Exclusively Trending: Online petitioners demand Donald Trump tax returns

ITRealms:

A petition launched by Steven Gill, a resident of Austin in Texas, United States of America (USA) which  is currently trending online with over 400 supporters, have demanded that the Republican presidential flagbearer, Mr. Donald Trump should release his tax returns, reports ITRealms.

Just at the weekend, his counterpart at Democratic party, Senator Hillary Clinton made public her tax returns in the last one year, in a move to force Trump to release his tax returns despite claims that Trump said he donates to charity than Clinton.

According to the petition, which as addressed to the U.S. Republic National Committee and Federal Elections Commission (FEC), respectively, Mr. Gill asked Donald Trump to release his tax returns, has attracted over 400 supporters within a few minutes of setting it up at Change.org. on Saturday, August 13, 2016.

For Mr. Gill, every U.S. Presidential candidate since Richard Nixon has voluntarily released copies of their tax returns to the public so that voters could assess the amount and sources of income, taxes paid, charitable contributions and other data which could affect their propensity to elect them.

He lamented that despite this historical path, Donald Trump has refused to do same, claiming this might affect audits of his returns currently underway.

“This claim, on its face, is absurd, since he would simply be releasing information the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) already has. No new information would be disclosed,” Mr. Gill argued.

He, therefore, insisted that the Republican presidential candidate, Trump, follows the trend of politics in the United States and make his tax returns public.

“We should insist that Mr. Trump adhere to the same custom as past Presidential candidates, and encourage the FEC to make tax return disclosure a requirement in future elections. 

Ekeocha Will/GEE

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LCCI to deliberate CST bill @ stakeholders’ forum

ITRealms:

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LICCI), has advanced strategy to host a one-day stakeholders forum on Communication Services Tax bill, reports ITRealms.

The forum, ITRealms gathered is free for attendance and will be focusing on the 9 per cent tax on communications services.

This, LCCI said would hamper Voice Calls, Short Messaging Service, Multimedia Service, Value Added Service, Data and Pay Television among others.

The Forum, ITRealms reports has been slated for Wednesday, August 17 at the Commerce House, Victoria Island, Lagos.

ITRealms recollects that the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the premier chamber of commerce in Nigeria, founded in 1888 and incorporated in 1950 as a non-profit making organization.

LCCI promotes, supports or opposes legislative or other measures affecting trade, industry, commerce and agriculture.

The LCCI also prides itself with over 1,500 registered members and is well known for its annual “Lagos International Trade Fair” which was launched in 1977.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Bayelsa plans reduction of tertiary education dependence on govt

ITReams:

Bayelsa State Government has said its planning to create a comprehensive policy that would guide the management of all its tertiary institutions and the government parastatals towards making them less dependent on government funding, reports ITReams.

The government, ITReams gathered, is to constitute sub-committees to study and streamline the various policies that would be generated, based on the report presented by the Committee on the Management and Funding of Tertiary Education and Government Parastatals.

Receiving the report of the Committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), Governor Henry Seriake Dickson gave this indication in Government House, Yenagoa, at the weekend.

The Governor said the State Executive Council would also analyze the report thoroughly and fashion out relevant policies that would guide the operations of all tertiary institutions and government agencies in the state.

Governor Dickson, who stressed the need to reposition such educational facilities and the government parastatals by making them self-sustaining, pointed out that, the measure had become imperative, in view of the dwindling finances of the state, occasioned by the national economic downturn.

He, however, assured that, the government would support all tertiary institutions in the state, including the Niger Delta University, Amassoma as it is the only public tertiary institution in Bayelsa.

Applauding the efforts of members of the committee for doing a thorough job, Governor Dickson said the government would implement the findings and recommendations contained in the report and directed the committee to make a copy of the report available to the State House of Assembly.

Presenting the report, Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), who is also the Chairman of the Committee on the Management and Funding of Tertiary Education and Government Parastatals, said the committee was divided into two groups, with one looking at the tertiary institutions headed by the Secretary to the State Government, while the Head of Service chaired that of the government agencies.

He explained that an 11 point terms of reference was established for the tertiary institutions, which include, identification of all sources of revenue to the tertiary institutions, review and examine the financial state of the government owned tertiary institutions, staff and students’ strength as well as how the finances were managed.

The Deputy Governor who said, 7 tertiary institutions in the state were examined, also highlighted some of the major findings of the committee to include, challenges in accreditation, least student population, over-bloated non-academic staff and infrastructure deficit as compared to other tertiary institutions in the country.

He also recounted the findings on some government agencies to include, poor management structure, lack of due process in the employment of staff and wholly dependent on the government for salaries and expenses.

Some of the parastatals examined were, the Bayelsa Transport Company Ltd, Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation, Niger Delta Television, Bayelsa State Newspaper Corporation and Bayelsa Housing and Property Development Authority.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Pix: Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd)

Ofcom shuts door on 2014 sale of Premier League rights investigations

ITRealms:

The United Kingdom (UK) Office of Communications (Ofcom) has shut its doors on the investigation of the 2014 into the sale of rights to the Premier League, ITRealms reports.

ITRealms notes that an investigation was launched in November 2014 following a complaint by Virgin Media that the then process was causing consumer harm, a move that was welcomed by the chief executive officer, Tom Mockridge.

“Football fans will now be able to watch more live action on TV. As the only TV provider to offer all the available games, we are pleased that after a two-year campaign the Premier League has agreed to offer more TV games,” he said.

This, Ofcom said was relied upon the account of the Premier League’s recent decision to increase the number of matches available for live broadcast in the UK, to a minimum of 190 per season from the start of the 2019/20 season.

“This is 22 more matches per season than were included in the Premier League’s 2015 auction,” Ofcom said.

ITRealms also reports that Sky Sports has held rights to the Premier League since its launch in 1992 and following the intervention of the European Commission in 2006 a second rights holder has been brought in; initially Setanta and then ESPN, and currently BT Sport.

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‘With A Computer, You Are Powerful’ debuts in Nigeria

ITRealms:

As part of its avowed PC adoption initiative, the Intel West Africa in collaboration with partners in Nigeria has kicked off its latest campaign on Friday ‘With a Computer, You Are Powerful,’ reports ITRealms.

Speaking on the campaign, the Marketing and Public Relations (PR) Manager, Intel West Africa, Mr. Adim Isiakpona, told ITRealms that the scheme was borne out of Intel’s continued commitment to the socio-economic development of the average Nigerian.

He also said that Nigeria is blessed with array of talents, wealth, and brain-power, stressing that Intel is proud to launch this campaign to encourage Information and Communication Technology (ICT) growth, by ensuring that the power of technology is felt across the nation.

“The campaign speaks directly to the relevance of having a computer. Unarguably, there are endless opportunities to be gained through the use of a computer, and we want Nigerians to know that. We believe that indeed- with a computer, you are powerful” he said.

Isiakpona recognized the fact that a smartphone or tablet may afford a user access to the internet and mobility, but pointed out that there are some things only a laptop can do, thus making it a necessity and not a luxury.

“The variety of content you can create through applications such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Word is unimaginable. From editing photos and videos to creating music and art, a laptop can help you do it whilst on the go. You simply carry your office with you,” he said.

Emphasising that by unlocking your ability to get online any time, read, research and explore different concepts that spur creative ideas for businesses and/or lifestyle is just a snippet of the kind of power a computer offers you, just as he stressed that the campaign will run from August till the end of the year.

Special guests that graced the event include Intel She Will Connect Ambassador, Titilope Sonuga; Noble Igwe; Adebola Williams, Wana Wana Udobong, Tosyn Buknor, Kemi Lala Akindoju; Emma Oh Ma God; and Sisi Yemmie; amongst others.

The debut was also trending in the social media on hashtags like “With A Computer, You are Powerful” or #IAmPowerfulNG.

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Pix: L-R Bunmi Ekundare, country manager, senior management staff of Intel, and Adim Isiakpona

Aderounmi honours 71 @2016 NCS Presidential nite

ITRealms:

The National President of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Professor Adesola Aderounmu has honoured over 70 distinguished NCS associates and former presidents since the foundation of the society, at the 2016 Presidential Award Night, reports ITRealms.

Welcoming guests to the occasion held recently as part of the 2016 National Conference on the second day at the NAF Conference Centre, Kado-Abuja, the President, Prof. Aderounmu said the Presidential nite is an exclusive evening with NCS President where special awards and recognition are bestowed on industry associates who have exceptionally distinguished themselves at the discretion of incumbent president.

According to the chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2016 National Conference, Mr. Jide Awe of Jidaw.Com, the honours were conferred on deserving members and associates of the society both individuals and corporates.

ITRealms gathered that beneficiaries of this year’s presidential nite awards, cut across six categories namely academia, past presidents of NCS and Computer Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN), past provosts and deputy provosts, ICT-Media, special assignment and meritorious services to NCS, very outstanding chapter chairmen, and Indigenous Corporate Members.

Leading the rollcall was a professor of Agricultural Engineering and Secretary-General of Committee of Vice Chancellors (CVC) of Nigeria as well as former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (AOU) Ile-Ife, Prof. Micheal Oladimeji Faborode; first Nigerian PhD in Computers, Dr. Odeyemi  Isaac Adeola , Prof. Abubakar Iya, Prof. (Mrs) Osofisan Adenike, Mrs.  Yoloye F .V. O , Prof. Abass Olayide, Most Revd. (Prof.) Adebayo Akinde, Prof. Ayeni Joshua , Prof. Falaki Samuel, Prof.  Longe Harrison O .D., Prof. Lipcsey Zsolt, Prof. Akinyokun, Oluwole Charles, Prof. Kehinde Lawrence , and Prof.  Adagunodo Rotimi Emmanuel.

Also honoured were Rev. Prof. Adebayo Akande, Alhaji Ladi Ogunneye, Dr. Chris Nwannenna, Prof. Charles Uwadia, Sir Ademola Adelokoma, Prof. David Adewunmi, Dr. Michael M. Obi, Dr. Abimbola Salako, Sir Obi Okonkwo, and Chief Olaide Anthony Oyadele.

Equally, Mr. Emma Okonji of ThisDay Newspapers, Dr. Bayero Agabi of AIT Infotech Network, Mr. Remmy Nweke of ITRealms Online made the honours list from the ICT Media subsector; Just as Mr. Ekeh of Sidmach, Mr. Pius Okigbo of Infographic and immediate past-president of Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), and current ISPON president, Olorogun James Adeoye as well as President, Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN) of Rev. Sunday Folayan took garlands at the event among others.

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MainOne’s data center achieves West Africa 1st SAP certification

ITRealms:

The data center subsidiary of MainOne, the MDXi, has achieved SAP-certified provider of Infrastructure Services for SAP solutions, reports ITRealms.

This new certification, according to the Temitope Osunrinde of the Public Relations and Digital Communications at MainOne, confers on MDXi the ability to deliver high-quality cloud and infrastructure operations services for customers running SAP solutions and recognizes the company as the region’s first SAP Certified Data Center.

The Chief Executive Officer of MainOne, Funke Opeke, while receiving the certificate was quoted in a press statement made available to ITRealms , said it would afford MDXi to host and manage SAP applications utilizing the company’s enterprise cloud platforms, across its private, public and hybrid cloud solutions, via a consumption-based delivery model.

As a SAP-certified provider of hosting services, she said, MDXi would offer a cost-effective yet reliable delivery model for mission-critical applications for customers of SAP, stressing that SAP customers who rely on MainOne’s data center for hosting services will be empowered to focus on the business value of their solutions and benefit from reduced operational expenses that a commercial data center provides.

"We are pleased to receive the SAP certification for Infrastructure Operations Services, as it validates our commitment to providing world-class data center and cloud solutions in Nigeria. With this certification from SAP, it is now possible for Nigerian enterprises and businesses to host SAP applications in-country on MDXi’s Cloud platform and optimize their accounting processes, data analytics and sales chain management. This will improve response times for SAP applications, ensure data security and assure more cost effective subscription charges.”

Equally speaking the Managing Director of SAP West Africa, Kudzai Danha noted ht more than ever, SAP Africa is excited about the SAP HANA certification of partners like MainOne. The current market demand for attractive business applications in the cloud presents great business opportunities and through SAP HANA®, customers can innovate and redesign business processes, capitalizing on the agility of this unique platform.”

SAP HANA Cloud is an in-memory platform that runs analytics applications smarter, business processes faster and data infrastructures simpler! It is the foundation for all the data needs of a business, removing the burden of maintaining separated legacy systems and siloed data, so business can run simple in this new digital economy.

The SAP certification process is rigorous and culminates with an onsite audit session to determine that the provider meets all the local and global requirements as stipulated by SAP to run its applications. Some of the criteria include quality and knowledge management, data center, network and connectivity, back up and data recovery, IT service management and project management. In order to meet this certification requirements, MDXi demonstrated its professional competence in all aspects of infrastructure operations including possessing a comprehensive operations manual, system landscape diagrams, security guidelines, OS access, required technical skills amongst others.

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iSON BPO adds MTN Rwanda to portfolio, sets to unveil Abeokuta call center

ITRealms:

The iSON Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) has disclosed the latest addition to its growing portfolio of clients is MTN Rwanda, effective August 1, 2016, reports ITRealms.

Founder and chairman, iSON Group, Mr. Ramesh Awtaney confirmed this to ITRealms, saying they are delighted to work with MTN Rwanda and look forward to a rewarding relationship with the company.

“iSON has maintained its dominance in delivering cost effective outsourcing solutions that enable its clients to offer optimum service levels and an enriched and seamless customer service experience,” Awtaney said.

iSON, he said, has continued to lead in call center outsourcing in Africa and its footprints across the world, stressing that over 10,000 employees across the 14 countries where it operates, enables clients to focus on growing and developing their key business mandates.

iSON BPOs involvement in Rwanda, he said, is part of iSON’s continuous focus on Africa to create job opportunities for local talent and provide platforms for professionals to grow their careers.

“iSON BPO has been present in Rwanda since 2012 and has been able to successfully create jobs for over 200 local talents,” the chairman said.

The Global Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at iSON BPO, Mr. Pravin Kumar was also quoted in a press statement made available to ITRealms as saying that iSON Group’s journey in Africa has been very rewarding in the last 5 years.

“It has grown from a staff strength of 10,000, with around 9,950 local employees in 5 years. It is a record of sorts for any company in this space. iSON follows the philosophy of taking IP & Jobs to people rather than bringing people to IP & Jobs. iSON is very impressed with the capability of available local talent and grooming them for their growth & up skilling them to be ready to contribute to the continent’s growth is the core of iSON’s strategy. iSON is especially impressed with the talent and working environment in Rwanda during it’s last 3 years presence and salutes the vision & execution of the President of Rwanda,” Kumar pointed out.

ITRealms recollects that in Nigeria, iSON has become the leading IT and ITeS provider with an over 5000 staff: representing over half of its staff strength in Africa. The robust BPO services infrastructure is built on global delivery framework to deliver voice, non-voice and other knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) services through local presence and on-shore/remote support, leading to superior customer experience, highly satisfied customers and growth in business.  

           

Remmy Nweke/ED, Ops

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NCS calls for more strategic deployment of IT in security operations

ITRealms:

Arising from its 26^th National Conference, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has called on the federal government to strategically deploy more Information Technology (IT) in the security apparatus of the state, reports ITRealms.

NCS, in the communique from the conference which also hosted the 49^th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and made available to ITRealms, the group noted that the proactive use of IT and GIS to achieve national safety and security has become a national imperative.

According to NCS, the conference which held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja between July 19-21 acknowledged the FG's successes so far in addressing the terrorism threat and calls for increased and more strategic deployment of IT to this end.

“To secure the nation efficiently and effectively, there is an urgent need to develop capability to deploy IT solutions in all aspects of national safety and security,” the group highlighted.

For NCS, there is a great need to build capacity of security agencies, the judiciary and related stakeholders in ICT, Cybersecurity, Digital forensics and related expertise to understand and combat 21st century national security challenges.

Also, the group, led by Prof. Sola Aderounmu as saying that government and other stakeholders should aggressively begin to develop and support youth capacity building, career development and research initiatives in cybersecurity and plan towards the development of a Cybersecurity economic subsector that is youth driven, local and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) based.

NCS further urged FG to encourage local homegrown IT solutions and research so as to aid adopted to address our national safety and security concerns, among others.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE
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2016 Etisalat Lagos photo festival opens

ITRealms:

The 2016 Etisalat sponsored Lagos Photo Festival has opened in the centre of excellence, with Photography Competition, reports ITRealms.

The Etisalat Photography Competition, ITRealms gathered encourages emerging photographers to capture and celebrate fascinating pictures that reflect the diversity and daring spirit of expressions.

The competition which is on its 7^th edition according to the Director, Brands & Experience, Etisalat Nigeria, Elvis Ogiemwanye, is accepting entries, between August 8 and September 1, 2016. 

He also said this year’s edition of Etisalat Photo Competition is tagged Performance; action repeated constantly, becomes a ritual, its transference into other spaces of engagement becomes a performance. We wish to explore further these performances through the strength of photography in depicting our daily routines and celebratory activities and expressions. Under the categories daily routines and celebratory, the competition serves as a platform fostering expressions and creativity at its peak”, he said.

Ogiemwanye pointed out that Etisalat Photography Competition uses the power of photography to create compelling stories that encapsulate individual experiences and identities from across Africa.

“To enter for this year’s competition, participants are required to visit photo.etisalat.com.ng  to register and submit entries for both Daily routines and Celebratory. Voting will be announced after entry closes on September 1, 2016. The top 50 images from each category will be reviewed by a jury who will then unveil the finalists at the Grand opening of the LagosPhoto Festival”

He added that the first prize winner in the competition will receive a Canon Camera; the second prize winner will get an iPhone, while the third prize winner will receive a Samsung. The shortlisted photographers will also be enrolled at LagosPhoto Summer School where they are expected to hone their skills.

Etisalat is committed to nurturing talent in Photography through the Etisalat Photography Competition and the support of LagosPhoto Festival; the first and only international arts festival of photography which features exhibitions, workshops, artist presentations, discussions, screenings, and large scale outdoor installations in public spaces in Lagos.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Airtel slashes roaming rate by 90%

ITRealms:

The Airtel Nigeria has slashed its roaming rates by 90% and other amazing discounts on its newly repackaged Roam & Home Bundle plan, reports ITRealms.

The company’s Chief Commercial Officer (CMO), Ahmad Mokhles, said the Roam & Home Bundle plan, has been specifically designed to make travelling more enjoyable and empower consumers to stay connected with business associates, family and friends while overseas.

As said by the CMO, the new value offering allows customers to roam at a hugely discounted rate on 33 selected networks in 27 countries, also offering bundle balance that can be used locally or when a customer returns home.

With the Airtel Roam & Home, customers can receive calls and SMS without charge and account balance can be requested by dialling *123*3#.

He explained that customers can subscribe to the Roam & Home Bundle by dialing *789#. The service could be activated either at home or abroad by dialing the Shortcode.

Mokhles also said the minimum bundle of N5,000 comes with 7 days validity while subscription with validity of 30 days begins from N10, 000. Customers get daily notifications on usage after subscription.

The CMO further explained that customers can make calls back home to Nigeria while abroad (roaming) across the 27 countries for as low as N60/20secs. In addition to this, customers also receive calls and SMS free (T&C apply). And when back in Nigeria, customers can also use the balance in their Roam and Home bundle to make calls at local rate.

The CMO noted that Airtel is committed to partnering Nigerians on every international trip, ensuring that they get real value and also enjoy seamless telephony experience at the best tariff.

“With Roam & Home Bundle, customers remain seamlessly connected to their families, friends and business associates and at the same time benefit amazing discounts on the Airtel network,” Mokhles said.

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NATCOMS welcomes new NCC board, tasks on Code 2442

ITRealms:

The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has welcomed and congratulated the new board of the Nigerian Communications Commission under the chairmanship of Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye on their confirmation by the President, Muhammadu Buhari, reports ITRealms.

Other members of the board include Mr. Sunday Dare, Mr. Aliyu Saidu Abubakar, Mr. Clement Obeiza Baiye, Chief Okoi Ofem Obono-Obia, Pastor Ezekiel Yissa and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume.

NATCOMS President, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo told ITRealms that they are also reiterating call for improved consumer-centrism, stressing the new NCC board members to look into an eight-item including:

1.         The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been operating the N50 (Fifty Naira) Price Cap Regulation since 2001 to date. The Board should as a matter of urgency reduce the current unrealistic and exploitative price cap of N50 per minute.

2.         The issue of Poor Quality of Telecoms Services, with particular reference to the vexed issue of dropped / breaking calls; undelivered but paid for text messages; indiscriminate voice / data services deductions / internet poor quality; unauthorized call credit deductions, all without adequate reward and compensation.

3.         Restoration of Land lines by the National Carriers must be addressed by the new Board, backed by a low inter-connect rates in line with international best practices. The current land line inter-connect rates, does not encourage the use of Land lines.

4.         The Board takes decisive action against Telecoms Operators that still enjoy sending unsolicited text messages that most of the time, lead to forced activations and regular unauthorized credit deductions even after NCC’s July 1, 2016 warning of sanctioning erring Operators.

5.         The Board must start enforcing the use of the CODE 2442 in order to stop unsolicited text messages to Subscribers.

6.         In order to reduce mobile phone / cyber-crime, the new Board should interface with the Police and other Law Enforcement Agencies in order to make mobile phone / cyber-crime reporting process, easy and less cumbersome. This will encourage the reporting of mobile phone / cyber-crime as well as make tracking of fraudsters easier. The current mobile phone / cyber-crime reporting process is very stressful, cumbersome and excessively engaging.

7.         The new Board should put in place a Subscriber’s Compensation Plan which will compensate subscribers with Free Airtime, anytime the Telecoms Operators perform below the Key Performance Indicators parameters (KPI) as set by the Nigerian Communications Commission. The current practice where Telecoms Operators fall short of KPI parameters and are imposing huge fines, which goes to government coffers, is to say the least, highly exploitative and unsavory of the Subscribers who suffers the injury and the brunt of poor quality service and other unauthorized deductions.

8.         The new Board must ensure that the Honourable Minister of Communications order of DATA ROLL-OVER must be complied with. Operators have not been complying with this directive.

“Once again, we welcome the new Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission,” Ogunbanjo said.

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Access Bank’s PayWithCapture 5.0 debuts

ITRealms:

Leading Nigeria's technology-driven financial institution, the Access Bank Plc, has made a debut of its PaywithCapture 5.0 with resolve to change the way of banking in the country, reports ITRealms.

Unveiling the PaywithCapture 5.0 in Lagos at Civic Centre, Victoria Island on Tuesday, the Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe said the upgrade of the banking application, PaywithCapture to 5.0 became expedient due to the velocity of changes in technologies.

He also said that with Internet of Things (IoT), PaywithCapture will change the way banking activities are done in Nigeria for good, stressing that it answers tomorrow’s questions thereby creating an illimitable answers.

Wigwe revealed that initially, when PaywithCapture was launched it garnered some 1 million downloads within the first three months, and pointed out that the bank’s current mantra centres on three core areas namely security, privacy and data encryption.

Nowadays, he said, “Your phone is your power,” adding that the era of “I don't have my purse or bag is over” just as he declared “With the PaywithCapture, the opportunity is illimitable.”

He also explained that the latest version, PayWithCapture 5.0 comes with additional features that enable customers to transfer funds from any bank account (one or more) to any bank account or phone number and email addresses.

“PayWithCapture 5.0 has also expanded to the web for users to experience the many benefits on larger screens,” he said, and also offers a ‘USSD’ (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) on a Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication technology that is used to send text between mobile phone service.

He said that by dialling *901# allows users to carry out most of the listed functions without the need to access the internet.

The Access Bank boss said that PayWithCapture 5.0, users could still enjoy the success of QR code scanning for payments but with the added ability to make transfers to bank accounts, phone numbers and email addresses.

Users can also set up a savings club through PayWithCapture. Savings Clubs, commonly known as Ajo or Esusu enable them save jointly with friends towards a common goal as the funds can be pooled and rotated among all members of the group or pooled and given to one person.

Responding to questions by ITRealms, the Head, Digital Banking at Access Bank, Adeleke Adekoya explained that as a listening bank, they heard about the issues and complaints customers had on the old app, hence, with this new version, “we’ve tried to resolve them all.”

According to Adekoya, the latest version has extended beyond simply scanning QR-Codes to pay for transactions to allowing customers experience banking in a way that feels as personal as they want it to be.

Another key feature of the upgrade, he pointed out, is the introduction of the PayWithCapture Titanium Card.

“Simply request for the card on PayWithCapture, then transfer funds from payment methods linked to your account and you can use your PayWithCapture debit card anywhere around the world you see the MasterCard sign,” Adekoya said.

Remmy Nweke/ED, Ops 

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Pix: L-R: Executive Director, Personal Banking Division, Mr. Victor Etuokwu; Executive Director, Commercial Banking Division, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna; Group Managing Director, Mr. Herbert Wigwe and Head, Digital Factory and Innovation, Mr. Olugbenga Agboola all of  Access Bank Plc, at the launch of the bank’s upgraded lifestyle solution, PayWIthCapture 5.0 at the Civic Center on Tuesday.

Why FG opted for conservative borrowing - Adeosun

ITRealms:

The Federal Government of Nigeria has explained why it opted for conservative borrowing so as invest in infrastructure to facilitate growth of the economy, according to the Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, reports ITRealms.

Speaking Tuesday, she explained that the Federal Government opted for a conservative borrowing plan to fund the critical sectors of the economy and to ensure that future generation is not saddled with the burden of debt payment.

The Minister, who described borrowing as inevitable in view of the current realities in the nation’s economy, spoke at a town hall meeting/policy dialogue for good governance organised by the Alumni Association of the National Association of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in Abuja.

A press statement by the Special Assistant on Media to Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Festus Akanbi, to ITRealms said that other ministers at the event included those of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi; Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Environment, Amina J. Mohammed; Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, Health Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama.

Stressing the urgent need to fund infrastructure, Adeosun said “We have to invest in our infrastructure to allow the private sector to thrive which will create jobs and unlock the economy.

We have to adopt a very conservative borrowing programme but we must borrow because for us to do rail, we need funds with other needed infrastructure we need funds.”

The Minister pointed out that some of the existing rail lines in Nigeria were constructed during the colonial era, which has to be massively upgraded and brought into the 21st century.

According to her, such investment will trickle down to the people through its impacts on agriculture, rail and solid minerals.

She stated, “The rail we have now was done in the colonial era. There was no significant upgrade. We need to urgently do rail for agriculture and solid minerals to be competitive, so I really don’t see any option than to borrow but we will borrow sustainably; we will borrow conservatively to make sure we don’t burden future generation. 

In the past, Nigeria had been borrowing to pay salaries but now we are borrowing to invest. When you borrow to invest, there is an expectation that there will be additional revenue that will service those borrowings.

We will borrow as cheaply as possible and that is why we are approaching the World Bank and Export Credit Agencies to provide concessionary loans. We are taking concessionary loans before going for commercial loans.”

Speaking about the nature of the public service inherited by the current administration, Adeosun stated, “We inherited 1.2million public servants with a wage bill of N165 billion per month. You can’t send people away. What we can do is to build controls to make sure these people exist and are validly working to earn their wages which is why we are carrying out continuous audit which has revived our huge bills by N6billion per month. 

  

The Minister believed time had come to focus on capital funding.  She said, “We had to attack the problem of recurrent expenditure. When we came in, over N165billion went on salary. As we speak, we have reduced it to N159 billion.

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Wi-Fi Alliance, AT4 wireless sign MoU to test unlicensed LTE co-existence

ITRealms:

The Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Alliance and AT4 Wireless have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the testing of unlicensed Long-Term Evolution co-existence on Wi-Fi, reports ITRealms.

Confirming this, the Marketing Manager, AT4 wireless, Belen Garcia, told ITRealms that with the MoU, they would provide testing services to assess fair co-existence of Wi-Fi and LTE in unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U) devices in accordance with the Wi-Fi Alliance Coexistence Test Plan.

“The testing assesses whether commercially available LTE-U devices co-exist fairly with Wi-Fi in the same environment,” Garcia said.

The development and deployment of LTE-U devices which utilize 4G LTE radio communications technology in unlicensed spectrum, Garcia said, introduces the possibility of interference with Wi-Fi equipment operating in the same bands.

Small deviations in LTE-U design requirements, AT4 Wireless official said, may affect Wi-Fi performance when working in proximity and in the same frequency band, stressing AT4 wireless will conduct independent testing based on objective tests and an industry-approved methodology to verify that LTE-U products do not violate fairness indicators.

Wi-Fi Alliance, Garcia said, agreed to qualify AT4 wireless to provide testing services based on the Coexistence Test Plan, which is being developed by members of the Wi-Fi and LTE-U communities in Wi-Fi Alliance.

ITRealms gathered that the Performance Test Tool from AT4 wireless will collect the most relevant key performance indicators (KPIs), such as throughput, latency (one-way delay), and jitter (latency variation).

“Official testing will commence once Wi-Fi Alliance releases the final Coexistence Test Plan,” Garcia said.

The Managing Director at AT4 wireless, who doubles as the Market and Sales Vice President at DEKRA Product Testing and Certification SU, Fernando E. Hardasmal, said they are very proud to partner with Wi-Fi Alliance in radio coexistence testing in this case with LTE unlicensed devices.

“AT4 wireless a DEKRA company now, considers radio coexistence a very important issue that needs to be addressed properly given the growing number of radio technologies that can work in multiple environments including homes, cars, hospitals, cities, etc. The AT4 wireless services scope now includes radio coexistence and at the same time our test tools are evolving to address these new challenges. DEKRA is committed to be the Global Partner for a Safe World and coexistence can be very relevant to Safety”, Fernando E. Hardasmal.

For the president and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance, Edgar Figueroa, the test is critical that LTE devices operating in unlicensed spectrum exhibit fair coexistence behavior with billions of Wi-Fi products in use around the world.

“Wi-Fi Alliance is leading a multi-industry effort to ensure LTE-U’s fair coexistence with Wi-Fi through testing.  Establishing independent test organizations to execute the coexistence test regimen is an important part of our effort,” Figueroa said.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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