Over 20 organisations for takeover by children

ITREALMS:

As the World Children’s Day (WCD) gets underway on Monday, 20 November, 2017, Nigerian children are not left out as there is advanced plans for them to take over in excess of 20 organisations in commemoration of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, reports ITRealms.

Confirming this to ITRealms, the Communication Specialist at the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in Nigeria, Mr. Geoffrey Njoku, said that to commemorate the anniversary this year, children across the world will ‘takeover’ high-profile moments in the media, politics, business, sports, music and entertainment to raise awareness on the most vulnerable and hardest to reach children. 

According to him, children would use the opportunity to raise their voices in solidarity with the world’s most disadvantaged children.

In addition, they would shine a spotlight on the most pressing challenges faced by their generation.

“More than anything else on this day, we seek your support to make this an advocacy moment for children’s right by children themselves,” he said.

Njoku further confirmed that over 22 organisations have been enlisted for takeover by some children, namely:

1.      Children takeover prominent roles at Hilton Hotel.

2.     Presentation by a Nigerian child at the Ted talk-like Regional African Dialogue in Accra Ghana.

3.     Children’s visit to Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Club and takeover of management and games at the Club.

4.     Children takeover broadcasts at Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria

5.     Children takeover broadcasts at Kaduna State Media Corporation

6.     Children takeover broadcasts at Ebonyi State Broadcasting Service

7.     Children takeover broadcasts at Broadcasting Corporation of Abia state

8.     Children takeover broadcasts at Imo state Broadcasting Corporation

9.     Children takeover broadcasts at Anambra Broadcasting Service

10.  Children takeover broadcasts at Cross River Broadcasting Corporation

11.  Children takeover broadcasts at Radio Bayelsa

12.  Children takeover broadcasts at Radio Rivers

13.  Children take over broadcasts at Rhythm FM

14.  Children takeover broadcasts at Inspiration FM (Radio)

15.  Children takeover broadcast at Lagos Television

16.  Children takeover broadcast at Radio Lagos, Eko FM

17.  Children takeover broadcasts at Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria

18.  Children takeover broadcasts at Nigerian Television Authority

19.  Children takeover broadcast at Breeze FM Akure

20.  Children takeover broadcasts at Positive FM Akure

21.  Children takeover broadcasts at Bauchi State Television

22.  Children takeover broadcasts and the Managing Director’s role at the Bauchi Radio Corporation

Uju. N. Dominic/ED, Ops

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3 Nigeria women set for history @Winter Olympics, seeks support on gofundme.com

ITREALMS:

Three Nigerian women, Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga have are all set to make history by being electing to be the first Nigerian representatives to qualify to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in the sport of Bobsled, reports ITRealms.

This, ITRealms gathered, is coming as the trio are seeking support to make this dream a reality via gofundme.com.

As said by Seun Adigun in her gofundme.com campaign, they are all based in the United States and are determined to add Nigeria to the list as they vie for a spot at the event which will be taking place in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

She also disclosed they have started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds and create awareness around the historical feat they are set to accomplish in the next two years.

Adigun confirmed actually conceiving the idea, and went on to recruit her other team members, described the project as a difficult one, but also as one of the most impactful things she will ever initiate.

“The fate of Nigeria’s eligibility to be represented in the 2018 Winter Olympics rests exclusively on my ability to qualify as a competent driver. I decided to accept this responsibility and recruited two wonderful young women, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga, as my brakemen,” Adigun said.

Banji Boye/GEE

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pix: Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga

Soon, NCC'll launch automated numbering system - EVC

ITREALMS:

Apex telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) may have advanced plans to introduce automated numbering system in the country, reports ITRealms.

Disclosing this to ITRealms in Lagos recently, the Executive Vice Chairman and chief executive officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said that the Commission would soon launch this service.

“The automated system will be launched very soon by the Commission,” he declared at a one-day consultative forum towards the introduction of an automated numbering system in Nigeria held in Lagos.

EVC who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Mr. Ubale Maska, also described numbers as scarce resources, noting that “one of the core functions of the Commission is to ensure that this scarce resource is effectively and efficiently managed."

Equally speaking at the forum, Paul Dinwoke, CEO Molcon Multiconcepts Limited, Consultants to NCC on the project also told the participants that some of the benefits of the automated system include convenience, transparency, efficiency, easy tracking, ability to choose number options, and strengthening of online payment systems.

The forum was attended by many stakeholders, including licensees of the Commission and staff, including Bako Wakil, Deputy Director Technical Standards and Network Integrity who told the audience that the deployment of automatic numbering management system is part of the NCC's efforts to automate her business processes within and outside the Commission.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Pix; L-R): Engr. Bako Wakil, Deputy Director, Technical Standards, NCC; Engr. Ubale Maska, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC; Engr. Kenneth Uzoekwe, Zonal Controller Lagos, NCC

Ojobo now AFAC fellow

ITREALMS:

 

The Director Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tony Ojobo, has been honoured with a distinguished Fellowship award by the African Festival of Art and Culture (AFAC) reports ITRealms.

AFAC led by its Director-General, Mr. Joseph Ibe, presented the award to Ojobo at the NCC Head Office in Abuja, recently.

He informed that the award was conferred on Ojobo for his exemplary public service delivery and the professionalism he has brought to bear on Public Sector Communication as the Spokesperson of NCC.

In response, Mr. Ojobo expressed thanks to the delegation and for the award which he said is not just an honour to him alone but most importantly to the Commission stating clearly that the honour and several others would not have been possible without the diligence and team spirit of the staff of his department as well as the support and understanding of the Management of the Commission.

Doris Minimah/GEE

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Pix 1; Tony Ojobo, Director Public Affairs Department at NCC receives award from Joseph Ibeh, DG AFAC.

Pix 2: L-R: Sonny Aragba Akpore, Head Media Management; Uke Claudia, Director Creative/Children Department; Joseph Ibeh, DG AFAC; Tony Ojobo, Director Public Affairs NCC; Dr. Aloefuna Ekene, Secretary AFAC; Reuben Muoka, Head Public Relations and Robert Okoneukure, Logistics AFAC.

FaceOff: Facts deserted Tinubu faster than Usain Bolt – Jonathan

ITREALMS:

The immediate past President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has replied the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declaring that facts may have deserted Asiwaju faster than Usain Bolt, reports ITRealms.

Tinubu, ITRealms recalls had during his address at the presentation of a book titled, “Making Steady Sustainable Progress” authored by President Muhammadu Buhari’s media aides at the Old Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, alleged that Jonathan’s administration institutionalised corruption in Nigeria.

Height of which was that during Dr. Jonathan's  “So much money grew feet and ran away faster than Usain Bolt ever could and that his administration won gold medal in corruption," however said that facts have rather deserted the APC leader faster than Usain Bolt."

But reacting to the claims,  the former president through his former aide and bestselling author, Pastor Reno Omokri, said that under his administration, that the only global body for monitoring corruption, Transparency International, had published in its annual corruption index, showing Nigeria made an eight(8) points improvement in corruption reduction, haven moved from 144 to 136 then.

Pointed out that in a press statement made available to ITRealms that “other than media sensationalism, there have been no convictions of financial misappropriation stemming from the Jonathan era,” challenging Tinubu or anybody in APC to counter Jonathan’s statement in 2014 that he has no bank account abroad.

Also, Jonathan, in the statement said Tinubu mistook what he described as the “Usain Bolt speed” at which the current ruling APC government smuggled back into the country, the embattled former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina whom the previous government under Jonathan had dismissed and declared wanted, only for the APC-led government to reinstate him, even with a promotion, for what he said is the “unproven claims of corruption under Jonathan.”

The statement reads thus:

“Again my attention has been drawn to disparaging comments made by Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu against former President Goodluck Jonathan and his administration.

In the said comments, Mr. Tinubu said “The prior government used the public treasury as a private hedge fund or a charity that limited its giving only to themselves,” he said.

“So much money grew feet and ran away faster than Usain Bolt ever could. That which could have been spent on national development was squandered in ways that would cause the devil to blush.”

Speaking further, the former Lagos State Governor said:

“Boko Haram would have taken more territory and more lives would have been lost to insurgency if Jonathan had remained in power.”

I would now address these allegations point by point using verifiable facts.

First of all, the only global body for monitoring corruption is Transparency International which releases an annual Corruption Perception Index.

It is a fact that Nigeria made her most improvement in Transparency International‘s annual Corruption Perception Index In 2014 under President Jonathan when we moved from 144 to 136 representing an improvement of 8 points.

Transparency International observed the Jonathan administration’s fight against the corruption in Nigeria’s fertilizer procurement regime, the use of technology to remove 50,000 Federal ghost workers and the speed at which the then President fired ministers accused of corruption or conflict of interests.

From that time till today, Nigeria has not made any improvements and has remained at 136 where Jonathan left us because Transparency International deals with facts, not opinions or media trial.

Other than media sensationalism, there have been no convictions of financial misappropriation stemming from the Jonathan era.

However, we do know that it is a fact that the allegedly corrupt pension thief, Abdulrasheed Maina, was dismissed and declared wanted by the Jonathan administration.

We also now know that it is a fact that the present Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, met with Maina in Dubai. We know that Maina’s family revealed in a press conference that Maina was invited back to Nigeria by the present government. It is also a fact that Maina was recalled, reinstated and given double promotion by the current administration.

Moreover, we know from the Head of Service’s leaked memo that President Muhammadu Buhari was aware of this entire saga.

Perhaps Asiwaju Bola Tinubu mistook the Usain Bolt speed at which Maina was smuggled back into the country and reinstated for the unproven claims of corruption under Jonathan.

We also know that it is a fact that $25 billion worth of contracts were awarded at the NNPC without due process. It is also a fact that this is the highest ever such amount involved in Nigeria’s history. Again, perhaps it is this amount that Tinubu meant when he said “So much money grew feet and ran away faster than Usain Bolt ever could”. Or perhaps he was referring to Babachir Lawal.

Nigerians should note that on the 7th of March 2014, then President Jonathan said “I am loyal to Nigeria’s economy. I don’t have accounts or property abroad.”

Till date, nobody has been able to contradict that statement because it is true.

Can Bola Tinubu or anybody in the APC leadership make a similar claim?

On the issue of Boko Haram and terrorism, it is a fact that there is only one global body recognized to monitor terrorism and that is the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) which releases the annual Global Terrorism Index.

It is a fact that between 2013 and 2014, Nigeria under President Jonathan was unfortunately listed as the fourth most terrorized nation in the world.

However, in the latest Global Terrorism Index released yesterday (November 15, 2017) by the Institute for Economics and Peace, Nigeria has deteriorated from where Jonathan left it and is now the third most terrorized nation.

In 2015, President Jonathan ensured that elections held in every local government in Borno states, but last month, the United Nations declared that they could no longer operate in certain local governments of Borno state. So who is fooling who?

So if according to Transparency International, Nigeria was less corrupt under Jonathan than it is today and according to the Institute for Economics and Peace, Nigeria is more terrorized today than it was under Jonathan, it becomes clear that Bola Tinubu has no factual basis to make the claims he made.”

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE 

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NCC outlines benefits of automated numbering system

ITREALMS:

The chief consultant to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on the proposed introduction of an automated numbering system in Nigeria, Mr. Paul Dinwoke, has outlined the benefits of the system to stakeholders, reports ITRealms.

Dinwoke who is the chief executive officer, Molcon Multiconcepts Limited, disclosed this in Lagos recently during a stakeholder consultative forum organized by the Commission.

According to him, some of the benefits include convenience, transparency, efficiency, easy tracking, and ability to choose number options.

He also pointed out that the introduction of an automated number system would strengthen the online payment systems currently existing in NCC and within its affiliate service offer.

In his remarks at the forum, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta,  who was represented by the Executive Commissioner Technical Services, Ubale Maska, said that numbers are scarce resource and one of the core functions of the Commission is to ensure that this scarce resource is effectively and efficiently managed.

He also informed participants seeks their understanding, for this reason the forum was held, stressing that the automated system will be launched very soon by the Commission.

The Forum was attended by many stakeholders, including licensees of the Commission and staff, including Bako Wakil, Deputy Director Technical Standards and Network Integrity who told the audience that the deployment of automatic numbering management system is part of the NCC's efforts to automate her business processes within and outside the Commission.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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pix: Paul Dinwoke, CEO Molcon Multiconcepts Limited, consultants to NCC on the project

Boycotting Anambra election, invitation to anarchy - SERG Warns

ITRealms:

The South East Revival Group (SERG) has called on all eligible voters in Anambra State to come out enmasse to exercise their civil rights to vote in the Saturday's governorship election in the state to avoid the declaration of state of emergency in the state, reports ITRealms.

The National Coordinator, SERG, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said in a press statement made available to ITRealms, that the pan-south east pressure group is warning the people against what he described as "moves by anti-Igbo elements to foist on the region an emergency rule, with a military administrator as over seer of the state.

"This must be avoided at any cost as the south east would be the worst for if the election was boycotted by the people."

He observed that the beauty of democracy is that if offers the electorate unique opportunity to vote out bad leadership in a state.

"Therefore, a state of anarchy must be avoided at any cost in the south east at this time.

"And we advise the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to thread with caution to avoid a repeat of the 1967 to 1970 civil war in the country.  We appeal to IPOB to sheath their swords and embrace dialogue.

"Every temptation for bloodletting must be vehemently resisted by all south easterners as we urge South East leaders to speak up now. We have been killed enough.

"Therefore, we urge all eligible voters in Anambra State to troop out and exercise their franchise to make a statement that Ndigbo are not lawless people or terrorists", SERG warned.

Ozo Nweke Ozo/GEE

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Nigeria still desire broadband capacity - Akinlola

ITREALMS:

The chief executive officer of Ntel, Mr. Ernest Akinlola has said that Nigeria is still very much desirous of broadband capacity, reports ITRealms.

Akinlola made this known at the 2017 Telecoms Executiveand Regulator Forum (TERF) at Oriental Hotel in Lagos, weekend, where he was represented by the Director, Regulatory and External Affairs at ntel, Mr. Osondu Nwokolo.

TERF is organised by the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and powered by InstinctWave.

He also noted that Nigeria is still in need of broadband capacity anchored on synergy by relevant stakeholders.

In addition, Nwokolo decried the fact that many at times, the decision affecting directly on the telecom sector is taken outside the industry without core industry players participating.

This, he said, does not argue well for the development and growth of the sector, especially in the telecom sector who are supposed to use the supposed infrastructure.

Equally, he said that spectrum trading is a good idea but content to drive it should be looked into as well.

He advised government to always include the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and operators who deliver based on requisite OEMs tp the end user.

Further, he canvassed for the OEMs to be part of the beneficiaries of any tax incentive to afford to domestication of their factories in the country, thereby creating jobs for Nigerians and reducing the cost of acquiring such equipment or devices by end users.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Niger Delta TV, pride to Bayelsa says Information Commissioner

ITRealms:

The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson‎ on Monday visited the state owned Niger Delta Television‎ (NDTV) in Gbarantoru‎, describing it as one of the organizations that is so dear to the government, reports ITRealms.

According to him, the significance of NDTV accounts for why everything was being done to make it fly higher.

During the visit which was part of familiarization tour to agencies under his ministry, the Commissioner met with the management and staff of NDTV for over four hours also inspected its facilities.

Iworiso-Markson stated that with its wide reach and personnel, the television station has a great advantage over others.

‎He therefore charged the management and staff to work harder to sustain the pride of place it occupies and the huge investment the government has made so far.‎

The Commissioner said, "I have no doubt that you have the personnel to do the job but I want you to improve on your capacity and content, use your programmes to create a positive mindset on Bayelsans about the various government policies that have impacted positively on the lives of the people.

"You have the advantage because you have a wider reach. I understand people in far flung communities in our state view your programmes‎ and even those in other states, so that is clearly a plus for you. So I urge you to be up and running."

Iworiso-Markson who acknowledged some of the current challenges facing NDTV, admonished‎ the staff not to be deterred as ‎the government would take steps to address them.

He stressed that Governor Henry Seriake Dickson had been very passionate to see the station compete with others on the global‎ stage.

‎"Running a ‎television station is not a tea party, you all deserved to be commended but you must justify the need to address some of your demands as His Excellency, Governor Dickson wants to see this place move to the next level". iworiso-Markson said.

Earlier in his address, the General Manager of the Station,Tamarakuro Oweifie had intimated the Commissioner that since assumption of office in 2012, the present management has done a lot to change the face of broadcasting in the state.

He appealed to the Commissioner to look into the challenges facing the station which includes equipment, studio, utility buses and power to enable the staff perform more.

In her vote of thanks, the Head of Programmes, Mrs. Binna Nengi Ilagha, thanked the Commissioner and his team for finding time to visit the station, stating that the visit has given them a new sense of belonging and to look forward to a better future.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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ANA inaugurates four-man committee for mentorship

ITREALMS:

The Osun State chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has inaugurated a four-man committee to handle the issues of teen authorship in the state, reports ITRealms.

The committee headed by Mr. Tunji Adepoju was set up with the aim of giving young writers the opportunity of enjoying the mentorship from established writers, in addition to having their writings published and read by their mates and others at the young age.

Mr. Muriola Awosemo, ANA Osun Chairman during the inauguration said “ANA Osun Young Writers Mentorship Scheme hopes to hone, enhance, nurture and publish works of teen and young writers between the ages of 9 and 17.”

The four-man committee, ITRealms gathered, include Mr. Bunyamin Zakariyah, Bada Yusuf and Mr. Adelowo Quadri as members.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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Electronic, video game festival opens

ITRealms:

The Electronic and Video Game Festival of Abidjan (FEJA) opened at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan, Ivory Coast., reports ITRealms.

The festival which opened on November 11th, ITRealms gathered, brought together thousands of gaming enthusiasts from all over Africa, around the theme: Video Games in Africa, it is Possible.

ITRealms also reports that during the month of September, avid gamers participated in qualifying tournaments, with a total of 256 players from 6 African countries selected to compete and try to win rewards of more than 10.000 euros.

The event, ITRealms reports, has attracted participants from the entire eco-system of gaming in Africa including those working in animation, game design and sales of gaming technology.

The nascent gaming industry in Africa is experiencing a boom with ever more African themed games, local studios and rapid growth in mobile game revenues.

Uma Ahmadu/ED, Ops

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Anambra Decides 2017 - Obiano says life in danger over withdrawal of security details

ITRealms:

The Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, had Tuesday in Awka, the state capital, raised alarm over the sudden withdrawal of his security details by the Nigeria Police Force, early Tuesday, reports ITRealms.

The governor who staged walked out protest before the election stakeholders meeting at the Dora Akunyili Development Centre (DADC), Awka, after raising the alarm and having waited for hours without the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris presence, declared that “his life is in danger.”

Describing the development as unacceptable and dangerous signal on what would happen ahead of the governorship election, immediately demanded for the return of his security details to avoid untoward incidents.

“I want my security details returned immediately because I am going to start a fight from there. I am the sitting governor of Anambra State and all the paraphernalia of my office must be there.

“This is unacceptable and a sign of what will happen. Those behind this would be disappointed because we are very ready for the election.”

Addressing newsmen shortly after outside the Centre, Obiano said, “My life is in danger, this morning they withdrew my senior police aides, that is what I am saying and it is unacceptable. I am the governor and the chief executive officer of the state and we will fight this because we are not going to allow that to go.

“I don’t need any replacement. I want to work with the people I have worked with.”

In a related development, ITRealms reports that the governor had earlier complained of not being accorded recognition by the moderator when he walked in, despite several insistence, said he had wanted to speak with the Inspector General of Police who was to be at the meeting but was not around and he was not aware when he would come.

Responding, the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the event was a stakeholders’ meeting, and as such no candidate would be accorded any special treatment regardless of his position.

He said the commission insists on equal treatment of all candidates in the election and should not only have equal standing, but must be respected.

Reacting to the governor’s alarm when he eventually arrived the meeting when almost all the candidates and majority of the stakeholders had left, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris the withdrawal of the governor’s ADC and policemen attached to politicians was routine and the police do that during elections and was not in any way done to target the governor.

Police he said decided to withdraw the policemen attached to politicians because of previous experiences where such cops worked for their masters to truncate the process.

He said police have deployed 21,000 officers that would complement the 5,000 in the state, 303 patrol vehicles, three helicopters, one for each of the three zones, 15 gunboats and many more to ensure the safety and peace of the election.

Ozo Nweke Ozo in Awka with additional report from The Sun/GEE

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Savings! Savings!! Savings!!! That's all we hear from Peter Obi

Commentary@ITREALMS:

Savings ! savings !! savings !!! Thats all I hear. Saving in a state that lacks every imaginable basic amenities.

Yes , it is absolutely stupid to save money when basic infrastructures are lacking. It is the same naive thinking that made Peter Obi made ndi Anambra to believe that borrowing is a sin, and alas, most people bought into it. 

Biko tell me how much Lagos which is the 5th largest economy in Africa saved within the same period? 

They have largest debt profile in Nigeria. Ironically people  who should know actually key into this drag our state back. 

Obiano shied away from borrowing massively because of this same nonsense, they will say that Peter saved and hes borrowing. Yet we all are the loosers because instead of borrowing heavily to improve the infrastructural base of the state, which in turn will help the improve the economy and make it viable, we're busy waiting tiny IGR and paltry FAAC allocations to develop the state. 

Onowu has said it all. The other write up did justice to it. Biko there are no sentiments here. It was so wrong to save money the time he did. It might look like it was the right thing to do, but was it the best thing for the state at that particular moment? 

The answer is a capital NO. Besides the money in question is not Peters money, it belongs to ndi Anambra. People voted Obiano to pilot the affairs of this state  and that includes overseeing the saved money. 

He has every right to make use of the said money for the benefit of the state. I have not said that Peter Obi didn't do his best for the state. That will not be right because he did, but this penchant of certain people believing that it's either Peters  way or no other way begs the issue. He made some big mistakes while administering Anambra part of which is the savings issue at a time the state lacked basic amenities. 

The so called savings by Peter Obi was not a smart move. Modern economics abhor that. We are better educated here  to be debating this on this forum.

*Chief Oguguo Osakwe
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Two Nigerians shine @Shell global entrepreneurship prize

ITREALMS:

Two Nigerian business owners, Mr. Precious Adeho and Mrs. Ngozi Deborah Atalor, have emerged winners in the 2017 Shell LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators competition, a global contest open to beneficiaries of Shell LiveWIRE, and aimed at rewarding shining cases of innovation in businesses supported by the programme, reports ITRealms.

A press statement made available to ITRealms by the Media Relations Manager at Shell Nigeria, Bamidele Odugbesan, said they emerged at the merit prize along with four others in the same category, while businesses from the United Kingdom and Pakistan took the top and runner-up awards. The winners were announced during the Global Entrepreneurship Week holding November 13 – 17 in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

“We congratulate the Nigerians on this feat,” said General Manager, External Relations, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC.)  “Three Nigerians came up with creative ideas on energy efficiency and access to chemical and paint products, and were among 22 entrepreneurs from nine countries who vied for the prestigious prize. We are happy that young Nigerians have deployed the skills and funding assistance in our LiveWIRE training schemes and made a mark for themselves and our country.”

Adeho and Atalor won $5,000 each, the only Africans to clinch the prize. The overall winner received $15,000 while the three runners-up got $10,0000 each. Shortlisted businesses for the LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators competition were judged by an international panel of business leaders, chaired by Mark Gainsborough, Executive Vice President of New Energies at Shell.

Trained by Shell LiveWIRE Nigeria, Adeho got a start-up grant to reposition his company, Emobella Engineering Nigeria Limited, which provides engineering services with a USP of 24-hour availability and high-quality customer service. The business model integrates a training programme for young people facing employment challenges in the region. Mr. Adeho said: “This is the best thing that has happened to me and my business. Shell LiveWIRE has taken our business to the global stage, and I want to thank Shell for the opportunity to showcase our vision.”

Atalor, a 2016 Shell LiveWIRE grant recipient, offers affordable solar energy solutions on a small scale to empower families and businesses in rural areas to adopt the technology. Her company, De-rahbs Energy Services, installs, services and repairs solar energy equipment, and provides a low-cost solar energy payment plan and training to future engineers and energy entrepreneurs. She said of the Merit prize: “I see the award as an encouragement to pursue my dream of taking solar energy to every home in Nigeria.”

Since its introduction in Nigeria in 2003, the LiveWIRE programme has trained 6,550 Niger Delta youths in enterprise development and management, and provided business start-up grants to 3,313.

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Corruption, Whistleblowing: Falana, Ribadu for summit

ITREALMS:

Lagos-based prominent human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana and pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu will on Tuesday headline a national summit on whistleblowing and the fight against corruption in Nigeria, reports ITRealms.

The event is being put together by the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), in conjunction with House Committee on Financial Crimes, Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ).

The theme of the Summit scheduled to begin at 9am at Rockview Hotel in Abuja is FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION: HARNESSING THE WHISTLEBLOWING OPPORTUNITIES.  

According to Chido Onumah, Coordinator of the Centre, “The event is designed to interrogate the whistleblower policy and engage critical stakeholders responsible for promotion of the policy and its implementation.”

Aside Falana and Ribadu, other papers  will also be delivered by Waziri Adio, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and Professor Abdullahi Shehu of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

The Summit is part of activities under the Corruption Anonymous project of AFRICMIL aimed at building public confidence and support for the whistleblower policy of the Nigerian government.

The project is supported by the MacArthur Foundation. 

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