NCC wants comments on proposed Internet Industry Code of Practice

ITREALMS:

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has invited stakeholders to comment on its draft policy on the proposed Code of Practice all affected and interested parties as well as the general public to a Stakeholder Consultation on the establishment of an Internet Industry Code of Practice, reports ITRealms.

As part of its Internet Governance functions, the Nigerian Communications Commission said its seeking input from stakeholders in the development of a code of practice in support of an open internet.

ITRealms reports that the Commission favours a multi-stakeholder model of engagement in the process of policy development for Internet Governance. The proposed Code of Practice seeks, among other things.

In addition, NCC said the draft seeks to “Protect the rights and interests of Internet Service Providers and consumers; Provide jointly agreed and effective solutions to the issues of discriminatory traffic management practices; Ensure adequate safeguards are put in place by service providers against abuses such as unsolicited messages.

Further, NCC said the outline the obligations of Service Providers in relation to offensive and potentially harmful content for minors and vulnerable audiences; Promote the safe, secure and responsible use of Internet Services with due regard to provisions in existing legal instruments; Establish best practices for Internet Governance in Nigeria, in line with emerging issues and global trends.

NCC equally said the draft would provide transparent rules for the assessment and classification of Internet content; Increase stakeholder satisfaction through improved consumer experience online; Extensive consultation of stakeholders is crucial to the success of this exercise.

Uboshe Uboche/GEE

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Togo: Buhari, 5 other leaders demand roadmap to resolve political impasse

ITRealms:

The President, Muhammadu Buhari and five other concerned West African leaders have called for an immediate roadmap to pave the way for negotiations between the Togolese government led by President Faure Gnassingbe Eyadema and the opposition movement, reports ITRealms.

The urgent demand by the leaders came at a meeting to discuss the situation in Togo, which ended early on Thursday in Abidjan, on the sidelines of the African Union-European Union Summit.

The Presidents of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin Republic and Guinea Conakry, attended the meeting with President Eyadema.

Also, the West African leaders asked the parties in Togo to urgently negotiate, without ‘‘any preconditions’’, and resolve the impasse in the interest of the well-being of the country and the region at large.

ITRealms recalled that President Eyadema had given himself a deadline of Friday to provide the basis and framework for negotiations in response to the increasing list of demands put together by the opposition movement seeking to oust him from power after 12 years as President.

His late predecessor and father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, was the President of Togo from 1967 until his death in 2005.

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9mobile unveils Code Lagos Centre

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Innovative and customer-friendly telecommunications company, 9mobile, has launched a coding centre at one of its adopted schools, Rabiatu Thompson Primary School, Surulere, Lagos, as part of the Code Lagos initiative of the Lagos State Government, reports ITRealms.

Code Lagos, which seeks to teach at least one million Lagos residents to code by 2019, has 9mobile as one of its key partners, with the telecommunications firm setting up coding centres at its adopted schools. 

Speaking at the launch, Acting Director, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, 9mobile, Oluseyi Osunsedo, said the telco’s partnership with the Lagos State Government on Code Lagos was borne out of its commitment to education and the empowerment of young Nigerians to succeed in the digital age.

Osunsedo said, “As a company committed to promoting academic excellence, 9mobile has introduced a number of initiatives that contribute to sustainable development in Nigeria. One of such initiatives is our Adopt-A-School programme, through which we have adopted four schools for life, and are driving the delivery of qualitative primary and secondary education, in partnership with respective state governments.

“In sustaining our commitment, we have collaborated with the Lagos State Government, on the laudable Code Lagos initiative, and today we are launching a fully equipped coding centre at Rabiatu Thompson Primary School.

Osunsedo added further that “The present and even more so the future will be ruled by technology; artificial intelligence presently plays a major role in modern day living and with the technological advancements that have been made, we believe that our children should be exposed and empowered not just to participate, but to compete in the digital evolution space.”

Whilst encouraging the students to  maximally utilize the coding centre, Osunsedo expressed the hope that in another 10-15 years, the school would have produced some of the ICT gurus that will create phenomenal programs that add value to life.”

The Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, who represented the Special Adviser on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, at the launch, stated that the state government was strongly committed to Code Lagos, and thanked 9mobile for its unrelenting support for the initiative.

Soyombo said, “Lagos State Government aims at making coding education framework accessible to every student in Lagos State by encouraging the private sector to key into this new initiative, as the state would continue to create an enabling environment conducive for investment.

“Code Lagos centres have continually been established across Education Districts in Lagos State, public libraries and other community spaces, to drive the mega-city dream that will generate employment and business opportunities; and qualified candidates must be available to take advantage of all the available opportunities.

The Head Teacher of Rabiatu Thompson Primary School, Mrs. Mercy Ejindu, expressed profound gratitude to 9mobile for its support for the school and for setting up the coding centre.

“We are very grateful to 9mobile. Since 9mobile adopted this school, they’ve supported us in many ways and now they have set up this coding centre that will help our pupils to learn and be in tune with current trends, especially in digital technology,” Ejindu said.

9mobile had also supported in the setting up a coding centre and ICT laboratory at two of its other adopted schools in Lagos, Akande Dahunsi Memorial Senior and Junior High Schools in Ikoyi.

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ntel commences national roaming test with 9Mobile

ITREALMS:

Acclaimed 4G/LTE broadband operator, ntel, has advanced plans to commence a national roaming field trial with 9Mobile, today, December 1, 2017, reports ITRealms.

Head, Corporate Communications at ntel, Toni Kan Onwordi, disclosed this to ITRealms, said the operators have received regulatory approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to commence a national roaming trial over a two-month period.

According to ntel, the agreement will enable ntel’s customers to make calls on 9Mobile’s network using any 2G or 3G handset within the specified trial zone.

Speaking on the commencement of the national roaming trial, ntel’s chief executive officer (CEO) Mr. Ernest Akinlola, described the deal as significant.

“This agreement is a significant step in the right direction for us as a company and the telecommunications eco system. A full national roaming agreement with 9Mobile would provide our growing customer base with a seamless service over 4G/LTE superfast data and voice clarity as well as ubiquitous 3G and 2G coverage nationwide. Both operators are pioneers in innovation and we are pleased to be charting a new path for the industry,” he said.

Akinlola also confirmed that the national roaming test is expected to commence on both networks from today, Friday, December 1, 2017.

ITRealms recalls that ntel is Nigeria’s most advanced mobile 4G/LTE network providing superfast Internet Access that enables high-definition voice, data and video services. ntel’s network is built on the 900/1800 Mhz frequency bands which are the best propagation frequencies for the deployment of 4G/LTE technology.

ntel’s range of services include: National Bandwidth; International Voice Termination, International Bandwidth; Mobile and Fixed Communications services.

The company made its first on-net test data call in Lagos on Monday January 18, 2016 then followed this up with its first on-net Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) call in Lagos on Thursday February 25, 2016 while full commercial operations commenced on Friday April 8, 2016.

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NITMA: Yele Okeremi is 2017 IT Personality of the Year

ITREALMS:

The founding Chief Executive Officer of Precise Financial Systems (PFS) Limited, Dr. Yele Okeremi has been named the Information Technology (IT) Personality of the Year 2017 by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), at its National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA), reports ITRealms.

Okeremi emerged via an online voting across NCS membership and was unveiled the Honourable Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, accompanied by the President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan Lagos, Thursday night.

ITRealms gathered that while all the nominee in the IT Personality of the Year 2017, including the Chief Software Architect and Chairman, Programos Software Group, Mr. Amos Emmanuel, Commissioner for Telecommunications & Information Technologies at ECOWAS, Dr. Isaias Barreto da Rosa, Group Chief Executive Officer, eTranzact Global, Mr. Valentine Obi, and Chief Strategy Officer & Cyber Security Leader, Deloitte West Africa, Mr. Tope Aladenusi, were honoured for outstanding performances in their careers among equals.

Also, ITRealms reports that Dr. Okeremi is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree from the Swiss Business School, Zurich, Switzerland having previously obtained a Masters of Applied Business Research from the same institution. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science (With Economics) from the Obafemi Awolowo University and a Masters in Business Administration. He is an alumnus of the Wits Business School, Johannesburg South Africa and the prestigious Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA where he completed the Owner President Management Programme.

Prior to PFS, he had a successful professional career at Inlaks Computers before he proceeded to Industrial Bank Limited (Merchant Bankers) as a Programmer/Analyst. He was the Chief Information Officer of Industrial Bank as at the time he left for Ventura Savings and Loans Limited as the Head, Systems and Logistics department. He held this position until 1994 when he founded PFS with Philip Ayeni, a Chartered Accountant.

As a leading icon in software development in Nigeria, Okeremi is also a member of the Presidential Initiative for developing the software industry in Nigeria and has previously served on the board of the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). He is the first Vice President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) having previously served as Second Vice President and Chairman Legal and Legislative Committee of the Institute.

As a technology startup advocate supporting the promotion and funding of indigenous entrepreneurs, twice, he served as the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee [LOC] for Demo Africa in 2014 and 2015. Demo Africa is an initiative of the United States Department of State and Lions@frica to promote innovation in the technology field globally and connecting startup companies with investors.

Dr. Okeremi has a passion for the development of intellectual capital of the black race and continues to advocate his position that irrespective of the conditions of the black man, the black man is by no means inferior in intelligence to anyone else in the world.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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StreetToolz ready for 2017 Digital Coffee

ITREALMS:

The Nigeria’s leading interactive marketing and advertising agency, Street Toolz,

is set to hold the 2017 edition of its annual proprietary industry event, Digital Coffee on Friday December 8, 2017 at the Zowasel Office, 29 Adeniyi Jones Lagos, reports ITRealms.

Chief Executive Officer, Street Toolz, Semira Mammud, disclosed to ITRealms, explained that Digital coffee is a gathering of players in the interactive marketing and advertising industry to discuss trends and issues that will shape brand management and business outlook in the coming year and also do a critical examination of activities that impacted the industry in the outgoing year.

“We are glad to announce the date for the much anticipated 2017 edition of Digital Coffee which has been a platform for industry players to discuss global trends and matters that define the growth of the industry,” Mammud said.

Stressing that the past editions have helped agencies understand and use global trends to their advantage, resolutions from the event have also helped consultants in making vital business decisions in line with what is currently obtainable in other parts of the world.    

Also, she said that the theme for the 2017 edition; ‘Digital Revolution: Now & the Future’ is strategically selected to stimulate new thinking in the industry.

“There will be 3 sessions, the first will discuss the topic; Artificial Intelligence: Technology & Trends while the second session will discuss Consumer Centric Content” she said.

As said by her, experts lined up to speak at the event include Dr Tunde Adegbola, a research scientist, consulting engineer and cultural activist speaking on Artificial Intelligence: Technology & Trends and Olubunmi Adeleye, Head, Corporate Communications/Services at Leadway Assurance Company Limited who will speak on Consumer Centric Content.

Part of the highpoints of the event will be the panel session which will discuss 2018 Outlook for the marketing communications industry in Nigeria and Africa in general.

ITRealms gathered that confirmed discussants for the panel include, Fanen Acho , CEO, Medleypark Limited; Segun Martins, Head, Digital at Insight Publicis, Jerry Oche, Chief Executive Officer, Zowasel and Semira Mammud, Chief Executive Officer, Street Toolz.

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Libya Slavery: AFLI invites UN Security Council

ITREALMS:

The African LeadershipInstitute (AFLI) under the aegis of Archbishop Tutu Fellows (ATF) has invited the United NationsSecurity Council (UNSC) to intervene in the African slavery abuse in Libya, reports ITRealms.

AFLI also called upon the UN related organs to urgently declare the practice of slavery, particularly in Libya- a threat against humanity and to work closely with civil society and member states to arrest the slave trade and create an effective punitive framework to combat against the slave trade globally.

AFLI in a statement available to ITRealms to the African Heads of State and the international private sector, Civil Society and multilateral organisations on its stand against the Libyan slave called on Africa Union (AU) to demonstrate continental leadership in aggregating national voices on ensuring slavery remains a historical footnote.

AFLI equally called upon all African heads of State to take action to hold each other accountable, and to engage with other states beyond the continent who can make a contribution toward eradicating the Slave trade, and to stanch the capital flows and lack of consequence which makes this vile economy thrive.

“We call upon businesses invested in countries such as Libya- which have failed to abide by the unwritten laws of humanity- to divest and support the removal of the Great Stain.

“We call upon the NGO community invested in the fight against human trafficking, forced labor, involuntary migration, social justice and the betterment of the planet to support the removal of the Great Stain.”

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SPDC JV introduces UK summer scholarship for NNPC/Shell Cup Most Valuable Players

ITREALMS:

The Shell Petroleum Development Company Joint Venture (SPDC JV) has introduced an additional education award to the prizes for one of the two Most Valuable Players in the 2017 NNPC Shell Cup for All Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championship, aside from attending the Feyenoord Youth Academy. The scholarship will take either of Masters Ernest Ojelum and Arase Iyobor of Henson Demonstration Secondary School, Benin to a four-week international summer school at the University of Sussex in Brighton, United Kingdom in 2018. Henson Demonstration Secondary School won the 19^thedition of the school football competition on July 4 in Lagos and received the Winners’ Trophy and a cheque of N2.5 million.

“We are proud of the performance of Henson Demonstration Secondary School for producing the Most Valuable Players and winning this year’s championship,” said the General Manager, External Relations of SPDC, Igo Weli, who was represented by the Social Investment Manager, Emmanuel Ekpenyong at the presentation of the coveted football cup and prizes to the winners in Benin, Edo State. He said that in keeping with the championship goal of ensuring healthy interest in football and education, SPDC introduced a scholarship award to a fully paid four-week education programme for either of the two best players who fulfils the required academic qualifications to the 2018 Sussex International Summer School, with possibility for participation in youth and footballing activities of the newly-promoted English Premier League team, Brighton and Hove FC.

Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr Christopher Adesotu thanked SPDC and its joint venture partners for the continuous promotion of education and youth development through the school football competition since 19 years now, even in the face of funding challenges.

Representative of the National President of the Nigerian School Sports Federation (NSSF), Mallam Ibrahim Muhammad, Mrs. Olabisi Joseph said, “What SPDC leadership has done is to give the victorious students from Henson Demonstration School enormous exposure and encouraging them not to miss out on education because of their love for football”.

Former striker of the Nigerian national football team, Mr. Sola Akinwale said that one of the beauties of the championship is that it encourages children to stay in school since they cannot participate if they dropped out of school.

Henson Demonstration Secondary School defeated Holy Ghost College, Owerri, Imo State by 2:0 to lift the NNPC/Shell Cup in Lagos. A total purse of N8.2 million was won by the four finalist schools — Henson Demonstration Schools, Benin; Sambo Secondary School, Gusau; Holy Ghost College, Owerri; and Government Secondary School, Maiduguri — for the development of sports facilities in their schools. NNPC/Shell Cup debuted in 1998, and has grown to be the largest secondary school football championship in Nigeria.

*GEE

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2 Nigerians inducted into Presidential Youth Advisory Group

ITREALMS:

Two Nigerian youthful entrepreneurs have been inducted into the 9-man Presidential Youth Advisory Group (PYAG) recently set up by the African Development Bank (AfDB), reports ITRealms.

The award-winning author, Uzodinma Iweala, and the chief executive officer (CEO), Agrolay Ventures, Ada Osakwe, made the PYAG to be chaired by a Tanzanian CEO, Mara Group, Ashish Thakkar.

Other members of PYAG include Mamadou Toure, Founder / CEO, Africa 2.0 / Ubuntu Capital, Cameroon; Vanessa Moungar, Human and Social Development Director, AfDB and member of President Macron’s Presidential Council for Africa, Chad; Francine Muyumba, President, Panafrican Youth Union, Democratic Republic of Congo; Jeremy Johnson, Co-founder, Andela, USA; Clarisse Iribagiza, CEO, Hehe, Rwanda;  and Monica Musonda, CEO of Java Foods, Zambia.

PYAG, ITRealms gathered is comprised nine members under the age of 40 who have made significant contributions to the creation of employment opportunities for African youth.

On the rationale behind the setting up of the advisory group, President Adesina explained that they recognize the enormous amount of energy, creative and innovative thinking, and entrepreneurial excellence that many of the youth bring to the table.

“For this reason, the Bank must ensure that it is well advised by cutting-edge youth representatives on its policies, actions and programmes, for the benefit of Africa’s youth.

“The members of the Presidential Youth Advisory Group are expected to actively engage private sector partners, government leaders, civil society, donor partners, and other stakeholders; and support the significant amount of work that the Bank is already doing and promoting across the continent through its Jobs for Youth in Africa strategy,” Adesina said.

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Pix: Group photo of PYAG members with AfDB President, Adesina.

‘NCC’s CSIRT to complement ngCERT’

ITREALMS:

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is setting up a telecommunications targeted sectorial Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) centre, just as there are enormous potential for growth and investment, reports ITRealms.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, made this disclosure in his remarks to the 27TH AFRINIC Meeting (AFRINIC-27)  on-going in Lagos.

According to the EVC, the NCC Computer Security Incident Response Team center, would collaborate with the compliment the efforts of the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) which is domicile in the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

He explained that CSIRT would complement ngCERT in tackling issues that relate to the telecommunications industry in the fight against cybercrime.

Equally, he noted highlighted that NCC at the international level, is partnering with International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to set up Africa Regional Cybersecurity Center (RCC) in Abuja.

“The center will be used for Africa Regional Cybersecurity information sharing (cyber-attacks, threats, malwares and viruses etc) and also to train countries within the Africa sub-region on Cybersecurity related issues,” he said.

Further, he said, Broadband access is key to any national development agenda, and the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2013 has set a target of 30 per cent penetration by 2018,

“The Commission (NCC) recognizes its prime responsibility in the actualization of the NBP, as one of the strategic objectives revered in its 8-Point Agenda, “facilitation of broadband penetration” which will enable the NCC meet and even surpass the 30 per cent target of broadband penetration in the country by 2018, as at September 2017 (Broadband Commission 2017), the Nigeria broadband penetration stands at 21.8 per cent..

In addition, he pointed out at the meeting with the theme “Taking the African Internet to the Next Level through Policy, Collaboration and Education” that the African Regional Internet Registry AFRINIC, has contributed a lot in providing platforms for Internet Development in Africa, from about 4.5 million Internet Users in 2002 to over 388 Million users in 2017.

Danbatta further said that with regards to growing broadband penetration in Nigeria, the Commission has planned for two slots in the 700MHz band have been earmarked for Commercial Broadband deployment;  The 800MHz band also known as the Digital Dividend 1 has been re-planned and licensed for 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) deployment;  and the 900MHz E-GSM band has been licensed for 4G LTE deployment;.

The NCC boss equally said that 70/80GHz band (E-Band) has been opened to facilitate Broadband deployment; whereas 2.3 GHz band was licensed for 4G LTE deployment; part of the 1800MHz band has been re-farmed by some Mobile Operators for 4G LTE deployments.

“This means that there is enormous potential for growth and investment,” he declared.

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Pix: Prof. Danbatta

Interconnecting legacy technologies, LTE to revolutionise MCC

ITREALMS:

The technologies in Mission Critical Communications (MCC) are incorporating functionality with the Long Term Evolution (LTE), reports ITRealms.

Also, ITRealms gathered that during this transition period, the performance must not be affected, says Pierre Minot, President of ETELM, a leading manufacturer of advanced Mission Critical communications infrastructures.

Speaking during a session titled ‘PMR broadband communication – technical implementation’ at PMRExpo in Germany, Minot said “LTE offers new broadband and data-hungry possibilities; however, it brings its own challenges. At present, there is a major drive to introduce more MC standards by working with users and manufacturers to ensure services are adopted internationally. 

The process of standardisation, he said, is a long one – it takes time for standards to be tested and vendors to implement enhancements. While LTE is currently being utilised with consumers in mind, it is expected to take around five to seven years to reach full maturity for MC users, although certain features will be implemented sooner.”

ETELM has long championed LTE and TETRA working together, as opposed to replacing each other. This will enable legacy equipment and infrastructure to be revitalized, without the expense of upgrades each time a new technology becomes available. Minot explained the different use cases of migration from TETRA to LTE and the challenges that each of these use cases bring in terms of services, performances and devices.

Minot continued: “As smart cities develop around the world, it is important that MCC infrastructures are built during the initial planning, development, and design phase, rather than being an afterthought. This is the only way to ensure smart cities become safe cities. As blue light services continue to face increasingly challenging and complex situations, there is a need to bridge the channels between individual services, so they may come together and act as one, while utilising advanced applications.”

In response to the need for hybrid networks, ETELM’s 4GLinked solution is the first fully integrated platform connecting multiple MC technologies over a single LTE EPC core, allowing seamless communications and services across technologies – to the benefit of any use case.

“Performance is a key factor that only a fully standardized solution that doesn’t bring any third-party technology can ensure,” continued Minot. “With ETELM’s 4GLinked solution, it is one unified, standardized platform that is much easier to maintain and operate than having several infrastructures connected by gateways.”

4GLinked was successfully tested with many vendors at the ETSI MCPTT Plugtests in June 2017 and all interfaces are compliant with ETSI/3GPP LTE rel13. 4GLinked has also been successfully deployed and tested by customers.

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AfDB sets up PYAG

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The President, African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has launched the Presidential Youth Advisory Group (PYAG) to provide insights and innovative solutions for job creation for Africa’s youth, as outlined in the Bank’s Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy (JfYA) , reports ITRealms.

The Jobs for Youth in Africa initiative aims at creating 25 million jobs and impacting 50 million youth over the next ten years by equipping them with the right skills to get decent and meaningful jobs. It is currently the largest effort going on for youth employment in Africa today.

The advisory group, inaugurated on the sidelines of the 6^th EU-Africa Business Forum in Abidjan will work with the Bank to create jobs for Africa’s youth.

“This is a huge opportunity for Africa. If we fix the youth unemployment challenge, Africa will gain 10-20% annual growth. That means Africa’s GDP will grow by $500 million per year for the next thirty years. Africa’s per capita income will rise by 55% every year to the year 2050,” Adesina, said at the inauguration of the Group.

Adesina, who identified Africa’s greatest asset as its youth, observed that out of the 13 million youths that enter the labour market each year, only 3 million (about 33% of African youth) are in wage employment, while the rest are underemployed or in vulnerable employment. The annual gap of more than 8 million jobs is going to worsen, with the number of youth expected to double to more than 800 million in the next decades.

“Africa has an unemployment crisis among its youth,” he stressed, noting that unless employment opportunities are created for them, Africa’s rapidly growing population of youths can give rise to serious social, economic, political and security challenges.

Africa’s youths, though strong and dynamic, cross the desert or the Mediterranean sea because they do not find decent jobs in Africa. Graduates are wandering in the streets, jobless. The low level of employment opportunities is also fueling violence and extremism in Africa. “40 per cent of African youths engaged in armed violence join gangs or terrorist groups because of limited opportunities in their countries,” Adesina said.

“66 million African youths earn less than $2 a day, less than the price of a hamburger,” the AfDB President emphasized. “66 million is 8 times the size of Switzerland, 6 times the size of Belgium, the same size as UK, France or Italy, and 80% of Germany’s population,” he added.

The Presidential Youth Advisory Group (PYAG) comprises nine members under the age of 40 who have made significant contributions to the creation of employment opportunities for African youth.

The PYAG members are: Ashish Thakkar, CEO, Mara Group, Tanzania (Chair); Uzodinma Iweala, award-winning author, Nigeria; Mamadou Toure, Founder / CEO, Africa 2.0 / Ubuntu Capital, Cameroon; Vanessa Moungar, Human and Social Development Director, AfDB and member of President Macron’s Presidential Council for Africa, Chad; Francine Muyumba, President, Panafrican Youth Union, Democratic Republic of Congo; Jeremy Johnson, Co-founder, Andela, USA; Clarisse Iribagiza, CEO, Hehe, Rwanda; Ada Osakwe, CEO, Agrolay Ventures, Nigeria; and Monica Musonda,CEO of Java Foods, Zambia.

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Africa Union names OAU, 12 others GMES implementing centre

ITREALMS:

The African Union Commission (AUC) has named the Nigeria’s Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and 12 others the regional implementing centres for the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security and Africa (GMES and Africa) Support Programme, reports ITRealms.

OAU is the only Nigerian university that made the top 13 awarded this grant for water and natural resources service, while West Africa saw the Senegalese Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE) and University of Ghana (UG) for Marine and coastal areas service making the list.

The Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology at the African Union Commission, Professor Sarah Anyang Agbor, revealed this at a ceremony during the 5th AU-EU Summit in Abidjan, Cote d`Ivoire, to unveil the winners of GMES and Africa support programme.

Agbor also commended the successful institutions on their selection, which she said was based on their experience and proven capacities, just as she implored them to deliver the goods.

ITRealms also reports that other 12 institutions to serve as Regional Implementing Centres GMES and Africa Support Programme, to include the Central African based Agence Gabonaise d'Etudes et d'Observations Spatiale (AGEOS) and Commission Internationale du Bassin Congo-Oubangui-Sangha (CICOS) for Water and natural resources service.

At the East Africa, ITRealms reports that the IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC) and Regional Centre for Mapping off Resources for Development (RCMRD) for Water and natural resources service, in addition to Mauritius Oceanography Institute (MOI) for Marine and coastal areas service made the consortia.

While the North African-based National Authority for Remote Sensing & Space Sciences (NARSS) for marine and coastal area service, as well as the Observatoire du Sahara et du Sahel (OSS) for water and natural resources service were successful.

And in the Southern Africa, AUC said the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for marine and coastal areas service; Southern African Development Community Climate Services Centre (SADC-CSC) and Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) for water and natural resources service, made the awardees list.

ITRealms recollects that in May 2017, a number of African institutions operating in the areas of water, natural resources, marine and coastal areas, applied for the GMES and Africa Support Programme Grants.

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Season 2 NCS scholarship: Jim Ovia fulfills support, doles out N15.75m

ITREALMS:

In fulfillment of his pledge to support the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) scholarship programme, the chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr Jim Ovia has doled out the sum of N15.75 million for the season 2, reports ITRealms.

Confirming this to ITRealms in Lagos, the President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and organisers of NITMA, President, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, said, again that Mr. Ovia, has funded scholarship awards this year, just like he did last year.

According to him, the scholarship would be awarded to some 35 students studying Computer and Information Technology (IT) related courses in Nigeria Universities.

“In line with his commitment at the 2015 NITMA event, he committed N15.75million to the scheme in 2016 and now again in 2017,” NCS President said.

He also said that Ovia, a former President of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) has shown dedication to the progressive of NCS and moreso, the youths who are going to be leaders in the IT industry in the near future.

Prof. Aderounmu expressed gratitude from the entire NCS membership for his kind, noble and generous heart.

“His dedication to IT education and human capital is undeniable and worthy of emulation. May God continue to keep and bless him,” he said.

Further, NCS president, revealed to ITRealms that the interest groups of society would be using the forthcoming Nigeria IT Merit Award (NITMA) scheduled at MUSON Centre, Onikan-Lagos, to also present their awards within their areas.

Just as long service awards will be given to NCS Secretariat staff who have meet the requirements and demonstrated diligence and commitment in carrying out their functions.

“IT is critical to enabling economic recovery and growth as well as achieving sustainable development. All who desire progress should work with NCS to recognize, honour and reward those that are doing great work. The society not just NCS should reward them for their impact, service and untiring efforts,” he said.

NCS, he said, must encourage those in the IT environment who are using their knowledge, creativity and resourcefulness to develop local technology solutions that are so essential to the drive for socio economic, growth, recovery and development.

“NCS calls on you to celebrate them because this is about progress and the future of our nation. The NITMA event is a strong and purposeful indication of our commitment to celebrating talent and highlighting the innovation, excellence, vision, and dedication of individuals and organizations within the IT industry and community,” Prof. Aderounmu said.

Even as he said, NCS appreciates all its members and strategic partners who have been supporting the realization of the NCS mission and vision.

“The media comes in for special mention. You are to be saluted for your interest and commitment to this most worthy cause,” NCS president said.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Pix: NCS President, Prof. Aderounmu and Mr. Jim Ovia

Akpororo, others storm Gbagada for Yudala offline marketplace launch

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Ace comedian Akpororo and a host of other entertainers are expected to storm Redemption Crescent in Gbagada, Lagos; headquarters of pioneer online and offline e-commerce outfit Yudala, as the company officially launches its Offline Marketplace on Saturday December 2nd, 2017 from 9am-5pm.

The Yudala Marketplace will offer shoppers an assorted variety of genuine products at best prices from top brands such as HP, Apple, Samsung, Infinix, Tecno, Nokia, Huawei, Dell, Lenovo, Haier Thermocool, LG, Zinox, InnJoo, Polystar, APC by Schneider, Hennessy, Moet and Chandon, Remy Martin, and much more. Also on offer are products from a host of premium FMCG brands such as Nestle, PZ, Suntory, Philips and others.

Among the wide range of items expected to go on sale every weekend from December 2nd, 2017 at the Yudala Building in Gbagada are washing machines, gas cookers, air-conditioners, microwaves, cameras, games and consoles, laptops, printers, inverters, freezers, TV sets, UPS, stabilizers, rechargeable fans, toasters and sandwich makers; beverages and cereals including Milo, Choco Milo, Golden Morn, Nido milk, Pure Life water, Ribena, Lucozade, Lucozade Boost, Horlicks and bags of rice; variants of cooking oil from brands including Mamador and Kings; personal care products such as cosmetics, hair clippers, face shavers, face stylers and grooming kits, hair removal and hair care; kitchen appliances such as air fryers, coffee makers, electric kettles, food processors and blenders, among others; lighting products such as LED lighting, LED lamps and tubes, indoor luminaires and outdoor luminaires as well as household products including vacuum cleaners, electric irons, TV sets, Home Cinema sound and portable audio, etc.

Head of Offline Retail, Oyeronke Atoyebi affirms the unique opportunity the Yudala Marketplace will afford millions of Nigerians who will benefit from the landmark initiative.

“With the Yudala Offline Marketplace, we are recreating the open market environment many Nigerians are traditionally used to, right here in our office. What’s more, you are assured the double Yudala guarantee of shopping guaranteed genuine products all sourced directly from the manufacturers and best prices that you cannot find elsewhere. Christmas is around the corner so the Yudala Marketplace is a great opportunity to get all your Christmas shopping needs at prices that make sense.

“Plans are also in place to replicate the Yudala Offline Marketplace experience at other locations across Nigeria by leveraging on our physical presence in major cities in the country,” she disclosed.

With ace comedian Akpororo and other entertaining acts expected to thrill attendees at the Yudala Marketplace launch with rib-cracking jokes, alongside music, world class entertainment and a wide range of products on offer, anticipation is rife of an exciting time for residents of Lagos this weekend.

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