'We Live in age of Internet insecurity'

Commentary@ITREALMS: 

Ever wondered how a laboratory rat feels when everybody is starring at him – how he eats, plays and excretes. As a human being, just imagine a camera everywhere you go, including when you are on the toilet and when you’re having sex. Picture using your electronic device, i.e. Laptop, phone and it automatically becomes a spying, listening and tracking device to know where you are at any time. This is the world we live in today.

The computer age that we live in today is far ahead of what was envisaged years ago. We have moved from a period in human history characterised by the shift from traditional industry that the industrial revolution brought, to an economy based on information technology. Computers that we use today tracks people who use devices; it collects data from websites, collects information on people who visit websites, and knows which apps they download. What’s scarier is, when you buy a new device, it would already have information on you, because of your inboxes and smartphone contacts – the business model of internet companies today puts the user as the product, they collect data and sell it.

Facebook tracks users from device to device, collects data on websites people visit and apps they use, gathers material on people's physical locations, collects phone call logs from Android smartphones, and pulls in some data about people who don't have Facebook accounts at all - this is the world we live in today. 

Let’s not blame all these on Facebook alone, all other internet platforms do the same. It’s just that an example has to be made of a company so that government regulations will set in. I’m not a fan of regulating the internet, but the fact that big information technology companies have so much data on everyone, including those that have not yet been connected to the internet, otherwise called “shadow profiles” – this makes me cringe.

It won’t be a surprise if the only reason why the internet is free is because the US National Security Agency (NSA) or some other governmental or non-governmental organization is using it as a major tool to collect telephone records of tens of millions of people around the world.

In 2013, there were revelations in both the Washington Post and The Guardian that the NSA tapped directly into the servers of nine internet firms: AOL, Youtube, Skype, Apple, PalTalk, Facebook, Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google, to track online communication in a surveillance programme known as Prism. However, nearly all of the companies involved denied knowledge of these acts without a court order or a search warrant.

Conversely, these internet companies exonerate themselves by saying that the users opted in just by accepting the ‘terms and conditions’ of using the services they provide. But I am sure that if the users have the option to accept or decline every item they click on the service providers’ websites, the story will be different today. Instead, your total web history will be aggregated and sold to the highest bidder.

Amongst part of the efforts to curb exploitation from these internet companies, some countries around the world limit the level of internet and digital media freedom; they create obstacles to access by blocking specific applications that have control over your mobile and internet access, limiting content, filtering, blocking websites and violating user rights. This, however, is not a sustainable solution. 

What should you do? Retire to your village and cut off from reality. Ha-ha, I am just kidding. Just turn off the chat option on your Android device, delete any app that might leak your information, block your computer screen’s camera and only turn it on when you need it. Do not reveal personal information inadvertently online, and restrict downloads from untrusted sources.

Otherwise, you hire a communications professional that will combine the latest techniques with deep industry expertise to keep you on track, based on your tailored unique needs.

*Contributed by Michael Joseph and could be reached via: michael@axcessimc.com

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Archbishop of Canterbury prays for Leah Sharibu

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The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently secure the release of Leah Sharibu, reports ITRealms.

Leah, ITRealms recalls, is the 14-year old Dapchi Christian school girl who is still held captive by Boko Haram for refusing to convert to Islam.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to President Buhari in London, Archbishop Welby enjoined him to do everything humanly possible to secure Leah’s release.

He stressed the need for any country or society to flourish by entrenching excellent education.

“So it was good to speak with the President about how education helps tackle poverty. I highlighted the vital role that churches in England play not just in educating a million children, but in providing them with values, identity and purpose,” he said.

Welby further urged Christians to join him in prayer, especially with those suffering from the herder-farmer conflict, the Boko Haram insurgency, and all those mourning the loss of loved ones.

“It’s so important that we pray for the peace and progress of Nigeria – and particularly for the liberating peace of Jesus to be with all those held in captivity,” he said.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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Restructuring Nigeria: Propositions summarised

Commentary@ITREALMS:

The aim here is to summarise my current position on the question of geopolitical restructuring of Nigeria. I say “current” because as far as I can remember, I started thinking seriously—and then debating and writing—about restructuring from 1986 as a member of the Political Bureau. Today, 32 years later, I am still thinking and writing on the subject. The present piece is implicitly a draft memo on this important political subject to the Nigerian Left. And, for the avoidance of doubt, the category “Nigerian Left” means the aggregate of socialism and popular democracy in Nigeria today.

What I consider my current aggregate position on restructuring of Nigeria is constituted by several propositions articulated and refined over a fairly long period of time. For the purpose of this piece the propositions can be grouped under the following five broad headings: The impossibility of purely ethnic separation; Redeployment and redistribution of national resources; Levels of exercise of power and responsibility; Principles of triple balancing; and Popular- democratic restructuring at a glance. The propositions are not of the same status. Some of them are issues which the Nigerian Left should struggle to have inserted in the Constitution of Nigeria and others are those that the Left should insert in its programmes, manifestoes and occasional platforms. I shall now take the groups of propositions one after the other.

A little over 20 years ago, on December 3, 1997, when General Sani Abacha was still in power, I attended and contributed to a seminar organized in Calabar by the Cross River State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). The seminar was one of NUJ’s contributions to Abacha’s transition programme after the collapse of Babangida’s experiment. I was asked to speak on the theme “The ethnicity syndrome: How it affects the development of Cross River State”. In the preamble to my contribution I said: “If a 100kg bag of beans and a 100kg bag of rice are mixed, it will be possible, with patience and perseverance, for a school boy or school girl to separate the grains”. I then went on to say that it would be easier for that unfortunate young person to perform the feat than for any political authority or forces to separate Nigeria into pure ethnic components!

Two years later, on November 4, 1999, my piece, Impossibility of (pure) ethnic separation appeared in my column in The Guardian. The article was essentially a review of the late Chief Anthony Enahoro’s proposition on restructuring the federation. But simultaneously the article appeared as a re-statement of my December 3, 1997 proposition. I shall in future return to Chief Enahoro and, in doing so, touch on the coincidence of my position and his on some aspects of geopolitical restructuring. This coincidence led to a series of private meetings between the late nationalist, democrat and federalist and myself in Lagos and Benin between 1992 and 2002.

Mind you, I am not saying that Nigeria cannot disintegrate. Of course, the country can disintegrate if it pushes itself or is allowed to be pushed beyond certain limits by those who have the means and the power. Nigeria can disintegrate in a manner worse than that of the former Soviet Union, the former Yugoslavia, the former Czechoslovakia, the Greater Ethiopia (before Eritrea broke off), the Greater Somalia (before the current catastrophe), and Yemen, a bleeding country which has seen separation and unification several times. All I am saying is that if Nigeria disintegrates—as it can disintegrate if the Nigerian Left does not step in—it will not be along ethnic lines.

If Nigeria disintegrates the more powerful war juntas will simply carve up the country—with each component reproducing Nigeria, that is, recreating majorities and minorities, the dominating and the dominated. Please, set up a large map of Nigeria on the wall. First, demarcate and indicate the present 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory; then, in a different colour, demarcate and indicate the present six geopolitical zones; finally, in another colour, demarcate and indicate Nigeria’s ethnic groups. 

The only requirement I seek from you is elementary knowledge of your own country’s history and politics plus intellectual honesty—including the honesty to seek honest assistance wherever you are stuck or confused. Compatriots, what do you have before you?

The second cluster of propositions relates to class-to-class redeployment and redistribution of national resources or, simply, the restructuring of class appropriations. By this I mean the massive movement of resources from the ruling classes and blocs to the popular masses through people-oriented radical reforms in employment, education, health, housing, transportation, taxation and levies, etc.

Class appropriations, by the way, include not only the monies, properties and businesses recovered from “looters” but also proceeds of state and class robberies which may have been covered by obnoxious legalities. The class-to-class redeployment is the sociological and logical complement of horizontal, state-to-state distribution which—as it is now—is essentially a distribution within the ruling classes and blocs and their various segments.

The third cluster is the principle of triple balancing in Nigeria’s geopolitical restructuring. The picture is like this: split each of the South-south and North-central geopolitical zones into two. This raises the number of geopolitical zones from six to eight. Now, go to Nigeria’s pre-independence geopolitical structure: the three regions—West (plus Lagos), East and North—where the first two regions (plus Lagos) were also regarded as the South. 

With the new eight-zone structure, the former North and the former South will have four zones each; the former East and former West (plus Lagos) will have two zones each; the South-south and North-central will, together, have four zones while the “big” groups—the Southwest, the Southeast, the Northeast and the Northwest—will together have four zones. So, the North balances the South; the East balances the West; and the historical “Minorities” balances the historical “Majorities”.

The fourth cluster of propositions relates to the levels of responsibility and exercise of power or, in more familiar language, tiers of government. Here we move from the current three tiers to five tiers of government as follows: federal, zonal (between federal and state), state, local government and community (below the local government). 

Each zone will be constituted by a number of states while a local government ward will be constituted into one or more communities. At the federal level, the president will be replaced by a presidential council of 8 equal members—a member representing a zone—with rotational headship. 

The zone may or may not be a “government” as such, but minimally it will be a unit for some strategic appointments and location of some strategic industries, state institutions and infrastructures. The communities will be the domain of direct mass involvement in development, social welfare and security.

So, what will this type of restructuring—which we have called “popular-democratic restructuring”—look like when it has been constructed and set in motion? This question summons the fifth cluster of propositions. The answer here is that the picture is fragmentary and tentative. Only discussions can refine it. 

But the clear features include: Nigeria will remain a federal republic; the current principles of citizenship, fundamental human rights and principles of state policy will be enhanced; the federal government will give up a substantial fraction of its current appropriation to the states and local governments. 

The states, in turn, will finance the zones and the local governments will finance the communities. Finally,—and this is the “magic” of popular democracy—the “cost of governance”, both in relative and absolute terms, will be much less than what it is at present.

*Edwin Madunagu, mathematician and journalist, writes from Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

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Why Ecobank partnered MTN on financial inclusion

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The MTN has explained its recent collaboration with Africa’s leading independent banking group, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), reports ITRealms.

This, ITRealms gathered, would enable both companies  to leverage each other’s assets that will ultimately offer more value to their respective customers across the continent.

ITRealms reports that MTN prides self with the large subscriber base, comprehensive distribution, innovative digital products and drive for mobile financial services are being linked with Ecobank’s trail blazing digital banking products to provide instant bank accounts and remittances through Africa’s largest bank by network.

The two entities, with an extensive footprint on the continent, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop this partnership agreement, which will allow them to innovate and enhance access to affordable financial services via MTN Mobile Money and Ecobank Banking services.

This includes, ITRealms reports include that enabling Ecobank and MTN Mobile Money customers to transfer money between mobile money wallets and bank accounts.

Leveraging of Ecobank and MTN’s assets to digitise international remittance, foster product innovation in the field of mobile saving and lending, and offer digital payment solutions to consumers, merchants and corporates.

Ade Ayeyemi, Group CEO of Ecobank said “The changing landscape of digital banking and mobile telephony is creating unique opportunities in the way and manner customers are served. Africa will need to digitise financial services to rapidly scale up client acquisition and patronage. MTN and Ecobank are taking the big step today at this grand event to support this agenda”

Further he reiterated that “Ecobank’s digital strategy has long been committed to ensuring transaction convenience for the market. We have made giant strides in our mission to ensure financial inclusion and today’s agreement with MTN will greatly accelerate the easy availability of banking services to the previously unbanked.”

For the MTN Group President and CEO, Rob Shuter, “Partnerships between banks and mobile money operators are fundamental in the mobile money ecosystem, hence our long-standing partnership with Ecobank in many of our markets aimed at driving financial inclusion. We are excited to be taking this partnership to the next level as this latest development will spearhead innovative initiatives which will deepen financial access on the continent.”

Chuks Egbune/ED, OPs

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OAU probes sex-for-marks audio

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The Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, has commenced probe of the sex-for-marks audio that went viral on social media recently, reports ITRealms.

The Vice-Chancellor, OAU, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede in a press statement made available to ITRealms said their attention has been drawn to an audio recording, now trending on the social media, of a telephone conversation ostensibly between one Professor Akindele and a female student of the University.

The recording, he said, suggested that the lecturer was demanding sex in return for grade which clearly amounts to sexually harassing the lady.

“Since the matter came to our notice, the University has begun the process of identifying the characters involves in this apparent breach of its regulations, the Code of Conduct for the University Community and the Anti-sexual Harassment policy, in full compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and procedures of the University,” he said.

In addition, he said, the University has set up a high-powered committee to investigate the allegation and submit its report within one week and anyone found culpable will be dealt with decisively.

“I wish to assure the general public that Obafemi Awolowo University has zero tolerance for sexual harassment.  The University considers sexual harassment as a serious offence contrary to its Code of Conduct for the University Community and against the Anti-sexual Harassment Policy of the University.  It is totally and morally reprehensible, and the University will never condone such act by any staff or student,” the VC said.

Insisting that, “no one found culpable of this serious misconduct of sexual harassment will go unpunished.”

Uj. N. Dominic/ED, Ops

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EFCC arrests 14 yahoo!, yahoo!! boys @sea side, Ajah-Lagos

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The Lagos Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested some 14 suspected Internet fraudsters, reports ITRealms.

Their arrest, according to EFCC was made on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, with various brands of high-end laptops and exotic properties include cars, as they would soon be charged to court.

The suspects include Abiola Kayode, Adeleye Adewale, Adeniyi Abiola, Favour Iruabo, Iyiola Olayemi, Lawal Remilekun and Martins Adetunji.

Others are Obafunsho Oladipupo Samson, Olaleye Bamilola Hassan, Oseni Ridwan, Peter Ayobami Samuel, Peter Toluwabori, Prince Jibril Dirisu and Richard Jerry John.

EFCC also confirmed to ITRealms that the suspects were arrested in the Badore Seaside, Ajah area of Lagos State, following intelligence report received by the Commission on their activities.

Meanwhile, EFCC said their arrest is a pointer to the fact that the Commission is committed to sustaining its clamp down on perpetrators of cyber crimes, especially in line with its mandate to make the country free from corruption and economic and financial crimes.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Fundraising: Change-A-Life Foundation promises greater support for beneficiaries

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The Change-A-Life (CAL) Foundation is promising greater support for beneficiaries following its recently held special fundraising auction tagged “Celebrity Iconic Piece Auctioning” at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, reports ITRealms.

The event held as a part of the foundation’s social service activities for the year 2018, had several dignitaries and celebrities in attendance, including former First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, represented by Mrs. Azeezat Tijani, who offered to train all beneficiaries of the foundation’s Women in Business programme in catering services.

Also in attendance were representatives of the famous talent and event agency, Temple Management Company; popular red carpet and television host, Denrele Edun, who anchored the event; Ugochukwu Monye, principal head of Ugo Monye Menswear Fashion brand and official tailor of Big Brother Naija’s Ebuka Obi-Uchendu; Head, Digital Marketing, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Yinka Ijabiyi, and Toyin Lawani of Tiannah Styling.

CAL Foundation, a social non-profit organisation passionately driven by the need to enable and facilitate a better life for every Nigerian child, which was founded in 2002 by journalist and TV producer, Funmi Iyanda, has consistently delivered several empowering initiatives to support children and women.

The foundation, which is known for supporting children who despite the harsh socio-economic situation in the country have shown determination to thrive in their various academic endeavours, decided to hold the event in order to raise more funds for the continued support of academically sound, well-mannered students who are facing financial constraints.

Speaking during the event, the Chief Operating Officer, Sekinah Ayeyemi, stated “that the event was held in line with the organisations mandate to promote, protect and preserve the rights and welfare of children in Nigeria, especially in the area of academic development.

“This auctioning event provides us with the needed support to reach out to more children. We believe that with the proceeds from today’s event, our foundation (CAL) would definitely become enabled to support the development of more children and the protection of their rights.”

Ms Ayeyemi further explained that the event is also remarkable because it marks the celebration of the Foundation’s 15th year of putting smiles on the faces of all its beneficiaries.

In appreciation to the foundation for its immense contribution to the advancement of child rights as well as the social and academic development of the average child, several past beneficiaries of the foundation commended the founder, Ms. Iyanda, and appreciated her for her passion for children.

One of the past beneficiaries, Okon Clement, now a graduate of Tai Solarin University of Education, commended the foundation and its founder for their steadfast love for empowering children and youths.

“This foundation has been a blessing to me in many ways. I am a graduate today thanks to the financial support I receive as a beneficiary of the foundation which took care of my fees from primary level of education until I finished from the university. I pray that God continues to bless and increase them,” Clement said.

Ayeyemi also appreciated all the supporters and sponsors of the event for their unwavering commitment towards improving the wellbeing of the average Nigerian child in communities all around Lagos and beyond.

“We really appreciate all the dignitaries, celebrities and VIP who have demonstrated their love for the children of this great nation by supporting this event; we say a big thank you to all,” Ayeyemi said.

She finally called on other corporate institutions to support the foundation as well as other similar organization as a way of showing their love for the development of the average Nigerian child as well as in continuation of their social development activities.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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Pic 1: L-R: TV host, Denrele Edun; Change-A-Life Chief Operating Officer, Sekinah Ayeyemi, and Head, Digital Marketing, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Yinka Ijabiyi

Pic 2: Some staff and beneficiaries of Change-A-Life

ONEm expands Internet-like service to Africa

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The London-based ONEm Communications has concluded plans to bring internet-like services to millions of people without the internet, reports ITRealms.

This, ITRealms gathered, would afford any ordinary mobile, and users to engage in group communication with each other like people do over the internet, but this time over the Short Messaging Service (SMS).

Revealing these plans, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ONEm, Mr. Christopher Richardson, said the London high-tech firm expansion plan in Africa will come through licensing and local partnerships.

“African business concerns are currently discussing licensing rights and partnerships. The move will see advanced services for rural Africa spread throughout the continent,” he revealed during a presentation to selected African officials, recently.

Richardson also described Africa as a very big and diverse continent, stressing that “Reaching all rural areas needs significant funding and formidable technical challenges. However, the ONEm's solution utilizes existing infrastructure to deliver innovative services to rural communities."

Internet based group communications, he said, is the one service that transformed the mobile. An internet identity allowed people to interact with each other globally without borders. Mobile internet allows friends to share and exchange information anywhere.

“They could interact with applications for content and services. They could create and own their own content. Africa has the talent and resources to develop services that reach all rural areas today” he said.

Half of the world’s population is without internet. They cannot enjoy the wonders of interactive social communications, content and services. With ordinary mobiles, the internet is completely out of reach.

Chuks Egbune/ED, Ops

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Offa bank robbery is terrorist attack says AISSON boss

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The President of Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), Dr. Ona Ekhomu has described the recent deadly attack on five banks in Otta, Kwara State, as a terrorist attack, reports ITRealms.

“The attacks exhibited all the hallmarks of a spectacular terror attack including violent neutralization of law enforcement, use of IEDs, use of automatic weapons, large number of attackers, ISIS-style vehicular convoy, aggressive combat tactics, large number of wanton deaths, etc.” he said. 

In his reaction in Lagos on Wednesday, Ekhomu told ITRealms that the narrative of bank robbery was grossly erroneous and patently false. Stressing that it was a brazen terrorist attack aimed at causing mayhem, deaths and striking fear into the hearts of Kwara citizens.

He insisted that “the seizure of cash was a secondary objective.”

Pointing out that while it could be understood on the need for fear reduction on the part of the authorities, “it is not helpful to mischaracterize incidents thereby giving citizens a false sense of security.”

In a related press statement made available to ITRealms, Ekhomu argued that Kwara State had recorded incidents of violent extremism and terrorism in the past, and cited the case of the bombing of Ilorin township Stadium many years ago and cases of foreign espionage agents and their Nigerian conspirators detected in the state.

The security expert also argued that with the reported displacement of Boko Haram fighters from Sambisa forest and the mass release of Boko Haram suspects by the Federal Government, suspecting that a terror cell might now be active in the Offa area.   

 

“The authorities must thoroughly investigate the terror attack and give Nigerians a proper explanation of what happened on that day.  The actual perpetrators must be arrested and they must provide corroborative evidence of their complicity.  Investigators must resist the temptation of arresting vagrants and labeling them Offa bank robbers in order to look good.  When the real perpetrators are caught, the Police must resist the temptation to commit extra-judicial killing.  The story of the perpetrators must come out.  It takes a very evil psychopath and sociopath to lay siege to a police station and kill nine policemen in one fell swoop and then proceed to murder at least 21 others,” he said.

Ekhomu, who is the first chartered security professional in West Africa advised that there was an urgent need to conduct adversarial threat assessments and vulnerability assessments of Police facilities in the country. He said that the design basis threat (DBT) for these facilities must be determined so that the security architecture and engineering of facilities would be robust enough to address the threat. Design basis threat (DBT) is the threat (e.g. tactics and weapons, tools, explosives, etc.) against which assets within a building must be protected and upon which the security engineering design of the building is based.

According to Ekhomu, “the Boko Haram insurgency has shown that there are some terrorists who delight in killing police personnel.  The Offa terrorists did not have respect for police lives or human lives.  Police fatality must be reduced to the barest minimum so that we can have a civilized society.”

The current over-deployment of military personnel, with all the attendant risks is because police personnel are an endangered species based upon the actions of home grown terrorists.  

The Police agency and the Federal Government must ensure that persons or groups who harm police personnel pay dearly for such savage acts.

Ekhomu commiserated with the Inspector General of Police and the police family on the loss of nine police personnel and advised that they must be named, given heroes’ burial and their families compensated for their deaths in the line of duty.

Asserting, “Police lives must not be cheap.  We must honor their sacrifice and service to the nation”.

Nenye Dom/ED, Ops

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UCLG reiterates strengthening local governments

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The regional strategic meeting of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) for the Eastern Africa Region ended in the city of Nairobi, Kenya with reiteration to strengthen the roles of Local Governments across the continent, reports ITRealms.

The 2-day meeting which held between 9 to 10 April 2018, called for strategies to unite local governments across Africa.

Organized in collaboration with the Council of Governors (COG) of Kenya, the meeting was attended by 10 countries representing 14 national associations of local government including Rwanda, Burundi, Madagascar, Comoros, Uganda, Seychelles, Tanzania, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. 

They were represented by the presidents of the national associations of local governments, leaders of the Network of Locally Elected Women (REFELA) and their permanent secretaries. 

Proceedings were opened by Amb Tuneya Hussein Dado, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Devolution and ASALS in the presence of Hounourable, Governor Josphat Nanok Koli,Chairperson Council of Governors (CoG), Mr. David Andre, Mayor of Victoria Seychelles, UCLG Africa Vice President, Eastern Africa Region and Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa.

In his remarks, Amb Tuneya Hussein Dado, reiterated the importance of strengthening local governments and the key role played by UCLG Africa in uniting local governments across Africa. 

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Globecomm unveils broadcast distribution platform on EUTELSAT 113 West A

Globecomm has unveiled a new broadcast platform which allows video content providers throughout the world to access the firm's network and provide services throughout the Americas, reports ITRealms. The new platform offers the ability to aggregate video content and multiplex it for distribution on the EUTELSAT 113 West A satellite, providing high availability with minimal end user investment via sub meter antenna access. The platform features broad coverage throughout the United States, Central and South America, with the key ability to deliver to the Caribbean — specifically the French and Dutch Islands. On this integrated broadcast platform, Globecomm provides a fully managed service via its many global points of presence, robust fiber and satellite network, and multiplexing out of Globecomm's Hauppauge, New York headquarters. This platform enables providers to quickly and easily access the Globecomm network, deliver content via highly available connectivity, and service their clients across multiple countries on one beam. The service is ideal for targeting both end users and larger user groups such as resorts and hotels for their own internal distribution. Content providers have the flexibility of determining exactly where they want to hand off their content to Globecomm without the need to customize long haul contribution methods. "Satellite plays a leading role in global media distribution and is quickly becoming the distribution medium of choice across Latin America," said Globecomm SVP of Sales Engineering and Marketing Paul Scardino. "This platform provides customers with a powerful, cost-efficient way to meet viewer demand for high-quality content." Nenye Dom/GEE

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Improved Internet connectivity: Vodacom Business Nigeria enters satellite deal with Intelsat

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The Vodacom Business Nigeria and Intelsat S.A. have entered an agreement to expand enterprise broadband connectivity in Nigeria, reports ITRealms.

This, ITRealms gathered is in order to provide improved satellite services to its local enterprise customers.

The strategic agreement was signed at the Satellite 2018 event which took place in Washington D.C, United States of America recently. This agreement now makes Vodacom Business Nigeria the first telecommunications provider in Nigeria to lease capacity on the Intelsat 35e Satellite.

As satellite coverage increases globally, enterprises businesses are no longer limited to operating from just one location because of the high speed broadband requirements for their business operation. Through this agreement with Intelsat S.A, which is the operator of the World’s first Globalized Network and leader in integrated satellite solutions, Vodacom Business Nigeria will deploy the Intelsat EPIC^NG satellite services, which is a next generation of satellite technology; to its enterprise customers to enable them to operate from anywhere they want throughout Nigeria.

Brian Jakins, Intelsat’s Regional Vice President, Africa Sales, said that “Intelsat Epic^NG enables higher data rate applications and smaller terminals that give enterprises the avenue to expand into new regions and take advantage of business opportunities regardless of where they occur.

He further noted that with the improved performance delivered by Intelsat Epic^NG, Vodacom Business Nigeria’s customers will utilize the satellite services on Intelsat 35e to deliver fast, high quality and resilient broadband connectivity to the banking, oil and gas, and enterprise sectors across West Africa for an improved quality of service.

Speaking on behalf of Vodacom, Lanre Kolade, Managing Director for Vodacom Business Nigeria said: “With plans in top gear to deploy the Intelsat EPIC^NG satellite services, this will enable Vodacom Business Nigeria to deliver an efficient, quick, reliable, secure broadband solution with a low monthly recurring cost within the shortest time to our Enterprise customers.”

Kolade said that this agreement will further allow Vodacom to connect businesses located in places where there is no access to terrestrial and mobile networks, therefore bringing them closer to their employees, customers as well as other businesses, to help empower them to remain operational and profitable.

“As a leading provider of corporate connectivity and telecommunications solutions, Vodacom always strives to stay up-to-date with the technological needs and requirements of the changing environment hence the reason for this agreement,” said Kolade.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Buhari to open UNWTO, CAF meeting

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The President, Muhammadu Buhari, has been tipped to declare open the 61st meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization/Commission for Africa (UNWTO/CAF), scheduled for 4-6 June 2018 in Abuja, reports ITRealms.

Confirming this to ITRealms, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed in Abuja on Tuesday when he paid an advocacy visit to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello, to intimate him with details of the forthcoming international event.

“The Honourable Minister of the FCT is the Minister of the Host City.

That makes it imperative for us to make his office our first port of call. Mr. President has accepted to personally declare the meeting open and that makes Mr. President the first person to be invited and also to accept our invitation. With this visit, the Honourable Minister of the FCT has become the second person to be invited,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the meeting is an annual platform through which the UNWTO Secretariat informs member states of the general programme of work for the African region and presents the reports of the various standing committees.

He said the theme of the 61st UNWTO/CAF Meeting is “Tourism Statistics: A Catalyst for Development.”

While speaking on the benefits that Nigeria will derive from hosting the meeting, the Minister said it would put Nigeria, and the nation's tourism industry, under a global focus, in addition to attracting foreign research experts and promoting the necessary network that will form the basis for future cooperation.

“Also, it will provide Nigeria the opportunity to showcase itself to the world, especially in the area of its culture and tourism. And of course, we have a lot to showcase: Our tourist attractions, our rich culture, as well as our music and films, which have taken the world by storm,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said as the Minister of the Host City, the FCT Minister will play a major role during the meeting, which includes giving the welcome address on the official opening ceremony, another speech at the welcome dinner and also at the official opening ceremony

for the Technical Seminar on the second day.

He gave the assurance that preparations for the event are in top gear, and called for the support of Nigerians to make the event a huge success.

In his remarks, the Minister of the FCT, Mallam Bello, commended Alhaji Mohammed for his untiring effort in securing the hosting right of the conference for Nigeria.

Mallam Bello, who expressed delight that this is coming on the heels of another hosting right for the International Press Institute Annual General Assembly also in Abuja, said the gesture is a reflection of how the global community now perceives Nigeria.

“I will like to congratulate the Honourable Minister of Information and his team in the Ministry of Information for really having been able to get the hosting right of this very important conference that is coming up in June. As you know these are conferences that showcase

countries and even continents.

“For us to be able to really get this to be approved to be hosted in Nigeria is something that I am sure involved a lot of valsogood hard

work,” he said.

Nigeria secured the hosting right for the Meeting during the 59th Meeting of the UNWTO/CAF in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in April 2017.

Uboshe Uboshe/ED, Ops

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Pix: L-R: Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; FCT Minister, Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Deaconess Grace Isu-Gekpe, during a courtesy visit by the Information and Culture Minister in Abuja  on Tuesday.