 68th General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON) in Abuja on Monday, the Minister said while the media should not hesitate to criticise the government's strategy for the war against corruption, when necessary, it should do so without mocking the government.

''In recent times, it is not unusual to read such headlines as 'Buhari's Government Losing Anti-Corruption War', 'Buhari's Anti-Corruption War is Failing', 'Arewa Youths Knock President Buhari Over Failing Anti-corruption War'. This is sheer mockery. And this war is not Buhari's war. It is our war,'' he said.

On why all hands must be on deck to fight corruption, Alhaji Mohammed said corruption is the reason for the many ills being experienced in the country today, including erratic power supply, poorly-equipped hospitals, lack of motorable roads, poor quality of life, poor economy, lack of jobs and insecurity

''After previous administrations spent billions of dollars on power, all we inherited - when we took over on the 29th of May 2015 - was 2,690 megawatts. That is due to corruption. After previous governments budgeted billions for roads over the years, what we inherited are death traps. That is due to corruption. Why did Boko Haram thrive for so long? The answer is corruption, because money meant for the purchase of weapons for the military were simply diverted. Why did we inherit an economy in dire straits? It is corruption. For a country that sold oil at over 100 dollars per barrel for years, we simply failed to save for the rainy day, and when the rain came, it beat us silly,'' he said.

The Minister said the war against corruption is the toughest of the three broad issues that the Buhari Administration campaigned with, ''because fighting corruption anywhere is like walking a lonely road''.

''While many will join hands with you to tackle insecurity or to

revamp the economy, you are on your own when you take on corruption.

Most Nigerians were direct beneficiaries of corruption. Many were subsidized by corruption. Now that the gravy train of corruption is fast derailing, many are finding it difficult to come to terms with it. That's the origin of the 'Bring Back Corruption' Campaign being carried out by certain elements in our society,'' he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the war against corruption becomes tougher when the media is not fully on board, adding: ''When the media seizes on every setback we suffer in prosecuting this war, they give succour to the corrupt. When the media falls for the distraction tactics of those who are mortally afraid of this war, they weaken the battle.''

He said the because of the courageous, determined and committed leadership provided by President Muhammadu Buhari, and despite the fact that corruption is fighting back furiously, the Administration is winning the war.

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Pix: L-R - Director General, National Broadcasting Commission, Mallam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Chairman, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Mr. John Momoh; Vice Chairman of BON, Sa'a Ibrahim and the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, at the 68th General Assembly of BON in Abuja on Monday.

NITMA 2017: Amos, da Rosa, Obi, two others top awardees

ITREALMS:

The Chief Software Architect and Chairman, Programos Software Group, Mr. Amos Emmanuel, Commissioner for Telecommunications & Information Technologies at ECOWAS, Dr. Isaias Barreto da Rosa, Group Chief Executive Officer, eTranzact Global, Mr. Valentine Obi, are leading the top five awardees for the 2017 NationalInformation Technology Merit Awards (NITMA), reports ITRealms.

Others are the Chief Strategy Officer & Cyber Security Leader, Deloitte West Africa, Mr. Tope Aladenusi, and Chief Executive Officer, Precise Financial Systems Ltd, Dr. Yele Okeremi.

Disclosing this to ITRealms, the President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and organisers of NITMA, President, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, said the award is scheduled to hold at the MUSON Centre, Onikan Lagos on Thursday, November 30, 2017 by 5pm.

He noted that annually, NCS recognizes, celebrates and rewards outstanding excellence and exceptional contributions in the Information Technology field through the unique national platform NITMA provides.

“Our focus as a society is progress for the sector in particular and for the nation as a whole,” he said, stressing that as the acknowledged professional authority facilitating the development of an inclusive, globally competitive, prosperous and knowledge-based Nigeria, NCS is committed to recognizing and rewarding outstanding hard work and excellence in accelerating IT development.

Prof. Aderounmu also told ITRealms that in choosing the awardees, the key areas and issues affecting growth in the sector and society are addressed.

“For all awards, key criteria include IT specialisations, NCS standards and global best practices,” he said.

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NITDA clears EFCC-NFIU ICT security upgrade

ITREALMS:

Acclaimed Federal Government (FG) clearinghouse on Information Technology (IT) procurement and services in the public sector, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has cleared the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) security and systems infrastructure upgrade project of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) cum Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), reports ITRealms.

This was confirmed to ITRealms, the Director General/CEO, NITDA, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, said it’s in an effort to strengthen the IT Projects Clearance process, in the country.

Also in a press statement made available to ITRealms by the Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations, NITDA, Mrs Hadiza Umar, quoted Dr. Pantami as saying that the agency recently sought for the support of the EFCC in order to sustain its fight against corrupt practices in IT procurements of government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

According to Pantami, the EFCC Acting Chairman/CEO, Mr Ibrahim Magu, had pledged the Commission’s support and indicated that they would comply with government’s directives on obtaining NITDA’s clearance for the Commission’s IT procurements and services.

In fulfillment of this pledge, the Commission subjected its ICT Security and Systems Infrastructure Upgrade project to rigorous scrutiny by NITDA’s IT Projects Clearance Committee.

“By this singular act, the EFCC has shown that it is not above the law thereby serving as an example to other government establishments,” he said.

ITRealms recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, had called for strict compliance to the IT Project’s Clearance directive by all government establishments, during the opening ceremony of this year’s e-Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition held from Tuesday 7th to Thursday 9th November, 2017 in Abuja.

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Counter terrorism: Prince Salman opens IMCTC session

ITREALMS:

His Royal Highness (HRH), Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has opened the inaugural meeting of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) Ministers of Defense Council, holding at in Riyadh, reports ITRealms.

The meeting which commenced Sunday, November 26, 2017, saw Crown Prince delivering the opening remarks to the Ministers of Defense as well as diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia.

The IMCTC Acting Secretary General, Lieutenant General Abdulelah Al-Saleh, said this meeting marks the official launch of the IMCTC’s operations at its Center in Riyadh.

“The Center provides an open platform for willing IMCTC member countries to exchange best practices and coordinate their counter terrorism efforts, enabling culturally appropriate regional and local solutions to counter terrorism," he said.

Also, the military commander of IMCTC, General Rahil Sharif, said that the biggest challenge in the 21^st Century, especially in the Muslim world, is confronting the dangerous phenomenon of terrorism.

“The IMCTC encompasses an integrated approach to coordinate and unite on the four key domains of ideology, communications, counter terrorism financing, and military, in order to fight all forms of terrorism and extremism and to effectively join other international security and peacekeeping efforts,” he said.

ITRealms recalls that the IMCTC is a 41-nation pan-Islamic coalition united in the fight against terror.

The inaugural meeting was held under the theme “Allied Against Terrorism”, will include statements by Ministers of Defense of IMCTC member countries and keynote speeches in connection with the IMCTC’s four domains: Ideology, Communications, Counter Terrorist Financing, and Military. In addition, the IMCTC’s Acting Secretary General, Lieutenant General Abdulelah AlSaleh, will outline the Coalition’s strategy, governance, activities and future plans.

Nonye Dom/GEE 

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$100,000 up for grabs @solar ‘Shark Tank’ Competition

ITREALMS:

The Dutch development bank, FMO and Access Power, a leading developer, owner and operator of power projects in emerging markets, have jointly launched the 2018 FMO Access Power Solar 'Shark Tank' Competition, seeking submissions for a solar projects, while dangling US$100,000 grant, reports ITRealms.

The call for 2018 submission follows the successful completion of the first installment in 2016 at the ‘Making Solar Bankable’ conference. The initiative is aimed at helping local solar power developers that require development support to make their innovative solar projects more impactful.

To be considered for the grant, ITRealms gathered that the proposed projects must be located in Asia, Africa or Latin America and be based on solar PV technology, in addition to meeting the capacity criterion of 10MW or more, and be at an advanced stage of development. Further, eligible projects should have an innovative or impactful angle to the project that could be developed with support of the grant.

Proposals, ITRealms also reports, will be screened and scored by a pre-selection committee assembled by FMO and Access Power, while the top four shortlisted will be invited to present their projects and answer questions from a panel of judges in front of a live audience on the 15th of February 2018 during the second edition of the 'Making Solar Bankable' conference, co-organized by FMO and Solarplaza in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 15 and 16 February.

“The winning project will be announced at the end of the session during the event,” the organisers disclosed, adding that the winner will receive a $100,000 grant towards the development costs of their project from FMO and Access Power.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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