Catholics warm up for 2018 World Day of Peace

ITREALMS:

Catholic faithful across the world are now warming up for the 2018 World Day of Peace as declared by Pope Francis to hold on New Year Day, Monday, January 1, this year, reports ITRealms.

With the theme ‘Migrants and Refugees: Men and Women in search of Peace’ the Pontiff noted that the World Peace Day is set aside annually by the Holy See to spread the gospel of peaceful co-existence amongst peoples of the world.

ITRealms gathered that in the Archdiocese of Lagos, the event would kick off with a Holy Mass at the Holy Cross Cathedral with the Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins as the Chief Celebrant, to be assisted by the Director of Social Communicators, Msgr. Gabriel Osu by 10.am.

Also, ITRealms reports that the occasion would be graced some members of Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN), Papal Knights/Medalists, top government functionaries and members of the diplomatic corps. The occasion will also afford an opportunity for the reading of the Pope’s New Year message, while the Archbishop of Lagos will also brief the media on his State of the Nation address.

All Catholics and media practitioners are enjoined to be part of this celebration of peace to usher in the New Year.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

 

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Pix: Pope Francis

ACSIS membership grows to over 500 in 40 countries

ITREALMS:

The African Civil Society on the Information Society (ACSIS) has revealed that its membership has continued to gain momentum from over 170 to over 500 within the last one year, reports ITRealms.

Disclosing this in an end of year message, ACSIS president, Dr. Cisse Kane told ITRealms that 2017 was a pivotal year in the development of the pan-African organization with several acts of recognition and strategic positioning that will promote ACSIS participation in the reflection and actions for sustainable Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Africa.

Some of this achievements, he outlined to include “Obtaining consultative status at the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC), accreditation to the Economic and Social Council of the African Union (ECOSOC-AU).”

He also listed the acceptance of ACSIS to E-trade For All Initiative facilitated by (UNCTAD).

Today, he said, ACSIS is present in over 40 countries in Africa and in the Diaspora comprising France, Switzerland, United States of America (USA), Canada, the Netherlands, and Germany to name a few.

In addition, he revealed ACSIS now has over 500 member organizations, just as national ACSIS coordinations are being set up and “we regularly welcome new memberships and partnerships.”

Kane further commended the ACSIS executive board members and all members of ACSIS network, who have participated both physically and remotely and often at their own expense in numerous local, national and international meetings to promote sustainable ICTs in Africa.

“To raise the voice of our continent, by sharing with us valuable information, press articles on developments, activities of member organizations, etc. All this contributed greatly to making our network vibrant,” he said.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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Okereafor backs call for ICT General of the Federation, seeks domestication

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Seasoned Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professional, Dr. Kenneth Okereafor has drummed support on the call for an ICT General of the Federation, reports ITRealms.

Reacting to the recent call by former President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, Chief Chris Uwaje, who made the call in Lagos, had declared that "Weaponization of cyberspace makes ‘Office of ICT General’ inevitable" Dr. Okereafor said, he concurred with Uwaje also known in the industry as the Oracle, but sought for domestication of definition, so as to add more value to nation building.

As said by him, the last two decades has seen fantastic progress in the information technology penetration rate, both in government and private sector computing.

“Perhaps the best way to put it is that we have reached a point of no return. This should be a cheering piece of news,” he said.

Okereafor, who is a telecommunication engineer, noted however, that given the rapidly-growing sophistication of contemporary cyberattack tools and techniques, “the Nigerian digital domain is ripe for the ‘National Digital Defence’.

According to Okereafor, a certified network security specialist, the domesticated definition, scope and components of this nomenclature will open up “a new vista of IT roles including the ICT-General proposed by Chris Uwaje.”

He posited that the responsibilities attached to the new roles whilst complimenting existing digital institutions will facilitate an accelerated domestic development of globally-trending ICT concepts and innovations such as “IPv6, green computing, digital forensics, advanced persistent threats, Internet of Things, telepresence for eGovernment, micro-IP chips, etcetera etcetera.”

Okereafor, who enjoys membership of the Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), predicts that in the long run, the avalanche effect will instigate a reinvigorated private sector driven digital era.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Children under attack in conflicts says UNICEF

ITREALMS:

Children in conflict zones around the world have come under attack at a shocking scale throughout the year, says the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), reports ITRealms.

UNICEF made this assertion to ITRealms through its Director of Emergency Programmes, Manuel Fontaine, noting that even parties to conflicts blatantly disregarded international laws designed to protect the most vulnerable.

“Children are being targeted and exposed to attacks and brutal violence in their homes, schools and playgrounds. As these attacks continue year after year, we cannot become numb. Such brutality cannot be the new normal,” Fontaine said.

ITRealms gathered that in conflicts around the world, children have become frontline targets, used as human shields, killed, maimed and recruited to fight. Rape, forced marriage, abduction and enslavement have become standard tactics in conflicts from Iraq, Syria and Yemen, to Nigeria, South Sudan and Myanmar.

In some contexts, he said, children abducted by extremist groups experience abuse yet again upon release when they are detained by security forces. 

“Millions more children are paying an indirect price for these conflicts, suffering from malnutrition, disease and trauma as basic services – including access to food, water, sanitation and health – are denied, damaged or destroyed in the fighting,” Fontaine submitted.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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Sage proffers solutions to top-five challenges before SMEs

ITREALMS:

The Sage Group has proffered some solutions for top-five challenges confronting small business and entrepreneurs on the continent, reports ITRealms.

According to ITRealms reports, Sage Advisors listed some of the challenges to include “collecting customer emails; Admin management; Finding the marketing avenue that works best for my business; Finding and winning clients who pay a premium; and Keeping up to date on best practices and new technology.

In response, the Sage Advisors said that first challenge is on collecting customers emails, that entrepreneurs could grow their database of customers or potential customers by providing great way to keep their business on front of mind.

Quality, they told ITRealms, is key, which paves the way through well-crafted e-Newsletters.

“Practice these simple tips and you’ll be able to build a list of highly engaged, and welcoming, customers,” official said.

They also divided the businesses into offline and online by offering solutions to suit each.

For brick and mortar entrepreneurs, Sage Advisor, said, it is “likely you have a sign-up sheet already sitting on the counter, so customers can opt-in when they pay for their items. Instead, catch your browsers at an earlier stage of their decision-making process. They’ll be looking around your store, so position your email sign-up sheets around the aisles. A catchy headline works a treat, and you can choose to include an incentive for their email, which will both encourage them to sign-up, and also to buy that item they have in their hands,“ suggesting a phrase “Join our mailing list for 10 per cent off your purchase today.”

For the online inclined entrepreneurs, Sage Advisor said they could optimise their website with an embed newsletter sign-up box on the homepage, or as a pop-up.

“However, online business specialist Ramsay of Blog Tyrant suggests you move your email collection invite to your ‘About’ page. He saw a huge increase in his sign-up rate when he moved his, it seems, according to Ramsay, that people want to subscribe to you while they are reading about your business."

On social media, they enjoined that “If social media is part of your marketing strategy, make sure you post a call-to-action and link to your online sign-up form, pin it so it always features at the top of your profile, and doesn’t get lost in daily posts.”

Noting that Facebook have created a specific advert format called Lead Ads which allows users to collect email addresses. Read up on what works well, and invest a small test budget to trial some contests. You can include an incentive for customer emails, such as a free quote, or a discount code.

Entrepreneurs, they advised should make out time to do admin jobs, saying time is better spent whilst making money.

For keeping up with new technologies, Sage Advisors pointed out that in one corner there's Artificial Intelligence (AI), on the other hand, there's personalisation, coupled with need to keep a tab on new social media platform popping up every few weeks.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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Rivers enters new deal with Shell Nigeria

ITREALMS:

The reasons for the recent signing of  a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Rivers State Government and Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) have been revealed, reports ITRealms.

Sources close to the Rivers State government informed ITRealms, the deal was for the distribution of gas to industries in the Greater Port Harcourt area and its environs, in order to improve productivity and possibilly boost job creation.

Also, ITRealms gathered that the MoU sets out broad terms and conditions to guide co-operation between the two parties in the development of new gas distribution opportunities in the Greater Port Harcourt area and its environs in addition to its existing gas distribution network in the State.

"The agreement is key in the efforts of the government to boost industrialization in Rivers State," said Richard Hart, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, who signed for the government. "We believe that the agreed terms in the MoU will lead to the signing of the "Build-Operate-Own-and Transfer" (BOOT) agreement early next year so businesses can begin to reap the benefits of a steady source of energy."

SNG Managing Director, Ed Ubong who signed for the company said the partnership was an opportunity to further promote gas as a more reliable, cleaner and cost-effective alternative to liquid fuels in the Niger Delta.

"Gas is the key to boosting industrialization. It is no coincidence that states that currently do well on internal revenue generation have also encouraged the use of gas to boost industrial output, which in turn provides employment and improved livelihood. SNG is grateful to the Rivers State Government for the foresight and co-operation in the signing of the MoU, and will reciprocate the gesture by taking every step to fulfill its obligations in the agreement," he said.

Also commenting on the significance of the MoU, Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor reiterated the leadership role of Shell in the domestic gas market.

"For more than 50 years, Shell has been in the forefront of the campaign to develop and monetize Nigeria's huge resources and it is good to see SNG continuing in the tradition to grow the domestic gas market and also help to improve lives and earnings in Rivers State," Okunbor said.

Ogochukwu Nebenanya/GEE

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pix: Gov. Nyeson Wike of Rivers State

Maina escapes second assassination attempt in 7 days

ITREALMS:

The former Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce Team on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina has escaped two assassination attempts within the last 7 days, reports ITRealms.

The first, ITRealms reported was in Abuja, five days before Christmas, while the second occurred on the eve of Christmas.

Reports reaching ITRealms indicated that barely five days after some haggard looking men suspected to be hired assassins invaded the home of the embattled Maina, wielding sophisticated weapons and harassed his family members at his family house in Kaduna at about 9am on Sunday morning.

Also, The Street Reporters, informed that an eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Mallam Salisu, had told that no fewer than nine (9) men arrived the house in a Hilux van and a Peugeot 406 car.

They were said to have driven straight to the family house where Maina's mother resides at Kawu area of Kaduna State.

While the Hilux van was stationed outside the house, the 406 was driven straight into the compound and one of the occupants asked of Abdulrasheed Maina and his mother’s whereabouts.

After ransacking the house, breaking the front and the back doors as well as the ceiling in the process, and not finding their targets, the men who were shouting "Where Maina?"; "Where is the mother?" before they tired up the security man and took him to an unknown destination.

He was later dumped at the bush at an outskirt of Kaduna where he was found by the villagers with a handcuff.

The matter has been reported to the Kawu police station by one of the family members, identified as Aliyu Maina and security men have since been detailed to the house alongside anti-bomb experts who combed the house and its vicinity.

Some of the suspected assassins were said to be dressed in military uniforms.

Five days ago, similar incident took place at the Abuja home of the former pension reform boss where two rooms in the house were ransacked, checking personal apparels in the house without any form of identification or a search warrant.

Maina's Security aides who were immediately informed, arrived the rented house but the suspected men led by a man said to be wearing a police uniform was accosted but they rebuffed every attempt to get them disclose their identity and mission around Maina's home.

Recall that Maina who has escaped many assassination attempts while serving as the Pension Reforms Taskforce Team boss, has consistently asked for security protection by the federal government against the pension cabals who have been after him following his numerous revelations on their clandestine activities.

Ayo Midele with additional reports from TheStreetReporters/GEE

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Restructuring panacea to growth, development - Martins

Sundaysermon@ITREALMS:

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins has reiterated that for Nigeria to successfully toe the path of growth and development, it must, of essence, be restructured along true federalism as the current bloated structure of governance had become obsolete, reports ITRealms.

In his 2017 Christmas Message made public through the Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Msgr. Gabriel Osu, Archbishop Martins warned that any attempt by the political class to jettison the full restructuring of the country as is being clamoured for by the masses and members of the civil societies, would not only set the nation back, but may equally constitute a clog in the wheel of the successful execution of the 2019 elections.

While noting with dismay that the political class, including the ruling party has since commenced their usual flurry of activities ahead of the 2019 election, Archbishop Martins called on Nigerians not to allow themselves to be deceived anymore by mere rhetoric and promises but to insist on the building of appropriate and realistic political structures that would help guaranty that they enjoy access to good quality of life and self actualization in line with God’s plans for His creatures.

Archbishop Martins equally frowned at the recent inhuman treatment being meted on Nigerian immigrants and those of other African countries by some Libyans and their collaborators who sell them into bondage for monetary gains. According to him, such indignity being meted on Africans by fellow Africans, is not only repulsive and evil, but a clear indictment of the leadership for failing to provide the enabling environment for African youth to have access to basic necessities of life.

He therefore wants the Nigerian government to as a matter of urgency declare a state of emergency on the economy so as to rescue the nation out of the woods and set-up a realistic road map that would stabilize the naira and help the private sector create viable industries that would provide adequate job opportunities for the teeming youths who are growing more restless by the day.

“We need to be true to ourselves. We cannot be talking of 2019 when little is being done at the moment to address the rot in the system. Our people are going hungry daily, our youths are dying in their quest for better options to life outside our shores and yet our leaders appear more concern with how to clinch to power. I think the time has come for all of us to reason together to resolve and restructure the current the lopsided political structures we are currently operating and set up realistic goals that would help move us forward. Except all these are given top priority, I fear that the 2019 election may end up a mirage, after all.”

While congratulating all Christians on the occasion of the birth of Christ, Archbishop Martins reminded them to always put their trust in Jesus Christ who is the reason for the season, noting that the season of Advent should also enable us to prepare with hope and expectation for the second coming of our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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Kasenally swaps position with Eric Chinje @AMI

ITREALMS:

Dr. Roukaya Kasenally has been named to replace current Chief Executive Officer of African MediaInitiative (AMI) Mr. Eric Chinje, effective January 1, 2018, reports  ITRealms.

The chairman of the Board of Directors of the African MediaInitiative (AMI), Mr. Wale Aboderin, made this disclosure on the reconstituted Board and the new management team of the continental media organization.

Aboderin in a letter to new and outgoing members of the Board, made available to  ITRealms, underscored the importance of taking those measures that will ensure that AMI continues its mission to support the emergence of a pro-development media in Africa. The new Board, he said, will work more closely with management to generate the resources needed to scale up current programs in line with the objectives of the organization.

The reconstituted Board comprises:  Mr. Wale Aboderin – Chairman, Ms. Eugenie Aw-Ndiaye – West Africa, Mr. Omar Ben Yedder – African Diaspora (Media) , Mr. Eric Chinje – Central Africa , African Diaspora – (Representative of Multilateral Institutions), Ms. Rebecca Enonchong – African Diaspora (Technology), Ms. Julie Gichuru – East Africa , Ms. Ipeleng Selele - Southern Africa , Pr. Laeed Zaghlami – North Africa, and Dr. Roukaya Kasenally -- (Ex Officio Member).

According to Aboderin, the appointment of Dr. Roukaya Kasenally to replace outgoing Chief Executive Officer, Eric Chinje, who has come to the end of his term. Dr. Kasenally will head a leadership team that would include two Senior Advisors: Mr. Wangethi Mwangi and Mr. Chinje (who, at the urging of the Board Chair, agreed to stay on and support the new CEO).

In an address to staff before leaving Nairobi, Mr. Chinje recognized the dedication of a team that had worked to keep the vision of AMI alive under very difficult circumstances. “You made enormous sacrifices to keep an African dream alive,” he said, “participating in a faith project that will someday make this continent proud.”

Dr. Kasenally, who currently lectures at the University of Mauritius along with her role as Senior Advisor for Media Development, had been with AMI since its incorporation in 2010. She takes the helm of the organization with effect from January 1, 2018.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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