Nigerian Guild of Editors lament state-of-the-nation, elevates Egbemode to acting president

ITRealms:

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) concluded its 2nd quarterly Standing Committee Meeting of the year on Friday, July 8, 2016 in Abuja with songs of lamentations, just as they elected Mrs Funke Egbemode, the Managing Director/Editor in Chief, Telegraph Newspaper, as the Acting President, reports ITRealms.

Egbemode’s elevation follows the recent appointment of else-while president, Garba Deen Muhammad as the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

ITRealms also reports that NGE in a six point communique noted with dismay that the economy is largely in a bad shape showing signs of recession, as statistics of unemployment is worsening while the future looks bleak. It therefore urges the Federal Government to take urgent steps to revitalise the economy in the area of job and wealth creation in order to alleviate the suffering of the masses.

The Guild equally condemned in strong terms the vandalism of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region and called for dialogue by creating avenues to engage the various agitators in order to address their concerns and urged the agitators to embrace dialogue.

The Guild also noted with concern the increasing spate of kidnapping across the country and calls on the new Inspector-General of Police to come up with more proactive measures to curb the menace.

“It, however, commends the gallantry of the Nigerian military in its fight against terrorism in the north east and the recovery of territories from the insurgents and urges government to pursue the anti-terrorism fight with more vigour until peace is fully restored to the troubled area,” the statement signed by the duo of acting president, Funke Egbemode and General Secretary, Victoria Ibanga, decried.

Further, the Guild expressed concern over the pathetic living condition of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and called on government, corporate organisations, individuals and international agencies to come to their aid.

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Ghana pilots visa-on-arrival for African nationals

ITRealms:

The Ghanaian Immigration Service has commenced the pilot phase of visa on arrival for all African Union nationals, reports ITRealms.

This innovation as agreed recently by AU, ITRealms is novel and could mean a transformation of Africa as its citizens now have the opportunity of seeking visa, especially those outside the current visa free agreement with other countries with anticipation of boosting tourism.

Till date, Ghana seems to pioneer this implementation in Africa.

According to a press statement endorsed on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Immigration by the Head of Public Affairs of GIS, Mr. Francis Palmdeti, in a memo dated July 8, 2016, Ghana says this exercise takes immediate effect.

“All African Union nationals whose countries do not have a visa free agreement with Ghana would be able to obtain visas on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA),” part of the statement read.

ITRealms also gathered that this current arrangement would be piloted at KIA for the first three months before being extended to all other entry points of the country.

The Comptroller-General recalls that in his state of the nation address on February 26, 2016, His Excellency, President John Dremani Mahama informed parliament that all AU nationals will from July 2016 be issued with visas on arrival following a decision taken at the Executive Council Meeting of the Africa Union.

The GIS being the government agency mandated to regulate migrant flows into the country, intends to ensure the smooth implementation of this new policy.

As said by the Comptroller-General, the service in line with this directive has initiated the modalities to give effect to the policy.

These modalities include that all AU nationals affected by this policy who arrive in the country must have a passport, valid for at least three (3) months, from the date of entry.

Also, such migrant GIS said, they must have a return ticket or evidence of onward travel and sufficient funds and proof of accommodation before they are granted visas.

All such visas, GIS noted, would be issued for validity of 30 days, even as they would be subject to the provisions of Section 4 of the Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573) which applies to all travelers entering Ghana.

GIS further beckoned on the public, foreign missions and embassies to take note these modalities, reassuring that GIS would continue to execute its mandate professionally and effectively with the intention of making Ghana an attractive destination to investors and tourists.

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NITDA to host plenary session @ NCS confab 2016

ITRealms:

 The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has concluded plans to host a plenary session at the forthcoming National Conference 2016, being hosted by the Nigeria Computer Society, reports ITRealms.

The Acting Director-General, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, revealed this recently saying the agency would host a plenary session during the 2016 NCS conference, billed for July 19-21 at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.

He recalled that NITDA is responsible for fostering the development and growth of Information Technology (IT) in Nigeria and would use the session during this high profile event to focus on “The Role of ICT Innovation in Diversifying the Nigerian Economy”.

Pointing out that on promoting IT innovation and creativity, he said, NITDA would use the session to highlight issues, challenges and experiences during the innovation process.

“Geared towards the advancement of NITDA‘s mandate, the conference will additionally be informed about measures, interventions and strategies NITDA has put in place to enable job creation and wealth creation through IT,” he said.

Affirming this, chairman, Conferences Committee at Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Mr. Jide Awe said this session is being put up in a strategic collaboration with NCS, NITDA is hosting the plenary session during the NCS annual conference to create awareness about innovation development opportunities and to enrich and expand the innovation ecosystem.
 
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Lagos MMIA shooting leaves 2 injured

ITRealms:

At least, two persons were on Friday wounded following an accidental discharge at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) reports ITRealms.

The incident, ITRealms gathered happened when an armed orderly of a Senator accidentally fired the gunshots while trying to discharge the magazine of his gun.

Reacting to the incident, General Manager, Public Affairs of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Yakubu Dati, affirmed the incident on Friday with two persons injured; a woman passenger and the orderly.

Dati pointed out that what happened was an accident which occurred while the security detail was trying to remove the magazine from his gun as a standard procedure because guns are not allowed onboard aircraft but they are usually checked in, in the luggage compartment.

He explained the incident was minor and assured air travelers that all the airports are safe and secure, stressing that in recognition of the security challenges in the country and around the world, security at Nigerian airports has been strengthened.

ITRealms recalls that Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos is the nation's busiest airport – with two terminals – International and Cargo terminals open 24 hours daily while the domestic terminal opens 16 hours daily.

 Isaac Oyimah/GEE

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NCS Confab 2016: Innovation takes centre stage

ITRealms:

The 26^th National Conference of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) promises to have Information Technology (IT) innovation at the centre stage, reports ITRealms.

The conference scheduled for July 19 through 21, 2016 at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja, according to the chairman, Conferences Committee at NCS, Mr. Jide Awe, prides itself as Nigeria’s largest annual IT conference, comes this year with the theme, “Information Technology for National Safety and Security.”

Awe made this disclosure in a press statement made available to ITRealms, saying that the theme emphasises innovation in national safety and security which aligns with the security priority of the Federal Government.

While appreciating Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA), NCS said they have made some successes in recent times, but stressing that the conference is a clarion call on the application of innovative IT tools and strategies for improved effectiveness and performance in all aspects of national security.

These areas of national security, he said include border security, military, cybersecurity, policing to name a few.

ITRealms recalls that the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) is the umbrella organization of all Information Technology professionals, interest groups and stakeholders in Nigeria.

Formed in 1978 as Computer Association of Nigeria (COAN) and later transformed into NCS in 2002 as a result of harmonization with other stakeholders and interest groups, thus positions itself as the national platform for the advancement of Information Technology science and practice in Nigeria.

 

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Econet refuses to ban What’s app in Zimbabwe despite govt tactics

ITRealms:

Leading mobile operator in Zimbabwe, Econet Wireless has refused to ban What’s app in the country despite pressures from the government, reports ITRealms.

Econet Chairman, Strive Masiyiwa gave this indication Friday morning when state security agents went to Econet headquarters in Harare, when he refused to become a puppet of President Robert Mugabe. 

ITRealms gathered that ZimEye reported that the government agents wanted Econet to ban WhatsApp platform and secondly, they need names of people who were complaining about Mugabe's dictatorship.   

The report noted that on arrival, the security operatives were referred to Masiyiwa by Econet spokesperson Alfred Nyambira, who in turn spoke to the agents via video call from Denmark.

ZimEye also report that the Econet chairman was precise in his chat with them and was quoted as saying telling them off. 

"... Your Potraz laws cannot be allowed to destroy my business ..." he said, stressing that concerning the issue of phone numbers and details of network users.

“I cannot give you because the international satellite laws state that user privacy is of key importance", said Masiyiwa. 

The unshaken Masiyiwa maintained his stand on the issue of banning WhatsApp.

According him, "My company (Econet Wireless) is going to lose billions of dollars if I agree to ban the social media platform ... so go and arrange with your boss (Mugabe) on how to compensate my money before you talk to me …."

Meanwhile, Econet Wireless has assured Zimbabweans that the security agents from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) lack the capacity to read people’s messages on What’s App, one of the agents was quoted as saying.

Chuks Egbuna/ZimEye/GEE

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