Official: ntel network compatible with Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Edge

ITRealms:

The acclaimed Nigeria’s most forward-thinking Fourth Generation cum Long Term Evolution (4G/LTE) broadband operator has disclosed that the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge from the world’s leading smartphone manufacturer is fully compatible on its network, reports ITRealms.

This, ITRealms gathered, followed months of compatibility tests, ntel now says the network is now well-matched with Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, thus making it possible for owners and users of the aforementioned devices to call and browse at superfast speeds on the ntel network.

According to ntel in a press statement made available to ITRealms by the chief executive officer, Mr. Kamar Abass, with this feat, ntel becomes the first 4G/LTE provider in Africa to achieve device and network compatibility that will enable VoLTE capable calls.

He also said that ntel’s network supports crystal-clear High-Definition (HD) Voice calling (VoLTE), as well as key LTE-Advanced features including Carrier Aggregation (CA); and Multiple-In Multiple-Out (MIMO) Antennae technology.

These features, Abass explained combined to enable downlink data speeds of up to 230 Megabits per second and are both supported on Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge devices.

“Samsung is the leader in the Nigerian smart phone market and news of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge compatibility with our 4G/LTE advanced network is fantastic news for our customers who have been eagerly waiting to use their high-end Samsung devices on our network. As Nigeria’s first pure-play 4G/LTE-Advanced network, ntel is committed to ensuring its customers have the widest possible range of devices to choose from,” he said.

The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge devices are top of the range devices from Samsung with enhanced design, high-quality cameras, water resistance, wireless charging, and connectivity to an unparalleled galaxy of services, products and experiences.

Also reacting on the development, delighted Director and Business Leader, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, said Samsung will continue to defy boundaries of engineering to perfect the user experience through innovative designs and envelope-pushing solutions as exemplified by the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.

Samsung, he said, is committed to ensuring that users get the best of their mobile devices, stressing that the S7 and S7 Edge smartphones were designed to usher consumers into a whole new galaxy with impeccable features.

“We have further cemented our brand’s promise with this partnership that allows users make calls and browse at super fast speeds without interruption. This is definitely a great value added experience,” he said.

He pointed out that with a sleek, curved-glass back and slim ergonomic body, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge are easy to hold in one hand and fit in your pocket or purse, among other features.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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HiTV 101: The hamburger of local investor

Commentary@ITRealms:

My great mentor asked me one day, a few years ago, why after the appointment of a Receiver/Manager by GTB over the assets of HiTV, I gave up fighting and just rolled into a semi coma ... - Toyin Subair.

He said this because, he knew how hard we fought to save it. I responded with the story of King David crying to GOD over his sick child but then quickly wiped his face off, ate and started drinking, when the child was pronounced dead. You really just must know when to move on so that you can see and take the future opportunities that will come your way. Thereafter, Solomon, the wisest and richest ruler of Israel was born to David because he looked and lived forward.

 People who care, ask me what happened to HiTV and others in their supreme wisdom profess their own reasons. I have kept my peace and quietly moved on in life, until I wrote an article recently about 1 million Digital Jobs from the Creative sector. I realise, however, that if I am throwing a challenge to other entrepreneurs to be bold and creative, I, who used to be a poster boy for a generation and who failed after 5 years of a great business endeavour, owed it to them to share my HiTV experience.

Choose your shareholders carefully and know the implication of every clause in your Shareholders agreement, if you are going to sign one.

 HiTV collapsed essentially because of a clause in our original Shareholders Agreement, which allowed a group of founding shareholders to block the company raising money or selling off a subsidiary. This right was exercised to block our capital raise because it was believed to be a possible ploy by another group to take control of the company. We the management were caught in the middle and it took us another 8 months to pursue the alternative that was acceptable to the shareholders but by that time the equity market had gone bust, leaving us grovelling all over for debt.

Every power you give up has future ramifications so don’t sign away your life for what may be a quick fix or a “morsel of bread” as it might come back to bite you. The same right you give to Mr A and is used wisely, will in the hands of Mr B be used to destroy your dreams.

I failed to know and manage my investors properly, which made it hard for me to mediate when they didn’t see eye-to-eye.

Perception is EVERYTHING in Nigeria.

 Your neighbour, banker, staff, bloggers, enemies are watching you and it is not what you are that matters but what others see and are saying about you.

Once you are funded by other people’s money, either investors or bankers, it matters what they think. So your lifestyle must be measured. Even if you have access to other sources of income, you must be prudent in spending and seen to be prudent else it will be assumed that you are “extravagant” and/or diverting other people’s money for your own personal use.

Soley because it is common place in Nigeria for executives to mismanage corporate funds , people are quick to judge and assume every situation is the same . I never touched company money or take a single bribe or kick back. HiTV had full corporate governance rules in place and a budget that was jealously guarded by a Board that sat 6 times in a year. Even when I went out or travelled with a supplier, I always insisted on paying, but only my shareholders and management team knew that. This forthrightness of mine made me throw caution to the wind since I knew I was clean BUT unfortunately I didn’t realise the negative impact it could have on my reputation. The first thing your adversaries or haters target in order to bring you down, is your reputation. Protect it.

Whatever you do, train people and invest in them

 One thing we did right was to invest in the lives of our people. I inspired all my staff, which grew to about 380 plus, in 6 locations in Nigeria and a London office, including over a thousand dealers, by making sure I led by example, sent them on trainings, exposed them to the international market and bought them books to read about Media, and very importantly made them know we were all in the same boat. If I was comfortable they also had to be, and if they were going through pains, we had to do it together.

I have always marvelled at the Receiver/Manager and people who thought HiTV could be locked up with chains? HiTV is today a force in different companies making or waiting to make a difference.

However, make sure the people you train and inspire do the same to their sub-ordinates. Usually Nigerians are scared to pass knowledge for fear of being replaced and so you have to teach them to let others fly. Reading the 1 Minute Manager meets Mr Monkey taught me not to micro-manage and get people to earn their pay so that I can be free to do the bigger things. The balance to delegation is to make sure there is a system to ensure that those who are working are justly rewarded.

In the absence of a technical foreign partner, we learnt our trade on the job and intensive trainings and we were just implementing our robust researched systems and processes when the company was closed down. How I would have loved to see its results.

Equity Vs Debt

We gambled on building a company with debt with the hope of converting it to equity once we proved the model. As I said earlier, we were impeded from doing this at the right time. At 25-27% interest on debt, most businesses cannot survive and you will be a slave to the banks for life. That is why they take collateral from you. They lend against your collateral not your business case. Regardless of our strong cashflows, the funding requirements continued to increase. Similar businesses in Europe like Sky, Virgin, Polsat etc had worse debt profiles whilst building up their Brands and subscription models but their markets have sophisticated equity and debt.

Unfortunately, we have no sophisticated equity market and I mean Angel investors and/or Venture Capitalist in Nigeria and without that, who can survive? It pains me to admit that someone told the then Minister of Information that Nigerians can’t fund our type of business and I was really hoping to prove him wrong but Alas!

 We paid 40 million dollars for the first year of the second term of the EPL from mostly equity. But still had to come up with a guarantee of about 70 million dollars for the latter 2 years and in Nigeria, guarantee requires cash in bank. The alternative bank we were forced to use despite all their assurances and being offered half of the amount by another Bank failed to issue same on that fateful Tuesday and only offered it to us on Thursday. Meanwhile the EPL sold it to our competition on Wednesday morning.

Watch your debt profile. HiTV was paying an average of 1.1billion Naira approximately in interests and guarantee charges annually, for over 5 years! For a new company, we did a damn good job but really got blown out once our house was divided. I never live by debt and so was really ignorant about how interest works up till HiTV and of course since then you wont catch me near it. But what do you do when you have to? They say internationally that “equity is more expensive than debt”, but that is NOT true in Nigeria. Debt is way too expensive and destructive.

At the end of it all I was sued in my personal capacity for the debts of the company by the bank, but we have since sorted out our differences, agreed, signed and filed terms of settlement in all legal actions. The Managing Director simply told me, when we finally met, that since we all owned the company I had to pay out of the liability and not just dump it on them. It made total sense to me and I offered them what I had, they accepted and that was it. Fair is fair.You can’t avoid a lot of skin in the game because investors will be looking for this.

You need Government and regulation on your side

 I ignored government to my peril. The competition spent a lot of time courting all arms of government and I was a simpleton. We just expected the whole world to cheer us on. The laws in Nigeria are as empty as they are full. A lot of writings but you have to make sure your business model is adequately protected.

What laws do you need, or what interpretations of the laws do you require, go and get it passed or adjudicated. Don’t assume its there and don’t be afraid of offending anyone. A few weeks before we lost the EPL rights we were approached by the competition to share it with them, in writing. We agreed and were completing the approvals on both sides when we lost the rights. Since they bought it, we asked them for it on the same terms as we had agreed to give it to them just 2 weeks prior, they refused. We ran to government to enforce the fairness clauses of the NBC Act but it fell on deaf ears.

We really should have actively pursued the enactment of anti- monopoly laws and competition rules early enough as exist everywhere else in the world. The truth is we never believed in monopoly and offered all our acquired TV rights to anyone who was ready to share the price with us. Our purchase of football rights was defensive, as that was the only way we could get it. Unfortunately, our government was happy to, as they continue to be, leave everything in the hands of foreign dominant players.

 And whatever we were ready to pay for those TV rights was still far less than what Nigeria was losing from the repatriation of profits by the foreign companies operating in the country!

They say Power is not served al a carte, you have to take it forcefully. And if you are going to take it, make sure you succeed! I didn’t, but I am glad I tried. It is the most meaningful, joyful and the greatest thing I have ever embarked on. I can still see the sparkle in the eyes of every true partner of that journey I meet.

 In conclusion of HiTV 101, I will say this, our thinking that we were doing the right things and following the patterns of all international Pay TV companies was not enough, we had to successfully domesticate those patterns and that proved difficult. Thankfully, our good intentions and hard work have helped most to get great jobs and new opportunities and challenged foreign companies to do more locally.

Whatever you do, live forward.

Contributed by OluwatoySubair, Director, Dreamville Limited
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Pix: OluwatoySubair

Airtel CEO says digital Nigeria to drive inclusive growth

ITRealms:

The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, has asserted that efforts by the Federal Government to prioritize digitization, will drive inclusive growth for the populace, reports ITRealms.

Addressing audience at the Nigeria Stock Exchange CEO Roundtable, on “Navigating the changing landscape of business in Nigeria,” he said the mass adoption of connected digital services by consumers, enterprises, and governments, will emerge as a major driver and enabler of socioeconomic benefits, driving inclusive growth across sectors.

Implementing a vision of digital Nigeria, he said, will not only help diversify the economy for good but will also create massive employment opportunities and provide citizens opportunities and access to education, health, while opening up other sectors.

He buttressed this position by saying that the massive impact of digitization to economic growth and development, will increase a country’s scorecard and fuel growth in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita.

“ICT is important to every sector as it provides the right platform to drive the economy,” he said.

Further, he urged the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria to classify the telecoms sector under manufacturing as this will enable players in the sector benefit from the current Foreign Exchange direction.

Ogunsanya noted that the sector manufactures recharge cards and also provide high end telecommunications equipment that helps accelerate growth and adoption of mobile Internet and voice services in the country.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Dell acquires EMC, becomes world’s largest tech company with $74bn

ITRealms: 

The recent acquisition of EMC Corporation by Dell Technologies has positioned the company as the largest technology company in the world that is privately-controlled equity worth $74 billion, reports ITRealms.

This, ITRealms also reports creates a unique family of businesses that provides the essential infrastructure for organizations to build their digital future, transform Information Technology (IT) and protect their most important asset, information.

This combination, which created a $74 billion market leadership with an expansive technology portfolio which tends to solve complex problems for customers in the industry’s fast-growing areas of hybrid cloud, software-defined data center, converged infrastructure, platform-as-a-service, data analytics, mobility and cybersecurity.

ITRealms equally reports that Dell Technologies lays claims to serving 98 per cent of the Fortune 500 and comprises several market leading businesses. The two largest, and most well-known, are the Dell client solutions business and the Dell EMC infrastructure solutions business – both of which are supported by Dell EMC Services.

In addition, Dell Technologies contains Boomi, Pivotal, RSA, SecureWorks, Virtustream and VMware.

This unique structure, ITRealms reports, combines the focus and innovation of a startup with the global scale and service of a large enterprise, thus, Dell Technologies scale will enable it to deliver more innovation and investment in research and development, sales and marketing, services and support and deliver more efficient and cost-effective solutions for customers.

For the Chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies, Michael Dell, they foresee a new dawn of the next industrial revolution.

“Our world is becoming more intelligent and more connected by the minute, and ultimately will become intertwined with a vast Internet of Things, paving the way for our customers to do incredible things. This is why we created Dell Technologies. We have the products, services, talent and global scale to be a catalyst for change and guide customers, large and small, on their digital journey,” he said.

ITRealms recalls that Dell Technologies promises to blend Dell’s go-to-market strength with small business and mid-market customers and EMC’s strength with large enterprises and stands as a market leader in many of the most important and high-growth areas of the $2 trillion information technology market, including positions as a “Leader” in 20 Gartner Magic Quadrants and a portfolio of more than 20,000 patents and applications.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Lenovo showcases Yoga Book tablet

ITRealms:

The Lenovo  has showcased its latest in shelf, Yoga Book tablet, the acclaimed world’s thinnest and lightest 2-in-1 tablet, designed for unmatched productivity while on-the-go, reports ITRealms.

Proclaimed as built for mobility and to solve the most common challenge among tablet users on how to achieve productivity and entertainment in one device, ITRealms gathered that Yoga Book stands out as a tablet that looks and acts like no other.

Vice president and general manager, Android and Chrome Computing at Lenovo, Jeff Meredith, said with this Yoga Book tablet, they are set out to redefine the tablet category conundrum, namely that consumers no longer separate their activities into productivity and entertainment, because it all blends together.

“The Yoga Book introduces keyboard and handwriting input capability in an elegantly simple, unconventionally slender tablet design. We believe our unique design will offer tablet, 2-in-1 and traditional notebook buyers a first-of-its-kind option for evolving usage trends,” Meredith said.

ITRealms gathered that up until now, most people have been using tablets in ways never meant to, mainly for productivity, which becomes painful when typing or applying a stylus onto a touch screen that one may be using on-the-go.

But with the coming of Yoga Book, ITRealms further gathered, removed those difficulties by taking the fundamental building blocks from the DNA of what makes a great tablet namely portability, long battery life and a rich app ecosystem as well as entwines it into a strand of creativity and productivity through a suite of powerful new hardware and software features.

These ITRealms learnt, comprise having the instant halo keyboard, dual-use stylus that writes on paper and screen, productivity-driven Book User Interface (UI).

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Zenith unveils *966# Fridays with triple-free airtime

ITRealms:

Leading financial institution in Nigeria, Zenith Bank plc, has concluded plans to unveil a new campaign tagged ‘966# Fridays’ to reward some 966 customers with airtime, reports ITRealms.

According to a press statement from the bank made available to ITRealms, informed that with this campaign, some 966 people would enjoy triple value on airtime purchases made every Friday.

“This means that buying N1000 airtime gets you a whopping N3,000 airtime!,” the bank official explained, stressing that “simply recharge your phone with *996# between the hours of 6:00am and 9:00am on any Friday; within this period and you could be one of the lucky 966.”

By dialing *966*amount*mobilenumber# from the mobile number registered with the bank, Zenith pointed out that customers will be rewarded

ITRealms gathered that for those who want to join the campaign, they should dial *966*0# to open an account instantly, but cautioning that they will also be required to visit any branch of Zenith Bank to complete the process.

The bank also said that the maximum airtime purchase eligible for the reward is N1,000 and below, even as customers could only win once every Friday during the period of the promo.

“When buying airtime for others, only the phone number receiving the credit may qualify for the promo,” official told ITRealms.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Lagos to enforce clean up in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki

ITRealms:

The recently inaugurated Lagos State Special Committee on Clean-Up of Ikoyi, Lekki, and Victoria Island has concluded plans to commence the enforcement of the Environmental Sanitation and Town Planning laws in the affected areas after the Sallah holidays, reports ITRealms.

Secretary to the State Government and Chairman of the Committee, Tunji Bello, disclosed Wednesday, that this is coming in the wake of expiration of the two-week ultimatum issued to all owners of illegal structures, abandoned buildings now harbouring prostitutes, shanties, street hawkers and those who have converted walkways into trading points and food courts in the affected suburbs.

According to him, the 14-day ultimatum, which will expire on September 11, 2016, was given to the owners of such illegal structures to dismantle them voluntarily.

He said the Committee resolved to first embark on sensitization campaign to give the owners of such illegal structures enough notices to willingly pull down such structures themselves before the government steps in which will also result in prosecute of owners.

Bello also disclosed that every modality has been put in place to ensure that the original master plan of Ikoyi, Lekki, and Victoria Island as envisioned by the founding fathers is maintained, stressing that the committee is poised to discharge its responsibilities, which includes to “Immediately commence the implementation of the approved action plan and execution of the clean-up exercise; develop strategies for preventing re-occurrences as well as other recommendations as necessary to sustain environmental renewal of these areas; and embark on a public sensitization exercise for the sustenance of a cleaner community in the axis.”

The committee, he further said, that the administration of Governor Ambode remains committed to doing everything possible to bring environmental sanity back to every part of the State.

Reiterating Governor Ambode’s position, Bello quoted him as saying “Cases of abandoned properties have become very rampant with miscreants and criminal elements taking over these properties as their base to cause havoc. The neat road sides of the past now parade pockets of kiosks, illegal parking lots, unapproved mechanic workshops, roadside beer parlours and commercial centres.  In addition, originally residential areas now have industrial and commercial concerns located there, distorting the balance of the environment.

“These bad environmental practices, thriving in these prime areas, can no longer be tolerated and will be brought to an end immediately. These areas MUST regain their lost glory as this administration demands a return of environmental normalcy,” Ambode said.

Bello warned those still sitting on the fence to rethink on the Clean-Up to make use of the window offered to them now or face the full force of the law.

Ayo Omidele/GEE

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Etisalat deepens fight against malaria, distributes free treated nets

ITRealms:

Etisalat, has deepened its fight against malaria with the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets to residents of Owutu Community, in Ikorodu, Lagos State and Enuwa Square, Ile Ife in Osun State, reports ITRealms.

The exercises in commemoration of the 2016 World Mosquito Day, form part of ongoing Pan-Nigeria crusade by the telecommunications giant against the scourge of malaria in the country.

Speaking during the presentation at Ile Ife, the Manager, Corporate and Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria, Oyetola Oduyemi, said the exercise was in keeping with the company’s passionate commitment to sustainable development.

“One of the key focal areas of our CSR intervention programme is health, and this initiative forms a part of it. We have a target to distribute tens of thousands of insecticide-treated nets across the nation in the fight against malaria. We have been to some communities in states like Kogi, Kaduna, Enugu and Rivers. We are taking it further to more communities in the South West,” she said.

While receiving the items on behalf of the Ile Ife Community, the Palace Secretary, Mr. Idowu Salami, expressed delight at the exercise just as he lauded the telecom firm for taking up the fight against malaria which claims millions of lives yearly especially in Sub-Saharan Africa due largely to environmental reasons.

His words, “the scourge of malaria is on the increase due to poor sanitation practices; this provides a breeding ground for the activities of mosquitos which leads to malaria. We are glad that Etisalat put this programme together. We are sure many of the people who have benefitted from this initiative can protect themselves from mosquito bites and malaria attacks”.

At Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area, Lagos, the insecticide-treated mosquito nets were received by Honourable Samson Umar, who noted that Nigeria has one of the highest number of malaria casualties worldwide despite the many gains in the prevention and treatment of the scourge.

According to the Nigerian National Malaria Strategic Plan 2014-2020, malaria is responsible for 60 percent of outpatient visits to health facilities, 30 percent of childhood deaths, 25 percent of deaths in children under one year, and 11 percent of maternal deaths.

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Pix: Manager, Corporate and Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria,Oyetola Oduyemi (left) presenting an Insecticide Treated Net to a beneficiary, Mrs Aminat Ajagbe (3rd right). With them are the Traditional Secretary to the Ooni of Ife, Salami Idowu (2nd left);  Specialist, Community Relations, Abdulwahab Umoru and Corporate and Social Responsibility Officer, Rose Makinwa, both of Etisalat Nigeria during the distribution of free Insecticide-treated Nets by Etisalat at the Ooni's Palace, Ile-Ife recently

Qtr-2: Telecoms sector rakes in N1.580bn into GDP, sustains growth by 1%

ITRealms:

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has released the Nigerian Telecommunications Services sectorial report for the second quarter of the year 2016 with an indication of growth by 1 per cent from previous quarter, ITRealms can now reveal.

The report dated September 1, 2016 and made available to ITRealms by NCC in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the telecommunications sector contributed N 1,580 billion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) within the period under review.

ITRealms gathered from this report that this is the largest contribution to GDP made from this sector in the rebased period, which emphasised that growth in telecommunications has remained robust when compared to total GDP.

However, the Prof. Umar Danbatta’s led NCC pointed out that due to differing seasonal pattern, the contribution from telecommunications is usually the largest in the second quarter. Stressing that growth in the telecommunications sector remained positive.

ITRealms equally gathered that the year-on-year growth dropped in real terms from 5.0 per cent in the previous quarter to 1.5 per cent, and is assumed the lowest rate since the third quarter of 2011.

NCC says that the share of telecommunications in total real GDP had declined throughout 2010 to 2014, but for the last five quarters growth in telecommunications has been higher, meaning the trend has reversed.

ITRealms further gathered that the telecommunications data used in the 19-page sectorial report were obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC).

Whereas the variables obtained from NBS included the Gross Domestic Product contribution and growth, NCC indicators comprised subscribers to mobile and internet services by provider, porting activities and information on tariffs.

In addition, ITRealms gathered that the total number of subscribers has increased rapidly over the past decade; citing for instance, that at the end of 2005 there were 19,519,154 subscribers, but by the end of 2015 there were 151,017,244, which is equivalent to an increase of 13,149,809 every year.

NCC also said, growth has been declining more recently, possibly as a result of high market penetration leaving less room for large expansion, hence, in June 2016 – the end of the second quarter – there were 149,803,714 subscribers compared with 148,775,410 in June 2015, which represents an increase of 0.69 per cent.

ITRealms further gathered that the yearly increase in total subscriber numbers has been decreasing steadily for the past year; in June 2015 the year on year increase was 12.05 per cent.

NCC emphasized through the report that after falling between January and April 2016, the number of subscribers began to increase again, and in June the number was 0.71 per cent higher than at the end of the first quarter in March.

“This increase is despite a sharp drop in Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) subscribers; between June 2015 and June 2015 the number fell from 2,105,981 to 454,092, a decrease of 78.44 per cent.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Overwhelming rush: Yudala halts ticket sales for Zero Gravity

ITRealms:

The leading composite electronic-commerce company, Yudala has put a halt to ticket sales for a mega digital entertainment concert tagged Yudala Zero Gravity, due to overwhelming rush reports ITRealms.

The kick off of the event which promises contemporary music slated for the Landmark Event Centre, Oniru - Lagos on Sunday October 2^nd 2016, ITRealms gathered would still hold as planned, but the company says its putting a halt on ticket sales to leave up to its promise for those buying at the outlets.

Head, Corporate Communications at Yudala, Mr. Gideon Ayogu, told ITRealms that the decision was taken as a result of the huge rush witnessed for the tickets by interested Nigerians eager to participate in the much-anticipated concert featuring some of Nigeria’s finest artistes.

Although a difficult decision, he noted that the company’s management had no choice than to suspend ticket sales in order to accommodate customers who are buying products and services from them.

“We assured our customers who purchased products from Yudala Online or any of our Experience Stores nationwide from August 1^st 2016 that we would guarantee them free entry into any of our concerts nationwide. As a responsible e-commerce company that keeps its word, we do not want to collect cash now and abandon these loyal customers.

“Yudala is one and within a space of just 12 months, we have broken all existing records in the e-commerce sector and set new standards and milestones such as the first drone delivery in the e-commerce world, launch of same day delivery on a nationwide scale, among many others.

“These achievements would have been impossible without our customers, so we are using the Yudala Zero Gravity concerts as a prime avenue to say thank you to and bond more closely with our customers,” he enthused.

While noting that customers who purchase high-value products also stand a chance of being upgraded to VIP or VVIP, Ayogu advised potential attendees looking for tickets to use same money and buy any product of their choice online or from any Yudala Experience Store nationwide which guarantees them a better chance of attending the concert.

“A number of A-list artistes have already been confirmed for Yudala Zero Gravity concerts in Lagos, Abuja and Enugu. The list includes Olamide, Iyanya, Phyno, Zorro, Flavour, Humble Smith, Naeto C, Cynthia Morgan, David Grey, Ali Baba, Akpororo and many more. Also, a number of premium corporate organizations such as Access Bank, Airtel, Stanbic Bank, HP, Lenovo, InnJoo Mobile and a host of media partners, among others are on board as partners. We also expect to tie up a few more partnerships in the days ahead.

“In addition, we have concluded arrangements for digital tickets which will be sent to all individual attendees 12 hours before each event. Our customers have no worries as to how we shall deliver it to them,” stated Ayogu.

Since news of the much talked-about digital live concerts broke, Yudala has contended with a deluge of requests for tickets from Nigerians eager to attend the event. Yudala Zero Gravity is powered as a mega three-city dual concert featuring the best artistes in Contemporary Nigerian hip-hop and rock gospel, who will use the platform to launch new hit tracks.  

Furthermore, loads of surprises and other side attractions are in store from Africa’s pioneer composite e-commerce outfit Yudala and New Concept Media Group (NCMG) at this inaugural edition of Yudala Zero Gravity.

Showbiz personalities are of the view that is possibly the first time in the world that an e-commerce company can invest in a multi-city entertainment event featuring two concerts per city. As pointed out by Ifedi Okwara, a self-professed digital entertainment enthusiast, it is really a new concept.

“Things are really changing in the current century. Entertainment is a big kick and a source of new wealth in the present generation. Gone are the times when companies refrained from being associated with such events.  Considering the state of the economy, it is also a useful outlet for most Nigerians to laugh off the anxiety and stress. It is a refreshing development to see Yudala leading the charge. Indeed, this is arguably the first time in the world that such a multi-city event is being planned by an e-commerce company. This is a big plus for Yudala,” he revealed.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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ALTON to Shittu: Communication Service Tax amounts to double taxation, impracticable

ITRealms:

The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has responded to the recent comments attributed to the Honourable Minister of Communication, Barr. Adebayo Shittu in Osogbo, Osun State, alleging that the proposed tax would help to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the country, reports ITRealms.

ALTON in response said that it amounts to double taxation and impracticable due to avalanche of flaws in the proposed bill.

Shittu, ITRealms gathered was also quoted as saying that “We have a lot of deficiency in the provision of infrastructure in the telecommunication sector. “And I believe that those who proposed the bill must have thought that government centrally relies on tax because without tax, government cannot operate.”

ALTON, ITRealms reports, is a body corporate, duly registered under the laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria as an Incorporated Trustee, and officially recognized by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission as the official industry body for all licensed providers of telecommunications and subsidiary services in Nigeria.

Responding to Shittu remarks, ALTON, took to its ground that any attempt to uphold the Communication Service Tax (CST) would amount to double taxation.

ALTON chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, in its submission after a review of the proposed bill submitted that the introduction and collection of the Tax without the exclusion of the applicability of the Value Added Tax (“VAT”) which was introduced by the Value Added Tax Act and is also applicable to services rendered by Service Providers in the telecommunication sector will amount to double taxation as the proposed Tax is an additional tax on communication services rendered to the same end users who already pay a five percent (5 per cent) tax as VAT.

“Also the administration of this tax regime as proposed will be cumbersome and impractical. We must correct this general notion that service providers can absolve any tax without considering the capital and operational cost to the service providers,” ALTON leadership declared.

The group also underlined some affordability challenges in connecting the unconnected, adverse impact on telecom infrastructural development, as well as its impact on the national broadband plan.

According to ALTON, the broadband penetration remains low at less than 10 per cent, with the government setting a target of 30 percent by 2018, which is now being hindered by the debates on CST and its proposal.

“High consumer taxes on communication services would Impact negatively on economic and broadband development,” ALTON maintained.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Airtel rewards outstanding business partners

ITRealms:

Leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has honoured its outstanding business partners, in grand style, at its annual 2016 Smart Partners’ Awards.

Airtel says the recognition is in line with its commitment to reward exceptional business performances, and also to motivate and encourage its Trade partners.

At the colourful awards’ dinner, which held at the prestigious Oriental Hotel, last week, the Airtel trade partners were recognized in different categories in recognition of their outstanding performances.

Lagos-based A.G Cellular Nig. Ltd and Akwa-Ibom-based Idems Ultimate Ltd., emerged winners of the CEO Excellence Awards, each smiling home with the grand prize of brand new 2017 Ford Explorer SUVs.

Can’t Stop Nig. Ltd, Alennsor Infinity Nig. Ltd, Hanope-Blitz Nig. Ltd. and Awake Interlink Nig. Ltd. were awarded with N5m worth credit note for being  champions of the Airtel Lagos, North, South and West Regions respectively.

Managing Director, A.G Cellular Ltd, Mr. Anthony Mutiu and Senior Manager for Idems Ultimate Ltd, Ubong Imoh, received the grand prizes on behalf of their companies.

Other partners were recognized and rewarded as Best Channel Partners in Data products; Best in Customer Service Delivery and Best Alternative Channel Partners.

Speaking during the event, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, applauded the partners for their persistence, loyalty and positive impact on the business despite the nation’s current economic situation.

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Rivers re-run: INEC, enough is enough

Commentary@ITRealms:

Further excuses would not be entertained from the Independent National Electoral Commission on the Rivers State rerun polls, writes Ifeanyi Omokwe.

There is an evil under the sun against citizens in 21 state and 9 federal constituencies of Rivers State and Nigeria in general. For the past six months, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has engaged in a dangerous game of Russian roulette by denying the people of Rivers State their constitutional right to have representatives to advance their cause at both the state and federal legislatures.

Over the course of the past six months, the INEC had hinged the excuse for its inability to conduct rerun election to fill the vacant legislative seats on insecurity in Rivers State. It would be recalled that since it held the first rerun on March 19, 2016, the commission has continued to dilly-dally and make up excuses, as ridiculous as they come, as to why holding elections in Rivers state is untenable for now.

In one of its press releases, the electoral body explained that, “Some of the State/Federal Constituencies and Senatorial seats are inconclusive as a result of reports of election cancellations and elections not conducted for reasons of serious violence in some units and registration areas.”

One can vouchsafe that those that accuse the commission of pandering to certain interests in Abuja are not far from the truth. If it were not so, how can one reason that those behind violence in Rivers State, if any, are more powerful than federal might, that credible and fair elections cannot be guaranteed? The Rivers experience lends much credence to the fact that the INEC as presently constituted is an evil conclave that portends grave danger to democratic governance in the country.

It is now a certainty that those, who fear losing out completely in the power matrix in Rivers State and have some measure of federal influence because they are part of the present regime are not bothered if millions of Rivers indigenes and Nigerians that live in the state, make their living and pay taxes both to the federal and state governments do not have representatives that can represent their aspirations and help in making good laws for growth and development of the state.

Unfortunately so, INEC has allowed itself to become part of the unholy alliance against a constitutional requirement and globally acclaimed democratic norm: representative democracy.

It will not be far-fetched to note that the posturing of the electoral commission on the imaginary insecurity in Rivers State could be one of the reasons that the United States recently listed some states in Nigeria as dangerous and should be stayed clear off by Americans except for very critical assignments.

While the conclusion of the United States is not entirely true, especially as it pertains to Rivers State and most part of the country except for the insurgency ravaged North East, institutions of state like the INEC fuel such assumptions when they fail to carry out their constitutional functions.

It is a good thing the federal government came out to contradict the Americans on that ground and this, one finds very interesting. If the federal government has given an assurance of safety in majority of the states, from where does the commission gets its report that holding election in Rivers is untenable because of insecurity?

The irony of INEC’s claim is that the more it holds to this untenable argument, the more conferences of notable associations are held in the Garden City without the imaginary security breach, which has become the singsong of the commission. Over the course of the past months, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigerian Bar Association, judges and their likes have held their annual conferences in Port Harcourt without any major security breach.

To continue to use the insecurity angle as the excuse for denying the people of Rivers of full complement of legislative representation is an affront on their citizenship rights to have representatives at the various assemblies.

Besides that, this same INEC has held elections in Kogi State, which is known for some notorious crimes. If anything, Kogi has been constantly in the news for high profile banditry, kidnappings, robberies and terrorism-related issues, yet the INEC was able to conduct rerun elections.

Come September 10, this excuse-giving INEC would be holding elections in Edo State even when the newspapers have constantly reported deteriorating security situation in the state. Doctors, nurses and the general populace have had to protest the kidnapping of their members in Edo, yet this by no means would stand in the way of the commission to do what is right by the Edo people.

All of these pale into insignificance when the Bayelsa poll is taken into cognizance. The evidence of how militarised the governorship rerun election was remains clear to all. The level of violence was not orchestrated by the people, rather the security forces working in consort with the INEC in a bid to truncate the collective will of Bayelsans.

In a way, the electoral body has conspired to abort the will of the Rivers people by continually insisting on not holding an already overdue poll in the 21 state and nine federal constituencies.

In case the INEC has forgotten, it should be reminded that Nigeria runs as a representative democracy and this demands of it to allow constituents to elect officials, who should decide on their behalf. But not doing so is to deny the people their legitimacy to hold the present government accountable and ensure that their rights and privileges as citizens of Nigeria are guaranteed.

Further, the Rivers people have lost their “voice” to engage with other parts of Nigeria in reaching consensus on matters of federalism and moving the country forward simply because the INEC has proved incapable of staying impartial.

The Mahmood Yakubu-led Independent National Electoral Commission, which has displayed a stark capacity for incompetence still has a golden opportunity to redeem its already soiled reputation by engaging robustly with security agencies and set a firm date for the completion of election in Rivers State so that the people can indeed have full representation and know they are part of a federal state.

If elections could be conducted in insurgency ravaged North East in 2015, why can’t elections be held in state that has barely a fraction of the insecurity challenges in other parts of the country.

-Contributed by Ifeanyi Omokwe of The Gazetter Newspaper

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