Electroneum partner LockTrip on blockchain-based travels - ITREALMS

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The Electroneum is the first crypto to work directly with LockTrip, a blockchain-based discount travel website, reports ITREALMS.

On average, ITREALMS, the European-based online travel booking agency offers up to 60 per cent on hotels around the world.

The European blockchain-based travel website, ITREALMS gathered offers discounts of up to 60% at over 2.1 million holiday accommodations in more than 190 countries.

LockTrip will list ETN as a direct payment option on 13 November when Electroneum’s 4.1 million registered users could start booking flights and accommodation worldwide. 

Electroneum and LockTrip have agreed on a $1,000 giveaway on the day of the launch. 

Eze applauds UNIPORT VC, Prof. Okodudu - ITREALMS

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The Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has applauded the University  of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) management under the headship of Prof. Stephen Okodudu, Acting Vice Chancellor, for the magnanimity shown the some students over their indebtedness to the institution, reports ITREALMS.

Reacting to the grant of pardon to the affected students as humane, on Thursday in PH, the party chief said the students may now hive a sigh of relief, adding that the VC's gesture has laid to rest all speculations and uncertainties about their almost-dashed futures.

Unfinished greatness: Towards a more perfect union in Nigeria by Fayemi - ITREALMS

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Text of the address by His Excellency, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum on the 50th Anniversary of the Centre for Historical Documentation and Research (Arewa House), Kaduna, Nigeria | Saturday, October 31, 2020.

1.  Introduction:
I will like to start by thanking the leadership of Arewa House for the great honour of inviting me to speak at the golden jubilee of this great institution. I also want to congratulate you, both for this historic moment, and for the wonderful work you have done in the last fifty years; mobilising and interpreting our history to explain the present and illuminate the path to our future.

Private sector investment attracts 1bn Euro to Africa - ITREALMS

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The European Investment Bank (EIB) support worth 1 billion Euros, to some five African countries would strengthen their membership and share capital increase in the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI), reports ITREALMS.

The benefactors of the private sector investment on the continent include Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Senegal.

EIB, ITREALMS gathered had agreed on EUR 60m financing to unlock African Trade Insurance Agency membership; Team Europe-Africa cooperation supporting economic resilience to COVID-19.

Boss Mustapha to deliver Realnews 8th anniversary lecture - ITREALMS

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The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Gidahyelda Mustapha, will deliver the Eighth Anniversary Lecture of Realnews Magazine on Thursday, November 19, at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, by 10 am prompt, reports ITREALMS.

Managing the COVID-19 Global Pandemic in Africa: The Nigeria Experience is the topic of the Lecture.

ATCON’s 2020 AGM gets new date - ITREALMS

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The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has concluded plans to hold its Annual General Meeting & National Executive Council Election 2020 which was postponed because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

Executive Secretary of ATCON, Ajibola Olude, informed ITREALMS that the meeting would now hold on November 12, 2020 at Victoria Crown Plaza Hotel (292b Ajose Adeogun Street), Victoria Island, Lagos by 2pm.

APO Group joins the UNESCO-led GAPMIL - ITREALMS

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The leading pan-African communications and business consultancy, APO Group has joined the Global Alliance for Partnerships on Media and Information Literacy (GAPMIL) reports ITREALMS.
 

Created by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), GAPMIL is a groundbreaking movement working to promote international cooperation to ensure all citizens have access to media and information competencies.

5-yrs after: NCC boosts FG’s revenue by N344.71bn says Danbatta - ITREALMS

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The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has told the House Committee on Telecommunications how the telecoms agency contributed to the revenue drive of the Federal Government by generating and remitting N344.71 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) in the last five years.

Danbatta stated this while briefing the Committee members, led by their Chairman, Hon. (Prince) Akeem Adeyemi, during a legislative oversight function on the Commission in Abuja on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.

Post #EndSARS Protest: Afinni sets up endowment fund, seeks corporate supports - ITREALMS

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Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olanrewaju Afinni has set up an endowment for victims of #EndSARS protest that rocked state in the Lagos Island II constituency, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking at the Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting held simultaneously in all the constituencies of the state with the theme “Post-COVID-19 Pandemic: The Challenges and Prospects” at the Christ Church Cathedral Primary School hall on Thursday, he said the Lagos Island II endowment fund would be used to cushion the effects of COVID-19 and #EndSARS protest which some hoodlums turned into looting spree.

Eid Maulud: Imbibe example of Prophet Muhammad says Oyeyemi - ITREALMS

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The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi has enjoined the Muslims to emulate the examples of Prophet Muhammad to create the desired peace and tranquility in the society, saying his examples are needed at this period of national crisis.

He stated this in his 2020 Eid Maulud celebration, stressing that the world requires selfless and committed individuals to promote peaceful coexistence among the peoples of the world.

Technology: Covid-19 spurs growth of eLearning in Africa - ITREALMS

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A free-to-use eLearning platform, is now available in 54 countries across the continent. 

Also, Africa’s e-learning market has seen substantial grown due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, with the use of e-learning applications and platforms surging as schools and universities are forced to deliver lessons virtually, and people use eLearning platforms to improve their skills profiles during national lockdowns.

#EndSARS Protests coverage: MRA, IPC condemn NBC fines on 3 Tv, may go to court - ITREALMS

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The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the International Press Centre (IPC) have jointly condemned the sanctioning of three television stations by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over the alleged 'unprofessional' coverage of the #ENDSARS protests, reports ITREALMS.

They also described the Commission’s action as an outrageous violation of the Constitution and basic principles of fair hearing which cannot be allowed to stand.

By a letter dated October 23, 2020 signed by its Acting Director General, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, the NBC fined each of the three stations – Channels Television, Africa Independent Television (AIT) and ARISE Television - N3 million as penalty for their alleged use of unsubstantiated footages from social media in their coverage of the #ENDSARS protests and gave them three weeks from the date of receipt of the letter to pay the amount to avoid further sanctions.

The Commission said it had earlier written to them on October 21, 2020, where they were “cautioned on the sustained use of Fake News, disturbing visuals, close-up shots and attacks in the coverage of the ENDSARS protests”.It stated that although social media may be a source of information, it is incumbent on broadcasters to verify such materials before usage and drew attention to some provisions of the Broadcasting Code, implying that the provisions had been breached without indicating any broadcast that breached any of these provisions.

In a joint statement issued and made available to ITREALMS in Lagos, the two organizations accused the NBC of turning itself into a “kangaroo court” and called on it to immediately reverse its decision sanctioning the three stations in order to save itself the embarrassment that both the Commission and the country would suffer locally and internationally as a result of its action.

MRA’s Executive Director, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, said “a situation where the NBC, which is so glaringly lacking in independence and subject to the direct control of political authorities, wrote the Nigeria Broadcasting Code creating the offences for which the stations were sanctioned and was the complainant in the allegations against the stations, prosecuted them and sat in judgment on the matter without even giving the stations any opportunity to defend themselves against the charges while also imposing a fine of N3 million on each of them, which it intends to collect and pocket, is offensive to any notion of fair hearing, equity or justice.”

According to him, “Every Nigerian ought to be scandalized by this obscene violation of a principle that is sacrosanct not only under our Constitution but under every regional and international human rights instrument to which Nigeria is a state party. It portrays Nigeria as crude and primitive and will no doubt bring the country to ridicule.” He pledged that his organization would take legal action to challenge the NBC’s action.

Mr. Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director of IPC, spoke in the same vein saying, "The NBC has in this matter again constituted itself into the accuser, the prosecutor and the judge in its own case. It is indeed strange that the fines were arbitrarily imposed without giving the concerned media outlets the option of defending the allegations. All this constitutes an affront on rule of law"

Mr. Arogundade said IPC would team up with MRA to use the instrumentality of the law to challenge the absurdities perpetrated by NBC.

WTO: Negotiations on e-commerce continue, consolidated text out before December 31 - ITREALMS

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The World Trade Organisation (WTO) members participating in the negotiation of rules on e-commerce shared updates on the work done to streamline the negotiating text at a plenary meeting on 23 October, reports ITREALMS.

The co-conveners, Australia, Japan and Singapore, encouraged members to propose constructive solutions and show flexibility in an effort to deliver a consolidated negotiating text by December 31, this year.

Misinformation may derail 5G deployment says Danbatta - ITREALMS

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The misinformation and misrepresentation of the Fifth Generation (5G) technology has the potential of derailing the launch and full implementation in Nigeria, warned the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, reports ITREALMS.

In his opening address at the capacity building programme for members of the Abuja chapter of Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), held at the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) Abuja, Prof. Danbatta on Tuesday noted that many Nigerians including citizens in more civilized countries were hooked on the notion that the introduction of 5G technology was the reason behind the spread of the novel COVID-19 Pandemic.

Innovative Forum: NITDA applauds NITRA, highlights COVID-19 recovery programmes - ITREALMS

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The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has applauded the Nigeria IT Reporters Association (NITRA) on the coverage of the industry, highlighting the opportunity towards post-COVID-19 recovery by the agency, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking at a webinar hosted by NITRA, Mallam Abdulahi commended NITRA saying that its efforts, have ensured that programmes and messages of the agency will get to the grassroots. 

African payments for African development - ITREALMS

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The statistics that hover uncertainty around Africa are not ones that should make the continent proud. The World Bank has estimated that Africa could potentially hold 90% of the global poor population by 2030 and has recently cut its economic growth predictions to between -2.1% and -5.1% in 2020 from the 2.4% of 2019. The situation has been significantly worsened by the global pandemic, as the continent hits its first recession in 25 years. But this is not the picture that defines a continent that has long defied expectation and prediction. In fact, a young population, a growing consumption market, and the rapid movement towards mobile inclusion and connectivity are shifting the conversation. Africa is poised on the cusp of change introduced by mobile and internet technology. Africa has undergone a remarkable journey over the past 30 years. It has not only leapfrogged legacy technology and systems into a more relevant future, but it has done so in spite of challenging circumstances. This is particularly relevant when it comes to mobile – the technology, the connectivity, and the financial inclusion. To date, according to the GSMA 2019 Mobile Money Report, there are more than one billion mobile money accounts in Africa that account for 57% of mobile money transaction values. Over the next five years, also according to the GSMA, it’s expected that 84% of Africans will have access to a SIM connection and that mobile payments will play a critical role in empowering individuals, businesses and the economy as a whole. This is the principle that’s dominating the current approach taken by the World Bank in an effort to provide Africa with much needed support in the wake of COVID-19. The organisation is focusing on putting women at the centre of digital payment programmes and leveraging digital technologies to improve trade, government and resource management. This underpins the organisation’s focus on national payment systems that are secure, affordable and accessible as these are the tenets that underpin an economy that’s focused on financial inclusion and stability. African payment solutions are critical to minimising fraud while improving the free flow of funds to boost business and economic activity. Payment technology that allows for individuals from all walks of life to manage their money securely is the equivalent of putting a bank into every person’s pocket. Digital payments equalise engagements while improving transparency and control over finances and business. They also empower the small to medium enterprises (SMEs), giving them greater scope for inclusion and access to customers and markets. This has become particularly true in the current environment. Digital payments are now, more than ever, the key to unlocking business growth on the continent. The rigorous regulations put in place by African countries to minimise the impact of the virus have led to inventive approaches to shopping and living. Digital payment platforms are significantly safer than cash and are increasingly being leveraged by governments and organisations to improve customer access to resources and services. According to a study released by McKinsey & Company in June 2020, ‘innovation in payments should be one component of the industry’s response to the crisis’, and this should include promoting awareness of digital payments, partnering with other industries, and introducing new and relevant products. In Africa, digital payments are more than just keys to open the doorways of financial inclusion, they are increasingly the steps that will take the continent out of recession and into a more dynamic and inventive future. This view is echoed by the investments made by the World Bank and organisations such as SWIFT and Bluecode Africa; programmes such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the International Monetary Fund [IMF]. Investments that include cross-border payment platforms increased commerce capacity, cost management, digital innovation, and the empowerment of individual, micro-enterprise and SME. It’s time to educate businesses and individuals as to the costs and risks of cash as opposed to digital. To showcase the value of digital payments in not just opening up new markets and opportunities, but in providing tighter cash flow control at a better price point than cash. The continent may not be showered in stunning statistics, few continents are at this point in time, but it is hovering on the edge of a future that has the potential to transform poverty, business and economy. *Contributed by Murray Gardiner, MD of Bluecode Africa

DHL cart 4 gold 2020 Stevie Awards for Women in Business - ITREALMS

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The awards make DHL Global Forwarding the world’s first freight forwarder winning such a number of Gold Stevies in one year

Success for the company’s “Women at DHL Global Forwarding” initiative as the team took home four gold awards in a field of over 1,500 participants, reports ITREALMS.

The awards, ITREALMS gathered has distinguished DHL Global Forwarding as the world’s first freight forwarder winning such a number of Gold Stevies in one year; DHL’s (www.DPDHL.com) diversity drive aims for a group-wide proportion of 30 per cent women in management by 2025.

“Women at DHL Global Forwarding” a diversity initiative at DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has been recognized for its achievements in promoting diversity in the workplace. The initiative has won Gold Stevie Awards in four categories - winning organizational as well as individual awards. More than 1,500 nominations were submitted for consideration to the jury.

“The development of talented women in our organization is a focus for us all at DHL Global Forwarding. We aim to bring a greater number of women into leadership positions and our initiative ‘Women at DHL Global Forwarding’ is the main driver for that,” says Tim Scharwath, CEO DHL Global Forwarding, Freight. “Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging are part of our organization’s core values and we look forward to continuing on build a great workplace where everyone is welcome."

DHL Global Forwarding is the first freight forwarder being selected for such a high number of awards in one year. The categories honoring DHL Global Forwarding are: Achievement in Developing and Promoting Women, Female Executive of the Year – Business Services – More Than 2,500 Employees’, Event of the year and Achievement in Human Resources.

Eva Mattheeussen, Head of Human Resources at DHL Global Forwarding Middle East and Africa, and Global Project Lead of ‘Women at DHL Global Forwarding’, received the Gold Stevie Award in the category ‘Female Executive of the Year – Business Services – More Than 2,500 Employees’. Eva says: “I am very proud of what we have accomplished with this project, which goes beyond building a strong community of women. It also focuses on bringing along allies to take active part in building a balanced workplace.”

‘Women at DHL Global Forwarding’ won the first place in three more categories

The initiative was awarded in the categories ‘Achievement in Developing and Promoting Women’ and ‘Achievement in Human Resources’. The initiative's goal at DHL Global Forwarding is to promote a cultural mindset with focus on equal opportunities by offering work arrangements, transparency, and career support. Align with the cultural mindset, a new talent management program as well as mentoring and networking initiatives were implemented as additional measures. The ‘Women at DGF Virtual Learning Series’ hosted once per month throughout 2020 were honored as ‘Event of the Year’. The series are offered to all employees and cover topics such as personal and career development at DHL Global Forwarding.

Deutsche Post DHL Group, as a global company, values the diversity of its employees as a genuine strength. The Deutsche Post DHL Group brings together over 500,000 people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds – all with different skills, experiences and viewpoints. The group-wide engagement has been recognized second place in this year’s Grand Stevie Award trophies. Grand Stevie Award trophies are presented to five organizations that submitted the best body of entries to the competition. Deutsche Post DHL Group is among the Grand Stevie elite for the third year in a row.

FG declares Thursday, October 29 public holiday to mark Eidul-Mawlid - ITREALMS

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The Federal Government (FG) has declared Thursday October 29, 2020 as Public Holiday to mark this year's Eidul-Mawlid Celebration in commemoration of the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, reports ITREALMS.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated the Muslim faithful both at home and abroad for witnessing this year's occasion.

U.S. Consulate opens application for 2020 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs - ITREALMS

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The United States Consulate General in Lagos on Tuesday has called for applications for the 2020 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), a U.S. Government initiative that supports women entrepreneurs around the world.

For the second annual AWE, we will select 120 female entrepreneurs from across southern Nigeria to receive virtual and in-person training and mentoring. To support the comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration of returned migrants, we will select 20 female returnees to take part in the programme.

ALSF names 2 new management board team - ITREALMS

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The African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) has named two new members into its management board, reports ITREALMS.

The two new members appointed are 
Christine Anyango Agimba and Ambassador Arve Ofstad.

Ekiti: Fayemi presents N109.60bn 2021 budget - ITREALMS

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The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Tuesday presented a N109,666,376,722.61K proposed appropriation bill for 2021 to the State House of Assembly for consideration.

The budget christened “Budget of Recovery and Economic Restoration” has N51,668,386,739.99 as capital expenditure representing 47 per cent, and the sum N57,997,989, 982.62 representing 53 percent as recurrent expenditure.

#LekkiMassacare: Nigerian Army maintained LASG invited us to avoid anarchy - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Army (NA) has maintained that soldiers did not shoot at protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate area of Lagos State, even as their intervention was at the instance of the Lagos State Government (LASG), reports ITREALMS.

The Acting Deputy Director, 81 Division, Army Public Relations, Major Osoba Olaniyi in a statement on Tuesday, available to ITREALMS, described reports of a massacre by the officers as “untrue, unfounded, and aimed at causing anarchy in the country”. 

Olaniyi also stated that the decision to involve the military was taken by the Lagos State Government after a 24-hour curfew was imposed.

“This was a result of the violence which led to several police stations being burnt, policemen killed, suspects in police custody released, and weapons carted away.

“The situation was fast degenerating into anarchy. It was at this point that the LASG requested for the military to intervene in order to restore normalcy,” the statement read in part.

This is coming days after the Nigerian Army had been accused of opening fire on the protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on Tuesday, October 20.

The incident came hours after the state government declared a 24-hour curfew as part of efforts to stop the violence which had broken out in some parts of the state by criminal elements hijacking the protests.

Although the curfew was to commence at 4:00 pm, but later shifted to commence for 9:00 pm, many were still seen protesting across the state.

At the Lekki Toll Gate which had been one of the major converging points, peaceful and unarmed protesters were also still seen gathered in large numbers.

The situation, however, took a turn for the worse around 7:00 pm when the security operatives stormed the area and started shooting sporadically.

NA Press Release

ITREALMS gathered that although videos that surfaced soon after online showed men in military uniform firing gunshots, the military immediately debunked the allegations, describing them as ‘fake news’.

*Additional reports from ChannelsTV.com

Lagos opens daily markets - ITREALMS

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The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved that all markets in the state be opened daily for normal business, reports ITREALMS.

A press statement Tuesday endorsed by the Commissioner for local government and community affairs, Dr Wale Ahmed revealed to ITREALMS that the governor took the decision to further enhance trade and commerce and mitigate the hardship of recent times and ensure that Lagosians can recover fast.

He pointed out that the governor also advised the continued observance of all safety protocols in and around the markets.

Ahmed noted that traders and their customers must adhere strictly to the COVID-19 protocols for their safety and the citizenry at large.

Ayo Midele/Editor

#EndPoliceBrutality: Delta NUJ council bans media coverage of Police - ITREALMS

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The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, has placed a ban on the coverage of all police activities in the state over the unwarranted attack and brutalization of Vanguard Correspondent, Akpokona Omafuaire, reports ITREALMS.
 

"We are sombre that the police could be insensitive to the plight of our member who is lying at the hospital yet without any care and attention from those who inflicted the injury on him," said the Delta State Council chairman, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, and Secretary, Comrade Patrick Ochei, in a press statement available to ITREALMS.

#EndSARS: National Poetry competition debuts, SYNW dangles prizes - ITREALMS

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The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) in collaboration with the International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF), United States of America (USA) have called for entries in form of Poetry on the theme “Police Brutality, Assault and Battery” reports ITREALMS.

The proposed anthology focuses exclusively on the theme of “Police Brutality, Assault and Battery in Nigeria” and only works relating to the theme will be accepted for the competition and for publication. 

#EndSARS: Ekiti State Judicial Panel commences sitting Nov 2 -ITREALMS

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The Ekiti State Judicial Panel of Inquiry into Allegations of Human Rights Violations against Police Officers including disbanded SARS Operatives has commenced its activities with a call on citizens of the state to start submitting petitions ahead of its November 2, inaugural sitting.

The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Olawale Fapohunda, disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti on Monday while giving an update on activities of the Judicial panel. He said the panel had liberalized the process of filing petitions that will make it convenient for anyone from any part of the state to file their petitions without going through any form of stress.

#EndSARS Protests: Eze condoles Nigerians over wanton destruction, deaths - ITREALMS

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The chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People's Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has condoled Nigerians over the wanton destruction and deaths linked to the #EndSARS protest, reports ITREALMS.

A press statement made available to  ITREALMS, Eze said although every Nigerian reserves the right to embark on a peaceful protest in line with constitutional provisions on fundamental rights, but where the exercise of such right becomes an avenue to cause discomfort and national unrest, it becomes unacceptable to people of sound morals. It provokes a responsible government to take steps towards containing the situation and putting up strategy to mitigate impacts on citizens and the economy.

CSR masterstroke: An X-ray of FirstBank's Yeoman efforts @moving 1m children to e-Learning - ITREALMS

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The rabbit hole of uncertainty, confusion and fear that pupils and their parents fell into in the dying days of March when the country was in lockdown was best captured in a Saturday Sun feature of May 16, titled, “COVID-19: Troubles of e-Learning.”

The story catalogues the challenges that erupted out of the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the fears and frustrations brewed by the new abnormality foisted on the world, the pessimism that pervaded the globe from developed to underdeveloped countries and the possibilities that blew up in the aftermath in the education stratosphere. 

With the new order of social distancing, self-isolation, government-enforced quarantine and the ubiquitous lockdown, the prospect of indefinite stay at home until at least an elusive vaccine is found, loomed. This precipitated a distress as never seen before in the education space. 

Yet, a panacea was at hand: Digital learning, though hitherto given scant attention. But crossing into that nirvana was an uphill task, especially, in this part of the world. Why: The existence of a huge digital deficit both in infrastructure and the requisite skill. 

The dilemma confronting parents, pupils and tutors are multi-dimensional as illustrated by these three vignettes from the story: 

Oko Odinakachi, a student of Abia State University, faced frustration on two fronts: her institutions dillydallying about adopting the e-learning strategy on the one hand; her little faith in digital learning, on the other hand. “I was on the verge of writing my first-semester examination. How possible can we do that digitally when there are issues with even JAMB CBT here in our country?”

A father whose daughter, a student of Federal Government College Shagamu preparing for her Senior School Certificate Exam, was compelled to seek a suitable e-learning portal because WAEC advised students to be studious during the lockdown as they’d be going straight into the exam hall at short notice as soon as the pandemic is over. The search led him to an online WAEC Preparatory Class that demanded payment for requisite online resources. “One subject is N1, 500, four subjects N4, 500 and six subjects cost at N6, 500. I didn’t go further because of the fee, which I think is exorbitant, given the current state of the country,” he complained. He joined the rank of other parents who raised concerns over exploitation by mercenaries masquerading as e-learning groups.

Abolade Kunle, a JSS3 student was aware of the government-sponsored tutorial on the radio but he was unable to enjoy the benefits: “

We don’t have a radio set in the house. I use my dad’s phone once in a while but he doesn’t allow me to use it all the time,” he railed. A related drawback was cited by one of his teachers at the public school in Mushin: “In the past five weeks, we have had barely three days of electricity supply. It is not every parent that can afford a generator. Is it not when you have electricity supply that the children can watch [government educational programme on] the television?”

The absence of curative or prophylactic breakthrough against the virus meant that academic activities would remain in limbo, while pupils and their parents are faced with the undaunted possibility of a long spell at home. The prospect of a long lull of academic inactivity struck a palpable fear that fueled the scramble unto digital learning platforms as educationists and institutions across the country experimented with remote learning, albeit on a trial-and-error basis. The efforts were at best tangled; the process muddled; the result ineffective. Even, for students of tertiary institutions, the online class was to many a Lala-land.

With the option inevitably narrowed down to digital learning, a Catch-22 situation evolved. Who’s going to make it happen? How? When?

#LekkiMassacre: Sanwo-Olu says CCTV footage now available panel of inquiry - ITREALMS

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The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has disclosed that the judicial panel of inquiry on #EndPoliceBrutality is now in possession of the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) at the Lekki Toll Gate, reports ITREALMS.

He disclosed on Monday that the Federal Government and Lagos State Government would ensure that anyone found culpable in last Tuesday's shooting at the Lekki Toll Plaza would be held accountable for their actions.

Apex Industries commits to fund top students - ITREALMS

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Apex Industries, an oil and gas conglomerate based in Equatorial Guinea and headed by Don Leoncio Amada Nze has entered into a 5 year Funding Partnership Agreement with the National University of Equatorial Guinea which will see the company issue scholarships to top talent at the country’s main institution of higher learning.

This is coming as part of Apex Industries social program, the company commits to financially support qualifying students during their academic progress for the next 5 years.

Danbatta ends 2-day working visit to Kano, meets with Salafiyya clerics - ITREALMS

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The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has met with some Salafiyyah clerics as he rounded off his two-day working visit to Kano State, insisting that peace key to socio-economic development, reports ITREALMS.

Danbatta's last port of call during the visit was his meeting with one of the leaders of Salafiyya Muslims in the state, Sheik Abdulwahab Abdallah on the evening of Sunday, October 25, 2020.

SERAP petitions Buhari, requests Lai Mohammed, NBC withdraw fine on ChannelsTv, Arise, AIT - ITREALMS

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has petitioned Nigeria's President, General Muhammadu Buhari, retired, requesting he instruct the Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to withdraw the N5 million fine on hate speech.

In the letter, the commission asked President Buhari to direct the Information Minister and the NBC to immediately rescind the fine of N5m imposed on Nigeria Info 99.3 FM radio station, following the reported comments by a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Obadiah Mailafia, during an interview with the station.

#ENDSARS: Echoes of Twitter powered uprising - ITREALMS

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Social media has demonstrated incredible potential for good. In just over a decade, it has quietly but surely emerged as the most engaging digital technology tool. Social media connects people in amazing ways enabling coordination, cooperation and collaboration. All social media platforms are equal, but some have proven to be more equal than others. Twitter is in this category.

Twitter is known for its immediacy, speed of reach and high levels of engagements. Twitter again showed why it is the platform of choice for protest. The #EndSARS protests began and were sustained on Twitter.

Digital Nigeria 2020: Isa Pantami, agencies, stakeholders restate commitment to digital economy - ITREALMS

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The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, agencies under the Ministry and industry stakeholders have re-emphasized their unflinching commitment to support the drive by the Federal Government to leverage Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to transform Nigeria into a fully digital economy, reports ITREALMS.

The renewed commitment was made at the maiden edition of Digital Nigeria Day (DND) 2020 hosted by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy at the NCC’s Communications and Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja on Saturday, October 24, 2020.

Addressing industry stakeholders at the event with the theme: ‘Digital Economy : A new Frontier for Economic Prosperity’, Pantami stated that, following the name change of the ministry to reflect the new vision of the Federal Government for a truly digital economy, the Ministry, in collaboration with its agencies and industry players, have worked tirelessly to develop policy document in this direction.

#EndSARS protest: We evacuated lots of patients, deployed 7 ambulances - ITREALMS

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A total of seven medical ambulances were deployed by EMRO to assist victims from various #EndSARS protests across Lagos and Abuja, reports ITREALMS.

This, ITREALMS gathered paved way to saving of lives associated to 60 per cent of unconscious and sustained multiple injuries.

Sources close to the emergency ambulance service provider, EMRO, confirmed to ITREALMS that majority of the patients were bleeding severely following gunshot injuries, while others had compounds fractures while some had punctured wounds from stabs from machetes and dangerous objects.

NUJ outraged by NBC illegal fines on Channels, AIT, Arise, seeks withdrawal - ITREALMS

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The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has expressed outrage over the illegal fines imposed by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Channels Tv, Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Arise Tv, over alleged “unprofessional coverage” of the #EndSARS protests, report ITREALMS.

NUJ also alleged the federal government was sending a direct signal to the rest of the country that it had no respect for free press and independent media which remain major hallmarks of a thriving democracy.

MTN, 9mobile get NCC nod for National Roaming Service - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given its nod to two mobile network operators (MNOs) to carry out trial on National Roaming Service for a period of three months, reports ITREALMS.

This trial, ITREALMS gathered had commenced from August 1, 2020 and to end by October 31, 2020.

Confirming this to ITREALMS, the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde said the two telecoms companies are Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) Nigeria and the Emerging Markets Telecommunication Service Limited (EMTS), trading as 9Mobile in Nigeria.