Access Bank fulfills dream with AFFDisrupt 2017

ITREALMS:

The innovative Access Bank has fulfilled one of its dreams for the 21^st century Nigeria with the debut of the Africa Fintech Foundry (AFFDisrupt 2017) in Lagos, Thursday, says the Group Deputy Managing Director (GDMD) at the bank, Mr. Roosevelt Michael Ogbonna, reports ITRealms.

Ogbonna who represented the Group Managing Director, Mr. Herbert Wigwe at the opening ceremony of the AFFDisrupt 2017 at Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, said they have fulfilled one of the banks dreams with the debut of AFFDisrupt 2017 and determined to continue championing this trend in the financial technology sector.

Noting that AFF is the Access Bank accelerator scheme meant to create new opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa, insisting that new opportunities is about the future which is not limited to the banking sector.

He expressed confident that the foundry would provide a platform designed to inspire and challenge African innovators and entrepreneurs.


He was optimistic AFF will provide Africa enterprises with innovative products backed with capacity building and training in business development aimed at sustainability of the project.

Other speakers at the event included former Minister of Communication Technology and Senior Partner at TLcom Capital, Mrs. Omobola Johnson; CEO, SystemLogic Group, South Africa, Audrey Mothupi; Founder, SASWARE Nigeria, Collins Onuegbu; Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Nigeria, Hakeem Adeniji-Adele; Investment Officer, West Africa at Accion Nigeria, Ashley Lewis; Co-Founder/Managing Partner, Trans-Sahara Investment Corporation Nigeria, Kyari Bukar; Managing Director, SystemSpecs Nigeria, John Obaro; Managing Director/CEO, InfoGraphics Nigeria, Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu; Chief Investment Officer, Coronation Capital, Ahovi Kponou; Managing Director, Accenture Financial Services, Toluwaleke Adenmosun, to name a few.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Google processes over 40,000 search queries per second

Exclusive@ITREALMS:

Investigation has revealed that Google, the most acceptable search engine on the Internet, now processes over 40,000 search queries per second, reports ITRealms.

According to the Google’s Year in Search across the globe for the year 2017, Google processes more than 40,000 search queries every second.

This, Google disclosed translates to over a billion searches per day and 1.2 trillion searches per year worldwide.

Google also noted that the results of its 2017 Year in Search, offer unique perspective on the year's major moments and top trends based on searches conducted in Nigeria.

ITRealms reports that in addition to showcasing what people, places, and things were trending around the globe this year, the 2017 Year in Search list also offers insights into what the top trending news moment for Nigerians was in the last 12 months, as well as the new music and movies that got their attention.

“It's no secret that people turn to Google for answers to questions they are embarrassed to ask their friends,” part of the analytics showed.

ITRealms further reports that Google search trends data is available and to watch the annual video, the company advised the customers to visit the above video link.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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Ekeh tips Access Bank for digital disruption

ITRealms:

The acclaimed serial digital entrepreneur and Chairman, Zinox Group, Dr. Leo-Stan Ekeh, has tipped the foremost financial institution, Access Bank Plc, is exceedingly equipped to take advantage of the impending disruption aided by the rise of financial technologies (FinTech), reports ITRealms.

Ekeh made this assertion Thursday, December 14th, 2017 on the sidelines of the inaugural edition of Africa Fintech Foundry (AFF) Fintech (AFFDisrupt2017) conference at Eko Convention Centre, insisting that bank has been exceptionally ready to align the expected unleash in an era of innovative change in the financial services sector.

Zinox chairman who featured as one of the guest speakers at the event, noted that Access Bank’s establishment of Africa FinTech Foundry (AFF), a new financial industry that applies technology to improve financial activities, is a bold move that has further demonstrated the bank’s readiness to take the lead in the race to leverage financial technologies (FinTech) in the sector.

“I can now see why the young men at Access bank exude so much confidence to lead in the financial sector in the near future at a time the Nigeria banking sector is almost ready for a certified leader.

“I commend Access Bank on the launch of the Africa FinTech Foundry which will not only boost technological innovations in the financial services sector, but will also offer young African tech start-ups and entrepreneurs access to much-needed capital, capacity-building, world class partnership opportunities and a useful platform to launch innovative products and solutions on a global scale. We all expect the Nigeria government to use platforms like this to build a new generation of Nigerians who can defend their wealth.

“This is an era in which you either disrupt or stand the risk of being disrupted. This reality is much more pronounced in the banking and financial services sector, hence the growing popularity of financial technologies or FinTech, as it is widely known.

“The landmark step taken by Access Bank shows the bank’s readiness for the future of disruption in the sector which is already here with us,” he said.

The Zinox Chairman – who featured as a panelist in one of the discussions: From growth to sustainability- How FinTech can survive and thrive – also gave attendees a plethora of insights and useful tips drawn from his over 35 years’ journey as arguably Africa’s biggest technology entrepreneur during a Fireside chat moderated by Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, Managing Partner at Grand Central, Nigeria.

The inaugural edition of the Africa Fintech Foundry (AFF) Fintech conference had in attendance the best startups building products and solutions in the Financial Technology (FinTech) space, alongside investors, financial and technology partners, and a global audience of delegates from disparate industries to showcase next generation technologies and innovative solutions relevant to the financial services industry. Sessions on the day included a keynote address, fireside chats, masterclasses, partner exhibitions and panel discussions.

Other speakers at the event included former Minister of Communication Technology and Senior Partner at TLcom Capital, Mrs. Omobola Johnson; CEO, SystemLogic Group, South Africa, Audrey Mothupi; Founder, SASWARE Nigeria, Collins Onuegbu; Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Nigeria, Hakeem Adeniji-Adele; Investment Officer, West Africa at Accion Nigeria, Ashley Lewis; Co-Founder/Managing Partner, Trans-Sahara Investment Corporation Nigeria, Kyari Bukar; Managing Director, SystemSpecs Nigeria, John Obaro; Managing Director/CEO, InfoGraphics Nigeria, Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu; Chief Investment Officer, Coronation Capital, Ahovi Kponou; Managing Director, Accenture Financial Services, Toluwaleke Adenmosun, among many others.

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Actress Moji Olaiya, kidnapper ‘Evans’ top Google searches in 2017

ITREALMS:

The late Nigerian actress, Moji Olaiya has emerged the most searched person in the year 2017 on Google and followed closely by the ‘Evans the kidnapper’ Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, reports ITRealms.

The latest Google analytics, ITRealms gathered, showed that the third most searched person on Google's year-end list was Adesua Etomi attributed to her engagement announcement to musician, Banky Wellington.

ITRealms also gathered that Moji, the daughter of Sir Victor Olaiya came top on chat following her sudden death barely two months after giving birth, thus leaving the Nigerian movie industry in shook.
 

This year's top queries on Google, ITRealms reports included President Buhari’s state of health, JAMB and WAEC results, what a female Hyena is called, what Monkeypox is and Bitcoin.

In addition, ITRealms reports that this year's most searched events and stories of interest by Nigerians comprised symptoms of Monkeypox, political news in other African countries, the IPhone 8 release and celebrity weddings.

Full list of the Year in Search 2017:

Nigeria’s Most Searched People

1. Moji Olaiya
2. Evans the kidnapper
3. Adesua Etomi
4. Donald Trump
5. Mr. Eazi
6. Efe
7. Jide Tinubu
8. Olumide Bakare
9. Dammy Krane
10. Eric Arubayi

Nigeria’s Most Searched Stories and Events

1. ASUU Strike
2. Moji Olaiya dead
3. Monkeypox outbreak
4. IPhone 8 / IPhone X Launch
5. New president in Gambia
6. Adesua and Banky Wedding
7. Anambra Elections
8. Mayweather vs Mcgregor fight
9. Zimbabwe Coup
10. Catalonia Referendum

Nigeria’s Most Asked Questions: Ok Google? Who…How…What...

1. Is Buhari dead?
2. How to check JAMB results
3. How to check WAEC results
4. What is a female Hyena called?
5. What is Monkeypox?
6. What is bitcoin?
7. What is MMM?
8. Who is Bobrisky?
9. How to check BVN
10. Where is Nnamdi Kanu now?

Nigeria’s Most Searched-for Songs

1. Olamide - Wo
2. Davido - Fia
3. Davido- Fall
4. Patapaa Ft. Ras Cann - One Corner
5. Davido - If
6. Runtown - Mad over you
7. Kiss Daniel - Yeba
8. Tekno - Go
9. Mayorkun - Mama
10. Tekno Ft. Wizkid - Mama

Nigeria’s Most Searched for Movies/TV Series

1. Fast and Furious 8
2. Wonder Woman
3. Game of Thrones season 7
4. Big Brother Naija 2017
5. Justice League
6. Thor Ragnarok
7. Jenifa's Diary Season 7
8. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
9. The Wedding Party
10. Better call Saul

Nigeria’s Most Searched Sports People

1. Philippe Coutinho
2. Romelu Lukaku
3. Tiémoué Bakayoko
4. Anthony Joshua
5. Ousmane Dembele
6. Floyd Mayweather
7. Nemanja Matic
8. Cheick Ismaël Tiote
9. Ivan Perisic
10. Kylian Sanmi Mbappe

Nigeria’s Most Searched ‘Near Me’ queries 

1. Restaurants near me
2. Nail Salon near me
3. Clubs near me
4. Food near me
5. Movies near me
6. Jobs near me

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Tinubu expresses confidence in Buhari-Osinbajo ticket, debunks reports

ITREALMS:

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has expressed confidence in Buhari-Osinbajo ticket for the 2019, debunking a newspaper report speculating he may be picked by President Muhammadu Buhari as his running mate in 2019, reports ITRealms.

According to a press statement made available to ITRealms by his media office, entitled “Asiwaju Tinubu Debunks SUN Report on 2019 VP Slot” the APC chieftain said he and the people of the South-west “have absolute confidence and are exceedingly proud of the excellent job Professor Osinbajo is doing as Vice President of Nigeria.”

ITRealms recalls that SUN Newspapers in a front page lead story on Wednesday claimed that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was considering returning to full church work and that Tinubu was being mooted as a replacement for him, “as a way to have a solid South-west support for the APC, in the face of a South-east/South-south alliance in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”.

Reacting, Tinubu said in Lagos said “There is no empirical or logical basis for this mischievously speculative story. Is it even conceivable, as the story recklessly insinuates, that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would be considering returning to full church work rather than run with his boss, President Buhari for a second term if the latter so decides without as much as discussing such a sensitive issue with his party and with Asiwaju Tinubu? In any case, is this story not entirely unwarranted and indefensible as the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket has an electoral mandate of four years out of which it has spent only over two years and a half years?

“This is clearly an attempt to distract the APC Federal Government from the yeoman’s job it has been doing in rescuing the country from the deep rooted socio-economic, political, security and moral mess inherited from the PDP’s 16 years misrule of Nigeria, instigate crisis within the party, stoke dangerous embers of religious disaffection within the party and the country generally and stem the remarkable progress being made in the reinvention and revitalization of Nigeria” part of the press statement read.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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Weaponization of cyberspace makes ‘Office of ICT General’ inevitable

ITREALMS:

The weaponization of cyberspace has made the enthronement of the Office of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) General of the Federation, inevitable, reports ITRealms.

This position was canvassed by the former President of Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Mr. Chris Uwaje, during his presentation at the 4^th Nigeria Mobile Economic Summit & Expo (NiMES 2017) in Lagos, at the weekend.

Uwaje who dwelt on the theme “The Mobile Economy Impact in Nigeria, Policy Innovation and Investment Benefits and Content,” said that weaponization of the cyberspace has made it imperative for a national digital defense focus.

He called on the Senate Committee on Information and Communications Technology, to without further delay promote the enactment of a National ICT Framework Bill to harmonize all ICT Acts into one foundation under the institutional framework of “the Office of the ICT General of the Federation.”

Uwaje who doubles as the Director-General Delta State Innovation Hub (DSIHUB), said that the next steps for the country will be to refocus the nation’s ICT vision and mission on software engineering and innovation development.

This, he said, would ensure national ICT competitiveness and future survivability.

Also, it would encourage engagement of the challenges emanating from digital mindchange which could be classified as “Digital Regime-Change Revolution,” by invigorating digital local content strategic plans for national adoption.

In addition, Uwaje said the harmonization would accelerate the diffusion of mobile economy, while implementation of the National Broadband plan should intensified and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) would be encouraged to engage constructive IPv6 transition and migration.

He posited that the establishment of National and State Digital Mobile Taskforce Working groups as a “Train the Trainer” strategy is imperative.

Establishment of the National ICT Innovation Development Fund, he said, would fuel the acceleration of digital economy innovation hubs, and promote Start-up Hackathons at all levels.

“The knowledge Olympiad is the forth industrial revolution and Nigeria must not be left out of the success story,” he declared.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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NCC bars mobile operators from VASA, unveils framework

ITREALMS:

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given ‘I am ready’ sound to license the Value Added Service Aggregator (VASA) in the country, but barred Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), among others, from the exercise, reports ITRealms.

Also barred from participation in the forthcoming license regime include the Value Added Service (VAS) Content providers, (using Short Code), and VAS Special Numbering Service Licensees.

These, NCC declared, “are NOT eligible to apply for the VAS Aggregator license.”

This is coming as the Commission has unveiled its VASA license framework.

Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Tony Ojobo, confirmed to ITRealms that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has developed a Value Added Service (VAS) Aggregator License Framework.

NCC also beckons on interested members of the public and corporate organizations to accordingly send their applications to the Commission's Headquarters in Abuja.

According to him, applicants should note that “Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Value Added Service (VAS) Content (using Short Code) and VAS (Special Numbering Service) Licensees “are NOT eligible to apply for the VAS Aggregator license.”

In addition, he said, content developers are to register with the Commission to enable integration into the Value Added Service (VAS) value chain made up of: Content Developer ⇒ Content Service Provider ⇒ VAS Aggregator ⇒ Mobile Network Operator.

Further, he said, applicants must download the Individual License Application Form from the Commission website, fill and return in triplicate.

Upon submission you are required to pay ₦1,000.00 for the form and 5 per cent of the licence fee of ₦10,000,000.00 being ₦500,000.00 as a non-refundable administrative charges.

Ojobo urged applicants to reach out to NCC website for the VAS Aggregator License Framework for guidance.

NCC emphasized that submission of application by prospective VAS Aggregator Licensees must be within two (2) weeks from the date of this publication, dated December 4, 2017, stressing that all applications submitted after the deadline will not be entertained.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Mining infraction: Dangote to pay N2.7bn

ITREALMS:

A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State Capital has ordered Dangote Group, Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Cement Plc, Dangote Industries and their subsidiaries in a judgement against them, to pay the sum of N2,697,125,000 billion in a mining dispute brought against Dangote by a mining firm, Quest Two Enterprises Ltd, reports ITRealms.

In his judgment, the trial judge Justice Ayua of the Federal High Court, Lokoja averred that the Dangote General Manager, Mr. Victor Mohan, who was also the sole witness admitted under cross-examination that his employers, Dangote Group, effectively shut down operations of the company by dismantling power lines belonging to the company and disrupting their operations. Despite agreeing to pay compensation for these acts to the plaintiffs, the judge also noted that the defendants failed to live up to the terms of the agreement to pay any compensation to the plaintiffs.

The court also dismissed Dangote’s counter-claims that the actions of the plaintiff amounted to trespassing on their mining lease area. He consequently declared that Dangote should pay the sum N2.7billion as damages and issued a Garnishee order Nisi against 21 banks to satisfy the judgment debt.

This new development comes as Dangote is fiercely battling another mining dispute with cement giant, BUA Cement, in which the Chairman of BUA recently wrote an open letter to the President claiming that Dangote in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines & steel illegally entered its Mining areas with a view to disrupting and sabotaging operations at BUA’s Okpella cement plant despite a court order restraining Dangote and the Ministry from claiming and or moving to the site. The cases comes up for hearing shortly at the Federal High Court in Benin.

Ayo Midele/ED, Ops

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Pix: Alhaji Aluko Dangote, Chairman, Dangote group

How not to import poverty by Okeremi

ITREALMS:

The Managing Director of the Precise Financial Systems (PFS), Dr. Yele Okeremi has described the kind of partnership between the Federal Government and PFS as a way on how not to import poverty into the country, reports ITRealms.

PFS, ITRealms recalls is the software house behind the National Automated Clearing System (NACS), which facilitates all the Deposit Money Banks in the country to clear cheques within hours and has test-ran the infrastructure for 11 weeks and a total of N5 trillion  worth of cheques from 10 million transactions.

Speaking on the heels of the recent official launch of NACS in Lagos, Okeremi said that whenever Nigerian government request foreigners to do what local companies could have done for the country, “we export prosperity and import poverty.”

He also highlighted the national and sovereign security issues involved in such foreign preference over jobs locals could do.

Okeremi pointed out that no developed country would allow foreigners to have access to certain critical infrastructure in their countries.

“So why do we keep exposing our country to such sovereign risks. I think the fact that NIBSS has led the way in this direction, I expect other organizations to follow suit” he decried.

PFS boss maintained that the Nigerian economy would benefit immensely from the new solution because it is “conceived and developed by Nigerians thereby saving some capital flight for the country”.

He posited that what PFS has given the country is an infrastructure.

“It is a switch. It can switch anything. I look forward to when that infrastructure can be used for other transactions. When a country talks about independent, sovereignty, these are some of the things that matter. How much of your services are internal to you? Are you breathing through the nose of other countries and you claim you are independent? These are some of the things that make one happy and we can say that Nigeria’s problems are being gradually solved. There is a big road ahead,” Okeremi emphasized.

Also speaking, the Head, Domestic Payments and Collections, Union Bank, Mr. Kolawole Aminu, described the new platform as user-friendly.

“Over N5trn that has been processed on the new platform just within 11 weeks; We’re talking of over 10m in terms of the volume of cheques. That tells you how much we do with this mode of payment,” he said.

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Enjoy Showmax till January on DStv

ITREALMS:

The DStv Premium customers in the country, now have access to Showmax at no extra cost until January, 2018, courtesy, MultiChoice Nigeria, reports ITRealms.

Showmax, ITRealms gathered is an internet-based subscription video on demand service (SVOD) with an extensive catalogue of top notch blockbuster movies and TV shows, whereas this special offer commenced since 29 November, 2017 and would end on 7 January, 2018.

Reassuring on business commitment to technological innovation, the General Manger Marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho said, the value added service is the one-stop shop that aggregates the best content from around the world.

“Our mission has always been to be at the forefront of digital and technological innovation and stay in line with global trends by providing our customers with the latest technologies. Showmax provides customers access to the latest movies and series at their fingertips’’ Mabutho said.

In addition, he explained that customers could sign up by logging on to the self-service platform.

Showmax subscription, he said, allows customers to watch on two devices simultaneously on up to five registered devices.

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Cerebral Harmattan of African state

Commentary@ITREALMS:

If you live and work in my side of Africa, as in the wild wild West, you know what time of day it is. The Harmattan has arrived, as in very fine particles of dust blown by an easterly/north-easterly wind from the Sahel. It will hover in a gritty daze, for weeks (usually between December and February but with global warming and climate change ....) over everything. Extreme weather - wintry storms, freezing fog patches and a blitz of amber weather warnings - in former colonial Britain, the advent of the Christmas season and cheap airfares. Means the cousins, nieces, nephews and their friends from the Diaspora, those who have papers and can travel without imminent fear of Mr. Trump's dawn immigration tweets or a sudden turn in the Brexit negotiations, will soon invade Ghana. Adding further to the traffic, the noise and the stress. The top ten performing currencies on this continent at some point in 2017, were: the Egyptian Pound; the Eritrean Nakffa; South Africa's Rand; Botswana's Pula; the Moroccan Dirham; Zambia's Kwacha, the Sudanese Pound, Ghana's Cedi (you know?!!), Tunisia's Dinar and the Libyan Dinar. In Accra, for the duration of the dizzy season, the exchange rate for pounds, dollars, euro, anything of value, except of course African currencies, many of which you can't give away even as a joke, will fluctuate. Fortunately, the Diasporans have no staying power, they will depart by the second week of January 2018, weighed down by the double effects of our national diet of complex carbohydrates - kenkey, banku, brodi, apem, banku, akple, tuozaafi - and the pyramid of debt that comes from the onslaught of cousin/auntie/uncle coming to 'greet. Cynical Ahasporans like me will apply shea butter to our parched skins and lips, with a wry smile. This harmattan too shall pass. Athritis I also have a soft spot for older men. They do have to be gentlemen, in possession of bifocal glasses, their own teeth, able to move freely, arthritis can be managed. Said older man must be non violent. Physically as well as in publicly expressed thought. Lest my position hardens. An older man worthy of a second look, is the Speaker of the 7th Parliament of Ghana's Fourth Republic, Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye. We are co equals, only, in terms of our abbreviated physical height. Whilst I am probably taller, the Right Honourable Ocquaye's resume is much more impressive. A former Member (twice) of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya - a constituency in Accra - , he was elected the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament (2009 - 2013), served as Ghana's former High Commissioner to India (2001 - 2004) and was Minister of Energy, briefly, then Minister of Communications (2006-2009). Mr. Speaker is also a lawyer and an author who has published severally on matters politics and human rights. I am unreliably informed, that he has recently added ordained clergy to his towering list of accomplishments. When our cerebral Right Honourable Speaker took the Oath of Office on January 7th 2017, he stated publicly "I need to remind the new MPs that the highly procedural nature of Parliament calls for an equally high level of commitment to the rules and procedures of the institution. Serious learning will therefore have to be undertaken to sharpen your competencies in order to function optimally." Polite speak for 'grow up, get a grip and get on with it'. I could commend and comment on how happily I received the speed with which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicly clapped back and shut down the Right Honourable Ocquaye for granting a recent interview during which he apparently unilaterally, welcomed the singular decision of US President Donald Trump, recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. I will not. As I offered, I have a spot, it is hardening, quickly though, for a certain type of older man. Especially when he needs serious learning to sharpen his competencies in not projecting his personal opinion in a way that is not optimal and can publicly undermine the functioning official government position. Our Embassy will stay in Tel Aviv, as will the Embassies of the European Union. And Russia. Democracy is Tiring and Required Another older man who warrants a 'no you did not' is Tanzania's President John Pombe Joseph Magafuli, note he has two biblical names. A former Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, a former Minister of Lands and Human Settlement, he too was a Member of Parliament. Character is like pregnancy, it will always out. As President, Magafuli has made a maverick name for himself by defying the odds. This is the man who banned luxe public celebrations of national holidays including his inauguration, this is the man who walked into a government hospital, found victim citizens prostrate on the floor and apparently issued firing letters to the absent senior management. Magafuli has also recently pardoned a number of prisoners, including a father and son convicted of raping 10 school girls. In June 2017, Magafuli also spoke publicly in support of a ban on pregnant girls from attending school. I will not say something about this older bespectacled African leader as well. What I will do is present comments attributed to the Director of an Arusha based civil society organisation, Community for Children's Rights. Ms Kate McAlpine has been quoted as saying President Magafuli's pardon of the 2 pedophiles, demonstrates his "lack of understanding of violence against children." She is also quoted in the same report as stating "he has a blind spot when it comes to recognising children as victims." Welcome to the Harmattan, the impending invasion of the Diasporans and a word to men of a certain vintage in paid public office. Older and acting up in public is undignified, unwelcome, unjust and can be dangerous. Careful, Grandpa. Dinosaurs are extinct for a reason. They failed to read the tea leaves and the weather. You could end up in Serbia. Courtesy: Nana Yaa Ofori Atta who contributed this from Accra, Ghana. NanaYOforiAtta@gmail.com

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Why MTN is supporting NCC Tennis League - Okigbo

ITREALMS:

Leading mobile operator in the country, the MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, has opened up on why its solidly supporting the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Tennis League, reports ITRealms.

Disclosing this on Sunday at the grand finale of the 2017 NCC Tennis League at Onikan-Lagos, the Corporate Service Executive, Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo, said that it makes a lot of sense.

In a chat with newsmen at the venue of the event, soon after presenting the star prize to Team Civil Defence, Okigbo said that the mobile operator envelopment in the league aligns with the company corporate goal, which centres on adding value and youth’s talent development programme of MTN in the country.

“We like supporting value addition projects. In this case (NCC Tennis Cup League). We saw what NCC is doing and it makes a lot of sense to be part of it,” he declared.

MTN, he further said, saw the Tennis league as an occasion to support striving young Nigerians, especially in developing their skills and talents.

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NIBSS, PFS join forces on innovation, unveil NACS

ITREALMS:

The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and Precise Financial Systems (PFS) have joined forces to unveil a new National Automated Clearing System (NACS), which allows all the Deposit Money Banks in the country to clear cheques within hours, reports ITRealms.

The banks, ITRealms gathered, have been test-running the infrastructure for 11 weeks and a total of N5 trillion  worth of cheques from 10 million transactions has been processed through the new platform.

At the post go-live session in Lagos with representatives of the banks, Managing Director of NIBSS, Mr. Ade Shonubi, explained that the institution had been on the project for over 18 months. He added that the infrastructure would allow all the banks to achieve several payment and non-payment transactions.

NIBSS’ boss said that as at today there are four clearing sessions. According to him, the advantage of having multiple clearing sessions was that the net amount against each bank is smaller so that risks are managed.

“With the new system, a cheque can be cleared within six hours, four hour or at whatever duration we agree”, he said.

The Managing Director of PFS, the software firm behind NACS, Dr. Yele Okeremi at the session said the process of clearing cheques in all Nigerian banks has been simplified with the launch of NACS and that the successful completion of the project has the door for more Nigerian firms to take on more national challenges.

Okeremi commended the collaborative effort that exists between NIBSS and PFS, saying that the partnership has given birth to the new system that “allows bank customers to experience the benefits of shorter cheque clearing cycles, as it reduces operational cost of the banks because the clearing departments of the bank can work smarter and close earlier”.

Expatiating on the reasons for the innovation, he said NIBSS needed a future proof system that would help the institution to realize its vision of a faster and more efficient clearing system that would be less resource intensive and accommodate various new requirements and practices in the clearing system.

“NIBSS wanted a system that can be incorporated with the Bank Verification Number [BVN]. They also wanted a situation where they would have a session-less system that would always be online such that banks could transmit their transactions as soon as they happen rather than a batch system that opens up at specific times and closes after stipulated time frames”, he said.

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2019 ticket: Asiwaju insists, APC should not mimic PDP

ITREALMS:

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has reiterated his earlier call that the party should not mimic the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in nomination and choice of presidential flagbearer come 2019, reports ITRealms.

Making this clarification on the reported misrepresentation attributed to him by Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, Asiwaju said he never underrated the importance of governors in the party’s nomination process and explained that what he said in that encounter with journalists in Akure “and still canvasses is that the APC should not mimic the PDP’s penchant for short-circuiting internal democracy by promoting the idea of an automatic ticket.”

Governor Okorocha had said that all the APC Governors had endorsed President Buhari for re-election, thus implying the governors had given the president an automatic ticket for 2019.

Responding to the issue after a meeting with Afenifere Leader, Pa Fasoranti in Akure, Asiwaju Tinubu said such was strange to the party and that President Buhari is a man who believes in due process.

The Imo State Governor, however, interpreted that to mean a slight on the party’s governors. Speaking with journalists in the same Akure after he received an honourary doctorate degree at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State on Saturday, he said his own statement referred to the party’s governors and that Asiwaju was crying more than the bereaved.

Clarifying Asiwaju’s statement in a press statement last night in Lagos, his Media Adviser, Mr. Tunde Rahman, said: “We note Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha’s statement. It is important that the record of what Asiwaju Tinubu said when approached by journalists during his last visit to Akure is accurate. Thus, I make this statement in the hope of clarifying a misinterpretation that seems to have taken hold in some quarters.

“I was at the interview session.  Asiwaju never said anything that could be interpreted as meaning or even implying the governors are irrelevant or insignificant to the party’s nomination process. As a former governor and a leading statesman within the party, such words would never come from him.

Moreover, Asiwaju is a democrat who believes that the open and democratic processes of the APC, which led to the nomination of President Buhari in the first instance, have served the party well and has helped distinguish APC from PDP and other parties where fairness and internal democracy are rare commodities.

“Every individual has a right to endorse or support a candidate of his choosing. What Asiwaju said at that encounter and still canvasses is that the APCshould not mimic the PDP’s penchant for short-circuiting internal democracy by promoting the idea of an automatic ticket. The exercise of internal democracy and honoring the letter and spirit of party rules can only strengthen the party and enthuse its members. 

“APC’s all-inclusive philosophy was not devised today. It had been with the party since its creation.

It was this spirit, which we believe, attracted fellow progressives and those who genuinely believe in democracy in all of its aspects to the party. Asiwaju includes Governor Okorocha in this group.

“The APC Governors are essential and important voices in the party. Asiwaju values and respects each one of them and gives their individual and collective opinions much weight. Yet, in the exercise of our opinions and support for candidates, we all must be guided and never lose clear sight to the democratic ideals that separate the APC from the other parties. We must maintain the integrity of the processes no matter how clear-cut a decision or an outcome may seem to be. With regard to democracy, the process is of equal import as the outcome itself.

“This is the essence of what Asiwaju said that day in Akure. He merely asked APC members to adhere to the democratic path that thus far has served the party so well. There can be no true dispute with such a sentiment”.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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