Buhari to Nigerians: I feel your pains

ITRealms:

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigeria not to lose confidence in the ability of his administration to bring about the change they so much desire, reports ITRealms.

Speaking at the 2015 Vanguard Awards in Lagos on Friday night, where he was honoured with the Personality of the Year Award 2015, the President said he is keenly aware of the difficulties that Nigerians are facing at this time, resulting mostly from the fuel scarcity, poor power supply, inflation etc.

''As a government that was propelled into office by the power of the people, we cannot but feel the pains of our compatriots, and we deeply empathise with them. We are working round the clock to ease the pains of Nigerians, and the efforts of the government have started yielding fruits as we seek to make the petroleum products available nationwide, restore gas supply to the power generating firms, reflate the economy and put Nigerians back to work,'' he said.

President Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said he understands that Nigerians have started questioning whether this indeed is the CHANGE they voted for, while some have even gone as far as saying that by voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigerians have entered ''One Chance''.

''Well, I can tell Nigerians that our CHANGE AGENDA is real, and that indeed, they will get the change they voted for. Nigerians have not entered 'One Chance', because the 'One Chance' drivers and their conductors have been driven out of town,'' said the President. ''''Change is a process, and that process has begun...The pains of today are temporary, and will soon give way to abundance joy as we put our country firmly on the path of sustainable growth and development.''

The President said all Nigerians, the Civil Society Organisations and the media are the real heroes of the last general elections in particular and the country's democracy in general, adding: ''And they, more than anyone or group of people, deserve all the accolades.''

He went on to commend the media for the role it played in ensuring the relative success of the last general elections, and the resilience of the nation's democracy since the beginning of this Republic.

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Pix: Buhari, Nigeria President

ntel kicks off commercial roll out in Lagos, Abuja

ITRealms:

… PH coming up in May

Latest entrant into the Nigeria’s telecommunication sector as the fifth Mobile Network Operator (MNO), the ntel, has kicked off commercial roll out of its activities on acclaimed most advanced Fourth Generation (4G) cum Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, reports ITRealms.

Confirming this, the chief executive officer (CEO) of ntel, Mr. Kamar Abass, informed ITRealms at a media launch in Lagos Friday that he was delighted.

“On behalf of the staff and directors of NatCom, this eighth day of April 2016, we start commercial activities on our newly commissioned 4G/LTE-Advanced network,” he declared.

This commencement of its phased and paced commercial operations, Abass said comes with bumper offers for early bird pioneers and data users.

“The first 100,000 to redeem and activate their ntel SIMs will get free on-net calls for life while data subscribers will get 3 months unlimited data usage on select bundles,” Abass disclosed.

Very earliest customers, he said, would be able to buy and use these services in clusters, across Lagos and Abuja from sales outlets and agents featuring the network bright new brand name: ntel.

ITRealms notes that ntel’s commencement of commercial operations is the culmination of their journey from acquiring the old NiTel/MTel assets to the delivery of successive milestones underlining their growing operating capability on their new fixed and mobile network infrastructure.

With the formal commencement, ITRealms gathered that commercial services will be available on ntel’s 4G/LTE-Advanced network across key site clusters in Lagos and Abuja. While coverage in Port Harcourt will follow during May, along with expanded coverage in Lagos and Abuja, and subsequently to other states, across multiple geo-political zones, during the second half of 2016.

The company, ITRealms further reports, said their 4G/LTE-Advanced technology built on the 900/1800MHz spectrum will deliver an unbeatable and game-changing customer experience of high-speed Internet access up to 230 Mega Bytes per second (Mbps), the fastest available in Nigeria today thus enabling a world of full mobile broadband experiences that will transform both lives and livelihoods.

Equally, Abass, a strong advocate of 4G/LTE, said his team is passionate at ntel about the power of broadband to boost productivity and, thereby, transform lives,

“We expect to see this happen as ntel helps to accelerate the ongoing migration, from existing 2G and 3G services, to genuinely high-speed Mobile Broadband on 4G/LTE-Advanced,” Abass submitted.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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Pix: CEO, Abass with his team.

Breaking News: GSMA, ALTON, ATCON, NATCOMS reject plan to tax e-Services in Nigeria

Breaking News@ITRealms:

The Global System for Mobile Association (GSMA) has led a joint petition with the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) against the proposed 9 per cent Communication Services Tax to be levied on charges payable by end-users of an electronic communication services in Nigeria, reports ITRealms.

Whereas GSMA is the industry association for mobile operators worldwide; ALTON, is for mobile operators of Nigeria; ATCON is for other associated telecom companies, and NATCOMS represents telecom consumers; jointly expressed dismay regarding the proposal, under consideration by the National Assembly, to establish a 9 per cent Communication Service Tax to be levied on charges payable by a user of an electronic communication service, for instance on Short Messaging Service (SMS), voice calls, MMS, data usage among others supplied by service providers.

In a strongly worded petition entitled ‘Objection to the Proposed Bill for the Establishment of a Tax on Electronic Communication Services in Nigeria’ addressed to the duo of Nigerian Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and her counterpart in Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, the four telecommunications interest groups jointly rejected the proposed plan by the government to tax electronic communication services in the country.

A copy of the petition obtained by ITRealms, revealed that Mortimer Hope, Director Africa of GSMA, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of ALTON, Engr. Lanre Ajayi, President of ATCON and Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, the national president of NATCOMS signed for their respective organisations.

ITRealms also reported that the petition which was copied to the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Senate President, Dr. Olubukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Dogara Yakubu among others, insisted that if this tax proposal is accomplished, it will not only increase prices for consumers, but stifles further investment in a market already battling multiple taxation.

“If introduced, such tax will result in an increase in prices for consumers, have adverse impacts on the adoption of mobile services and industry investment, and be counter-productive to the longer term national digital strategy objectives set by the Government of Nigeria,” the groups said.

According them, the bill tends to increase affordability barriers to the uptake of mobile services in the country.

They quoted a recent World Bank report which showed that a 10 per cent increase in mobile broadband penetration in low to middle income countries leads to a 1.38 per cent increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

They also pointed out that as at March 30, 2016, Nigeria has 83 million people with access to mobile services, lamenting that over half of the population are still without a mobile connection, while affordability remains a key challenge to connect the unconnected, who are typically lower income population groups.

“Further taxation on electronic communication services will hit lower income consumers the most, who are already struggling due to the adverse economic situation and increased price pressure and for whom affordable access to information and communication technology is critical to their social and economic inclusion," the petitioners lamented, stressing that this will result in a double taxation for consumers who already pay Value Added Taxes (VAT) on telecommunications services.

The quadruple interest group argued that the proposal would also further increase the administrative cost burden on service providers to comply with numerous and complex tax regulations, already high compared to other countries of the world.

They, therefore, requested of both Ministers to urgently intervene to prevent the adoption of a new tax on electronic communications services to ensure that digital economy delivers its full potential in Nigeria and for Nigerians.

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Buhari govt to save 20% from travels

ITRealms:

The All Progressive Congress (APC) Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari has concluded plans to save some 20 per cent from travel expenditures by limiting Business Class travel to Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Chairmen of Federal Government Committees, as well as Chairmen and Chief Executives of Parastatals and Agencies, reports ITRealms.

Disclosing this, the office of Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance said they are collaborating very closely with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), to review the provisions of some extant government Circulars on Overhead Expenses one of which is on Travels.

Special Assistant on Media to Honourable Minister of Finance, Festus Akanbi confirmed this to ITRealms, saying that the Efficiency Unit, an initiative of the current Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun was set up to engender transparency and reduce government’s large expenditure through procurement in the various ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

He also said that the unit, in its negotiation for discounts with local and international airlines also recommended other measures for reducing the government’s large expenditure on travels to the OSGF.

This, he said, includes the need to restrict Business Class travel to Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Chairmen of Federal Government Committees, as well as Chairmen and Chief Executives of Parastatals and Agencies.

He noted that previously, some government officials who should have been on Business Class usually traveled First Class, while many others travelled Business Class instead of Economy.

The second recommendation, ITRealms reports, bordered on the need to reduce the frequency of travels by ensuring that Board and Committee events such as meetings, workshops and conferences in Nigeria are held in locations where the institutions or persons participating in the event are domiciled.

Furthermore, such events should for the most part be held in Nigeria but where this is not possible, the prior approval of the Secretary to the Federal Government should be secured.

This, he further said, aligns with the present administration’s commitment to reform public expenditure, hence, the OSGF accepted the recommendations in full and has accordingly issued a Circular recently to effect the changes. 

“The buy-in and prompt reaction of the OSGF is an attestation of the common resolve by government to its change mantra and the spirit of collaboration among government institutions and officials,” Akanbi said.

ITRealms recalls that Travel Expenditure is estimated to drop by about 20 per cent if the provisions of the new Circular issued by the OSGF are fully implemented.

Akanbi went on to explain that a 20 per cent reduction in Air Travel Expenditure, using the figure of N69.417 billion incurred on Travels in 2014 will result in a cost-cutting of N13.88 billion, stressing that such large savings from Travel, should ordinarily not be a major expense item for the government, but become available for investment in capital projects such as roads, power, railways and public health facilities.

“The savings are expected to be even larger when discounts secured from Airlines are added. Already, 11 Airlines have offered discounts on local and international routes for travel by MDAs while negotiations are on-going with others.  The discounts received so far vary across routes and airlines and range from 7 per cent to 50 per cent. The Efficiency Unit expects the implementation of the price discounts secured from Airlines to start in May 2016 when the Agreements would have been signed with the Airlines and MDA staff would have been trained and equipped for effective administration of the new process,” he explained.

Other overhead expenditure items, he said being reviewed by the Efficiency Unit are those relating to refreshments and meals, honorarium and sitting allowance as well as advertising and publicity. 

Measures, Akanbi said that will standardise spending on these items, cut costs and promote transparency on these items have been recommended to the OSGF and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, from which further cost-cutting on Overhead Expenditure is to be achieved.

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Niger Delta: 33 finalists emerge @ GEMS 2016

ITRealms:

About 33 finalists have emerged in the 2016 Girls in Engineering, Mathematics and Science (GEMS) programme being organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), reports ITRealms.

The Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari made this disclosure at a ceremony in Port Harcourt.

She also said that the 33 finalists all emerged from SSS1 and SSS2, who are beginning to see the practicality of science, even at that young age, and it becomes a foundation upon which they and other children of the Niger Delta, as well as the schools in the region, will build collective future.

The school that produces the first prize winner, she said, will get a chemistry laboratory, while the second and third schools will get a physics and biology laboratory, respectively.

“We are also going to reward the girls with prizes, such as laptops,” she said.

Further, she said, these finalists were selected from a rigorous elimination process that began with 2880 girls from the nine NDDC mandate states.

“From this first screening test 1110 girls were selected. From the 1110, 270 were selected at 30 girls per state. They progressed to the state finals, where 11 girls qualified from each state, leading to the regional finals, where 11 girls were selected from each of the three regions. Of the 33 who will participate in the grand finale, 10 would be selected for recognition, while the top five will receive awards, prizes and scholarships,” she said.

In initiating GEMS, she said, they are igniting a spark within these young, remarkable women, as well as in society, which we expect to build into a fire that will lead to great things.

“It is good for our society, and good for the Niger Delta region. It is good for our collective future,” shd said, and  called on other well-meaning organisations across the Niger Delta, especially oil and gas companies, to partner with NDDC on the GEMS programme, so that it becomes a worthy and engaging incubator for breeding young ladies who will grow up to conquer the world in various STEM-related careers. 

Gender ICT/GEE 

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Okey Bakassi, Raw Nwanne, Yaw clinche Daylight Leadership Awards

Art&Fashion@ITRealms:

The multi-talented trio of Okey Bakassi, Raw Nwanne and Yaw, will be presented with special recognition awards as Daylight Newspaper Comedian, Musician and Radio Personalities of the year, respectively at the 2016 Daylight Annual Leadership Awards (DALA), reports ITRealms.

The Anambra State born Publisher cum Editor-in-Chief of Daylight, Mr. Azuh Amatus, made this disclosure to ITRealms in Lagos and said the trio will join the 15 exceptionally qualified Nigerian celebrities to be honoured at the award scheme slated for Sunday, May 22, 2016.

Amatus also told ITRealms that the event starts with green and white carpet at 4pm, explaining that their honour is in appreciations of their great contributions to the various sectors they represent as leaders and role models.

In addition, Amatus revealed that the billionaire founder of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema’s company, will be decorated as the Airline of the Year. Even as Soundcity boss and leading content provider on TV, Tajudeen Adepetu, made the list as the proud recipient of the Entertainment Person of the year.

Another growing Nollywood actress and lawyer, Angel Ufuoma, who is one of the hottest new generation stars in Tinsel town, will be crowned with Nollywood Most Promising Actress of the year.

“DALA honourees are leading role models that have equally aided national growth and development with their leadership roles and God’s given talents. We are profoundly proud of them, appreciate and hold them in high esteem,” he declared.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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Pix: Yaw, Okey Bakassi, Raw Nwanne, 

GEMS committed to bridge gender gaps - Ibim Semenitari

ITRealms:

The Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari has said that by the creation of  the Girls in Engineering, Mathematics and Science (GEMS) programme, that the initiative is committed to bridge gender gaps, reports ITRealms.

Speaking at the hosting of the finalists of GEMS in Port Harcourt, Semenitari said that  the programme was borne out of the desire as well as social commitment and responsibility to bridge the gaps that exist in gender related issues.

"We encounter in our earnest effort to facilitate the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region. Of great importance is the science and technology areas, which are very vital in ensuring that our people begin to play a more definitive role in the oil and gas sector, which predominate activities in the Niger Delta," she said

According to the NDDC boss, the mission of GEMS s to promote innovative, research and standards-based practices, which will encourage students with interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to thrive in the 21st century global economy.

She also said that the programme hopes to leverage on its extensive network of expertise, partnerships, resources and experience by providing Niger Delta girls who have shown remarkable brilliance in these areas the needed platform to excel and grow as scientists.

NDDC, she said, believes that science and technology could become exciting again, for our young ones.

“GEMS presents a healthy competition that helps our girls interpret science in such a way that we can use science, in a glamorous way, to do every day things, and resolve every day challenges,” she submitted.

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Pix: Mrs. Ibim Semenitari

Oracle plans worldwide cloud day event

ITRealms:

Oracle Nigeria would on Thursday, April 14, this year join the worldwide commemoration of the Oracle Cloud Day in Lagos, reports ITRealms.

This, ITRealms gathered would avail the company to have ‘Oracle Cloud Day’ celebrated across over 30 countries from the East to the West of Africa, live across 4 time zones.

Managing Director, Sub Saharan Africa Cluster in Africa, Cherian Varghese, disclosed that this is first of its kind, and is different to anything that Oracle has ever held before and will be rolled-out by using their superior Cloud technology, reaching over more than 30 locations and using webinar technology to engage regions simultaneously.

The event, he said, would bring together over 1,100 people including Oracle employees and support staff, as well as partners that will work together to support this great initiative, around 200 of them presenting on the day.

“Together with Oracle’s state of the art Cloud technology, Oracle will reach partners, channel partners, distributors, entrepreneurs, students and consumers who have and have not yet heard about Oracle.  Over one million participants will be reached on one day, all at the same time,” he said.

Varghese also said that participants would be invited to engage in discussions related to all three of the Oracle Cloud portfolios, which include Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).

ITRealms gathered that in addition, various keynote addresses from Oracle executives such as Mr Varghese, as well as presentations from Cloud experts, case studies and physical demos of the power of cloud technology, through real-life experiences, showcasing how adopting cloud can enable current and future customers.

“At Oracle, we believe that Cloud is the most powerful force in information technology, and in short this means that it’s changing the way we work, the way we collaborate and the way we go to market. It will ultimately change the way we think about business,” Varghese reassured.

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CSEAN president calls for coordinated response against emerging cyber threats

ITRealms:

The president of the Cyber Security Expert Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), Mr. Remi Afon has called for a coordinated response system as a counter measure for emerging cyber security threats, reports ITRealms.

He made this call at the opening address to the 2016 Cyber Secure Nigeria ongoing at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja on Wednesday.

Afon said that this will avert potential for cyber attacks to cause damage at a societal level, stressing that coordinated response will pave a way for dependable infrastructure, industry and key organizations for capable of identified and addressed.

"Given the scale and scope of the challenge, responsibility for the solution should be shared by government, cyber security professionals and private organizations," he said.

Afon emphasized that criminals are stepping up their game and date breaches are increasingly common and devastating, "That its why we need to act together."

In addition, he pointed out that as economies, society and businesses become ever more dependent on the internet, understanding not only the current threat landscape, but also the potential impact of developing threats is crucial to security and ultimately business management.

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Pix: CSEAN Vice President, Communication Minister, Adebayo Shittu, CSEAN president, Remi Afon, CPN President, Prof. Vincent Asor, Rep. Vice President Osinbanjo, SA Rule of Law 

Connect Britain: Vaizey to reveal UK’s digital future

ITRealms:

The United Kingdom Culture and Digital Economy minister, Ed Vaizey will outline the government’s latest projections for the UK’s digital future at Connected Britain – a two-day conference and exhibition dedicated to the country’s current state of connectivity, reports ITRealms.

The event taking place at the Jumeirah Carlton Hotel, in London, on Wednesday, June 15 and Thursday, June 16, Vaizey, ITRealms gathered would headline the event, which features a packed agenda of key speakers from the service provider and vendor communities, as well as government bodies, regulators and analysts.

Other leading names confirmed by event organizer, Total Telecom include Mike Galvin, Managing Director of Strategy Service and Operations at BT, Broadband Delivery UK CEO Chris Townsend and 02 Telefonica’s Chief Technology OfficerBrendan O’Reilly.

Total Telecom’s Managing Director Rob Chambers  said the digital revolution is bringing huge opportunities for the UK, adding “These range from new, more efficient and profitable business models to more effective social services, smart cities and communities inside an ultrafast broadband environment. To realise these opportunities, the UK telecoms industry faces a range of challenges and Connected Britain is the ideal platform for industry leaders to come together and address them.”

ITRealms further reports that subjects to be covered during the two-day conference will include connectivity and the economy, technical futures, infrastructure investment, regulation, digital inclusion and future cities. This is in addition to a conference presentations, the event will include roundtables and networking opportunities.

+Remmy  

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Daylight Leadership Awards unveil 2016 awardees

ITRealms:

… Lists Kebbi firstlady, Adesina, Mba, Aki & Pawpaw and others

The management of leading online newspaper, Daylight has unveiled the list of awardees in its maiden Daylight Annual Leadership Awards (DALA), 2016, reports ITRealms.

The Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Daylight, Mr. Azuh Amatus, said the star-studded award scheme, will next month, Sunday, May 22, 2016, honour 15 exceptionally qualified Nigerians, commencing with green and white carpet at 4.p.m. with the paparazzis.

Amatus, who is the Chairman of DALA, hinted ITRealms that the high-octane awards ceremony has been slated to hold at the prestigious Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, with a promise of glitz and grandeur.

He also said that the aim of the awards is to recognise, reward and celebrate excellence among Nigerians who have excelled immensely in various leadership positions and equally impacted positively on our nation in both public and private sectors.

The distinguished recipients include the wife of the Kebbi State Governor, Hajiya Aisha Atiku Bagudu, who goes home with a plaque as Daylight Woman of the Year.

The organisers said, she has contributed invaluably to upliftment of less privileged in the society with self-funded NGO, Mallpai Foundation, which has done extensive humanitarian works in Northern Nigeria and beyond for almost a decade.

Also on the list of honourees is the presidential spokesman, a celebrated journalist and newspaper administrator extraordinaire cum leader, Mr. Femi Adesina (FNGE), just as the immediate past director general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Emeka Mba, will be honoured as the Daylight Newspaper Person of the year, for among other things championed the transition from analogue to Digital Switch Over (DSO) in the nation’s broadcasting sector, expected to be fully implemented in 2017.

Equally to be honoured is showbiz impresario and founder of Coliseum Events Centre, Mr. Ken Calebs Olumese, as the recipient of the Daylight Newspaper Life-Time Achievement Award, while the famous thespian trio of Stephanie Okereke-Linus, Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki) and Osita Iheme (Pawpaw) were not left out as they will go home with special recognition awards as Daylight Newspaper Nollywood Persons of the year.

According to Amatus, Nollywood diva, Monalisa Chinda-Coker made the list for bringing back vim and verve on TV screens with her exciting You and I programme as the Talk Show Host of the year trophy.

Another worthy recipient is, leading Abuja based top lawyer and fiery columnist, Barrister Sam Kargbo, who won the Most Outstanding Columnist of the year (Law and National Development), for his approach to issues of national interest.

Uj. N Dominic/GEE

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World security risk: Anti-Donald Trump campaigners seek 2m signatures

ITRealms:

A group of concerned world citizens are gathering 2 million signatures against the controversial United States President, Mr. Donald Trump, due to his security risk to the world, reports ITRealms.

The campaign being championed by Stephen Miles on behalf of Avaaz, an online public interest advocacy organization, urge people of the world to join the crusade to say ‘No’ to what Miles called “Mexicans rapists and women "bimbos" and "fat pigs".

Miles also alleged that Trump had promised to shut down mosques, keep a database of Muslims, and round up the children of "illegal" immigrants.

“Now a new report says Donald Trump’s hateful speech could make him a threat to our global security. Enough is enough -- with one click, join the sign-on letter below that's sweeping the planet and speak out against Trump’s hate-mongering. Once we hit 2 million signers it will be printed in media outlets around the world,” he lamented.

Also in a letter to Mr. Trump, the campaigners, said his campaign style is not what greatness looks like.

“Dear Mr. Trump, 

“This is not what greatness looks like.

“The world rejects your fear, hate-mongering, and bigotry. We reject your support for torture, your calls for murdering civilians, and your general encouragement of violence. We reject your denigration of women, Muslims, Mexicans, and millions of others who don’t look like you, talk like you, or pray to the same god as you. 

“Facing your fear we choose compassion. Hearing your despair we choose hope. Seeing your ignorance we choose understanding. 

“As citizens of the world, we stand united against your brand of division. 

“Sincerely,” 

+ITRealms DSA 

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Pix: Trump

Tomatoes may combat damaging effects of radiation

ITRealms:

A team of researchers from The University of Manchester have discovered that lycopene - the red pigment in tomatoes - is extremely successful at guarding against the harmful effects of radiation, reports ITRealms.

The team led by Dr Ruth Edge from The University of Manchester, together with her colleagues Professor George Truscott from Keele University and Professors Fritz Boehm & Christian Witt from Berlin, undertook a study of lycopene (one of the carotenoids - plant pigments found in many fruits and vegetables) and its effectiveness at protecting against radiation at the University of Manchester’s Dalton Cumbrian Facility, part of the Dalton Nuclear Institute.

Radiation therapy is used to treat a wide range of tumours, but until now, its side effects have constrained its effectiveness. Recently, there has been interest in the possible role of dietary carotenoids in limiting these effects. In addition, interest has grown in identifying dietary counter-measures against nuclear accidents.

The results of the study, published in FEBS Letters, have shown that lycopene is an effective carotenoid at offering protection from the damaging effects of gamma radiation, and that dietary intervention could be useful in efforts to defend people from these effects. A plentiful supply of tomatoes, cooked in oil which helps the body to absorb carotenoids, would be an effective way of adding lycopene to diets. A major finding of the study is that such protective effects are reduced as the oxygen concentration is increased.

Dr Ruth Edge, Experimental Officer and Laboratory Manager at the Dalton Cumbrian Facility, said: “We have shown that lycopene can protect human cells efficiently against gamma radiation at low, but not high oxygen concentrations, and we hope that this effect may allow for improvements in radiation cancer therapy if the oxygen concentration can be increased in solid tumours compared to the healthy surrounding tissue”.

Future studies will look at other dietary carotenoids, as well as mixtures, to determine whether there is also an oxygen effect and to try to increase any protection range observed with oxygen concentration. In addition, the team will also study the oxygen effect using other sources of radiation, such as proton and alpha particle beams from the Dalton Cumbrian Facility accelerator.

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ICANN56: Nigeria missing in fellowship

ITRealms:

Twenty-five Alumni with previous Fellowship and ICANN Community experience have been selected to participate in ICANN's Policy Forum at the 56th Public Meeting in Helsinki, 27-30 June 2016, with Nigerians missing, reports ITRealms.

These individuals, ITRealms reports, represent all sectors of society including civil, government, academia, business, technical, security, end user groups and country code supporting groups.

ITRealms gathered that fellows were members of the Government Advisory Committee (GAC), country code Name Supporting Organisation (ccNSO), generic Name Supporting Organisation (gNSO), Constituencies and Stakeholder Groups and At Large.

For the ICANN56 Meeting, ITRealms also reports that estimated 54 Fellowship Alumni applications were received through the online process and assessed by an independent selection committee.

The successful candidates, ITRealms further gathered were selected based on references from current Community leaders, Global Stakeholder Engagement and Policy policy members who have witnessed their commitment and engagement in the Internet ecosystem, their region and/or the ICANN community through one of its Multistakeholder model groups.

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Pix: Goran Marby, new ICANN CEO

Breaking News: 13 Nigerian scientists, techies named African Science Fellows

Breaking News@ITRealms:

Thirteen Nigerian scientists and technologists have become Fellows of the African Scientific Institute (ASI), reports ITRealms.

ASI President and chief executive officer (CEO), Lee O. Cherry disclosed this to ITRealms, saying that the new fellows are made of scientists and technologists of the African Diaspora and Africa numbering 50 in total in the last one year.

Cherry also listed these 13 Nigerian scientists and technologists to include Oluyomi S Adeyemi, Ph.D. (Nigeria/Japan): Biochemistry, Olutayo Kehinde Boyinbode, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Computer Science, Olubukola O. Babalola, Ph.D. (Nigeria/South Africa): Microbiology, Isaac A Adeyinka, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Animal Science.

Others include Oliver Chukwujekwu Ezechi,M.D., Ph.D. (Nigeria) who doubles as Deputy Director (Research) and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Head, Clinical Sciences Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research(NIMR); Oluminde A. Odeyemi, Ph.D. (Nigeria/Malaysia): Agriculture and Aquaculture Biology; and Nkechi Emea Ibisi, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Chemistry.

ASI president also named Osakpanwan Edgar Osaghae, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Computer Science; Oladipo Francisca Onaolapo, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Computer Science; Medina Omo Kadiri, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Plant Biology & Biotechnology; Kingsley Chiwuike Ukaoha, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Computer Science; and Mojisola Oluwayemisi Adeniyi, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Atmospheric Physics.

The new ASI fellows, ITRealms reports were members inducted between April 2015 and March 2016 with the following breakdown.

ITRealms further gathered that the month of April, September and November 2015 recorded Seven inductees as fellows respectively; two in May and December, four in June, August and October, while the month of July recoded three in the past year.

This, ASI fellows had five in January, three in February and two in March 2016.

Cherry equally said the latest ASI fellows from Africa in diaspora include Mourad Telmini, Ph.D. (Tunisia): Atomic and Molecular Physics; * Benevides C. Pessela, Ph.D. (Angola/Spain): Biotechnology; Fred Moore, Ph.D. (USA): Biochemistry and Biotechnology; Wigganson Matandiko, Ph.D. (Zambia): Veterinary Surgeon.

For the month of January 2016 inductees are Kevin Petty, Ph.D., (USA) : Corporate Chief Science Officer; Transportation Systems Evaluations; Meteorology, Godfrey Gumbs, Ph.D. (Guyana/USA): Physics; Innocent Nhapi, Ph.D. (Zimbabwe): Civil and Environmental Engineering; Integrated Water Resources Management; Patricia Mathabe, Ph.D. (South Africa): Agricultural Proteomics.

As at December 2015, there were only two fellows, namely, Mercy Manyuchi, Ph.D. (Zimbabwe): Chemical Engineering. While the month of November recorded seven fellows, namely Hon. VC, William Otoo Ellis, Ph.D. (Ghana): Vice Chancellor, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST); Food Science; Norman Fortenberry, Ph.D. (USA): Executive Director of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). Former Director, Center for the Advancement of Scholarship on Engineering Education, USA National Academy of Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Arlene P. Maclin, Ph. D. (USA): Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Consortium- Center for Academic Excellence (MAC-CAE); Physics; Collins N. Ateba, Ph.D. (South Africa): Molecular Biology, Sabin Nsanzimana, M.D. (Rwanda): Clinical Medicine; Epidemiology, Iman Abuel Maaly Abdelrahman, Ph.D. (Sudan): University Head, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

In addition, Hon. Muhammadou M.O.Kah, Ph.D. (Gambia): Former University Rector ICT Former University Vice Chancellor; Information Technology & Communications; Martha Mamo, Ph.D. (Ethiopia/USA): Soil Science; Agronomy; Roscoe Moore, Jr., Ph.D. (USA): Former Assistant United States Surgeon General and Rear Admiral in the USPHS; Epidemiology; Quinton L. Williams, Ph.D. (USA): University Dept. of Physics Chair, Farith A. Diaz Arriaga, (Columbia); Civil and Environmental Engineering; Delroy Green (Jamaica/USA): Electrical Engineering; Richard Brent, Ph.D. (USA): Hydro Power Systems; Kimani Stancil, Ph.D. (USA): Physics; Jean Paul Kamdem, Ph.D. (Cameroon/Brazil): Biochemistry; Rohan J. Banton, Ph.D. (USA): Mechanical Engineering;

Eligius Lyamuya, MD, MMed, PhD, FTAAS, FCPath (ECSA) (Tanzania).

The Deputy Vice Chancellor - Academic, Research & Consultancy; Microbiology and Immunology; Francisca Mutapi, Ph.D. (Zimbabwe/England): Immunology & Infection Research;  Kwaku Danso, Ph.D. (Ghana/USA): Electronic Engineering; Business Development and Management were not left out.

Others include Robert Mitchell (USA): IT Management; Cyber Security; James Cates (USA): CEO and Founder, LOBI Group, LLC; Computer Science, Kumi Rauf (USA): President of  "I Love Being Black", the largest Black followers on Facebook; Computer Science; Robert T. Tshikhudo, Ph.D. (South Africa): Director of the DST/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre (NIC); Nanotechnology; Assan Jaye, DVM, Ph.D. (Gambia): Viral Diseases; Immunology; Al Davis (USA): Construction Project Development; Abd Elmoneim Osman Elkhalifa, Ph.D. (Sudan): Nutritional Food Chemistry; Stephen Elias Damson Nsimba, Ph.D. (Tanzania): Clinical Pharmacologist; Pharmaco-Epidemiologist; Mona Mohamed Nasr, Ph.D. (Egypt): Computer Science and Morris Kasigwa Agaba, Ph.D. (Tanzania): Molecular Genetics.

+Remmy Nweke
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Abuja agog for CSEAN Cyber Secure Nigeria 2016

ITRealms:

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja is beginning to wear a new look with cyber experts from around the world arriving for the 2016 Cyber Security Expert Association of Nigeria’s Cyber Secure Nigeria conference, reports ITRealms.

Information reaching ITRealms newsroom indicated that experts, especially Nigerians who are playing in the cyber security world have begun to arrive the FCT since Monday this week for the two-day annual conference.

Director, Membership, CSEAN, Mrs. Lizzy Adekunle said that they are now on count-down to the CSEAN Cyber Secure Nigeria 2016 conference, adding that all is now set for a successful event.

She also disclosed that attendance is mandatory for all members to renew their membership and also form part of the CSEAN Continuous Professional Education (CPE).

She urged those yet to complete registration for this all-cyber purpose conference to visit CSEAN website.

According to her, the theme for this year is “Emerging Cyber Security Threats and Countermeasure” and has been scheduled to hold at the Nigeria Air Force Conference Centre, Abuja, between April 6 and 7.

She listed benefits of the conference to include automatic renewal of membership for another year, benefit from a panel of speakers with wide range of expertise, learn firsthand latest practical ethical hacking methodologies and malware analysis, certificate of attendance, earn CSEAN CPE and other industry certifications’ CPE such as CISSP, CISM, CEH etc, in addition to network with fellow Cyber Security Professionals.

+ITRealms DSA 

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