Nokia introduces 'Future X' - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Nokia has introduced its 'Future X for industries' strategy and architecture, developed by Bell Labs, to drive dramatic productivity improvements across a wide range of industry sectors, reports ITREALMS.

As technologies such as industrial Internet of Things (IIoT); edge cloud supporting augmented intelligence and advanced security analytics; and end-to-end 5G capable networks become a reality, they will radically speed up the digital transformation of industries such as manufacturing, logistics, transportation and energy, as well as governments and cities.

Nokia's holistic approach promises to help drive a new era of productivity and human-machine interaction that will unlock trillions of dollars of economic value in the next decade.

To date, the digitalization and automation of enterprises has yielded productivity benefits, predominantly by shifting business support functions from physical to digital operations. While these gains have been notable, only about 30 percent of enterprises - largely in IT-centric industries - have been able to realize the 'digital opportunity'. 

Importantly, traditional asset-intensive industries - which comprise more than two-thirds of GDP in the U.S. - have yet to experience the full benefits of this digital transformation, known as Industry 4.0.

Physical industries depend on a variety of emerging business- and mission-critical applications that, when digitized and automated, offer the potential to make power grids smarter, factories more productive, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) responsive and reliable, cities safer and more livable and much, much more. 

In short, there is the potential to transform human existence and radically enhance industries and infrastructure in what will be the 4th industrial revolution.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Wanted! A generation of robots says Dell - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Dell Technologies has obviously declared wanted, a generation of robots, saying that Gen Zers are tech-savvy, but lack needed soft skills and crave more human interaction; even so, senior professionals fear displacement by digital natives, reports ITREALMS.

Generation Z, ITREALMS gathered, is entering the workforce with a tech-first mentality that will propel businesses further into the digital era while potentially deepening the divide among five generations in the workplace.

According to global research commissioned by Dell Technologies, post-millennials – those born after 1996 and known as Gen Z – have a deep, universal understanding of technology and its potential to transform how we work and live.

Corporate fellow and vice president of Technology Strategy, Dell Technologies, Danny Cobb, said that these digital natives have advanced technology and data science skills, but what is surprising is the level of digital maturity they are bringing to the workplace.

“Yet we haven’t raised a generation of robots. Gen Z sees technology not only as a tool for enabling human progress, but also as a means for leveling the information empowerment playing field. Their combination of vision and optimism is remarkable,” Cobb said.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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AIG Shehu resumes @Zone 2 Onikan, replaces Adamu - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

A new Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Mr. Lawal Shehu, has  resumed at Zone 2 Command Onikan, Lagos, reports ITREALMS.

CSP Dolapo Badmos, Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, confirmed this to ITREALMS, noting that the new Assistant Inspector General of Police to head the Zone is AIG Lawal Shehu. 

Shehu who took over from AIG Adamu Ibrahim who recently retired, resumed duty on Wednesday.21st of November, 2018. 

Born on 24 December 1960, AIG Lawal Shehu is an indigene of Katsina State, who joined the Nigeria Police Force as Cadet ASP in 1988 and has worked within the force in various capacities.

ITREALMS gathered that prior to his promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police, he headed Bauchi and Nassarawa States as Commissioner of Police.

Further, ITREALMS gathered that on his promotion to the rank of AIG, he was deployed to head the force's Border Patrol Unit, and was later moved to Criminal and Intelligence Department, Force Headquarters Abuja, the office he occupied until his redeployment to Zone 2 Command Onikan, Lagos. 

AIG Lawal is an ardent reader of books and is married with children.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Pix: IGP Idris

Jonathan cries out! Fake online copy of ‘My Transition Hours’ in circulation - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Barely a few hours after the public unveiling of his book ‘My Transition Hours’, the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has cried out that fake copy of the book has emerged and circulating online, reports ITREALMS.

His Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze in a press statement available to ITREALMS, quoted Jonathan as advising members of the public to beware of fake online copy of the book.

Eze also said that as at Thursday, November 22, the fake online copy has been in circulation and has been identified as not the same as the launched hard copy.

“We have just been informed that a fake document contrived by mischief makers and being passed on as the e-version of the just-launched ‘My Transition Hours’, a book by Dr Goodluck Jonathan, is now circulating online.

“We advise the general public to ignore such publication as the chapters and contents are not the same as the book publicly presented two days ago in Abuja by the former President.

“We note that the e-copy of ‘My Transition Hours’ is not being marketed, as such, the fake online version could only have been created by those out to deceive the unsuspecting public,” he said.

ITREALMS recalls that the book was authored by the former president as his memoir during his last moments to concede power to President Muhammadu Buhari, in which he congratulated him on the victory even when collation of results were still ongoing of the 2015 presidential election.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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‘Nigeria schools deliberately set on fire’ - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

An estimated 20 per cent of Nigerian schools are deliberately set on fire, says the latest United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports ITREALMS.

According to the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report summary made available to ITREALMS, UN noted that out of the estimated 260 school sites in Nigeria’s north-east, 20 per cent had been deliberately set on fire, which amounts to some 52 schools.

The report endorsed by chair  of GEM Hon. Helen Clark also reported that 28 per cent had been damaged by bullets, shells or shrapnel, 32 per cent had been looted and 29 per cent were in close proximity to armed groups or military.

ITREALMS also gathered that there are 19.9 million refugees under the protection of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), of whom about 52 per cent are under 18.

 “Around 39 per cent of refugees live in managed, self-settled or transit camps or collective centres, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of the rest live in individual accommodation in urban areas,” part of the summary showed.

The GEM summary which is on migration, displacement and education has as theme: Building Bridges, Not walls; showed that in many conflict-affected countries, internal displacement has strained already struggling education systems.

The report further posited that education has a role in preventing violent extremism, pointing out that whereas violent extremism, terrorist attacks and state and non-state civilian targeting undoubtedly directly cause migration and displacement, public opinion in high income countries has come to overemphasize the reverse, associating migration with terrorism.

“Yet any such relationship is very tenuous; attacks by foreigners represent a fraction of those by nationals and pathways to radicalization can take numerous forms. Preventing the emergence of extremism is a key line of defence against terrorism.

“Extremists tend to instrumentalize development challenges or exacerbate them to create and exploit a vicious circle of marginalization, particularly affecting the poorest and most vulnerable. By promoting respect for diversity, peace and economic advancement, education can be a buffer against radicalization.

“Violent extremists often see education as a threat and target schools for attacks, as with the Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria,” the GEM report stated.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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Tosyn Bucknor: Minister condoles with family over her death - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has condoled with the family and friends of popular On-Air-Personality (OAP) Tosyn Bucknor, saying he was deeply saddened by her untimely death, reports ITREALMS.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister described Tosyn's death as a great loss to the nation's burgeoning creative industry, where she excelled in her lifetime.

He urged Tosyn's husband and her entire family to take solace in the fact that she left great footprints on earth in her short but memorable life.

''Since the news of Tosyn's death broke, there has been a widespread expression of sympathy for her family and an outpouring of accolades for her. There is no better indication that she made her mark while on this side of the great divide.

''This should be a source of consolation for Tosyn's family during their most difficult time. I pray that God will grant repose to the soul of the departed and also give strength and comfort to her family,'' the Minister said.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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FG partners UNWTO on tourism masterplan - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Federal Government (FG) is partnering the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in the implementation of the National Tourism Development Masterplan, reports ITREALMS.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this, saying its in order to optimally harness the country’s tourism potentials.

Speaking in Abuja Wednesday, when he declared open the Fourth Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition, organized by the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), the Minister made this disclosure.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to draw your attention to the fact that the programmes and policies to fully harness the country’s vast tourism potentials over the next one and half decades are anchored on the National Tourism Development Masterplan. In order to ensure its full implementation, the Ministry sought and secured the support of the UNWTO to assist in the implementation of the Tourism Masterplan,” he said.

The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Deaconess Grace Isu-Gekpe, said pursuant to the implementation of the Masterplan, the UNWTO is already seeking the support of some donor agencies to assist Nigeria with funds for the execution of the project on the Strengthening of National Tourism Statistical System and the development of a Tourism Satellite Account for Nigeria.

He said this became necessary because lack of accurate statistics on arrivals and receipts is one of the major problems militating against the development of tourism in Nigeria.

Alhaji Mohammed said the Ministry of Information and Culture will soon inaugurate a National Consultative Forum that will review the recommendations of the UNWTO Post Technical Mission Project Document, with membership of the Forum drawn from all critical stakeholders in the Tourism Sector, including FTAN.

He said the private sector is critical to the development of tourism in the country, hence the government’s decision to build an enduring framework for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to provide the required confidence for prospective investors.

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AMI worried over surge in attacks against African journalists - ITREALMS:

ITREALMS:

The media fraternity across the continent, under the aegis of African Media Initiative (AMI) has expressed worries over the surge in attacks against African journalists, reports ITREALMS.

AMI, ITREALMS gathered, said it learnt with great concern the growing curtailment of media freedom in many African countries, including Cameroon, Sudan, Egypt and Tanzania.

Cameroon
In the last four weeks, eight journalists - Joseph Olinga, Michel BiemTong, Gustave Flaubert Kengne, Michel Kalabassou, Mimi Mefo, Josiane Kouagheu, Akumbom McCarthy, and Mathias Mouende have been intimidated, arrested, or tried before military courts across the country over allegations of ‘propagating false information’ or ‘undermining the safety of the State’ under the antiterror law.

Cameroon has seen, over the years, an accelerated shrinking of the democratic space where both journalists and citizens are having to compose with a difficult environment.

Egypt

In Egypt, a law enacted last month has been widely criticised as tantamount to extortion of media houses as it requires hefty registration amounts for licenses with websites being forced to pay more than $30,000 to register and up to five times that amount for non-compliance. The law is viewed as an attempt by the government to silence the remaining independent media.

Sudan

On 29 October, the Press Court in Khartoum sentenced Zine El Abeen Al-A'jab, a former editor of Al Mustagila newspaper to one and a half months in prison, or a fine of 5,000 pounds ($104) over “dissemination of false information” among other charges.

Overall, according to Amnesty International, at least 15 journalists have been arrested and detained between January and October 2018 by the government’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISS). In addition, the entire print run of 10 newspapers was confiscated on at least 27 occasions. Al Jareeda, one of the last independent newspapers, has been confiscated at least 13 times this year.

Tanzania

On 7 November, South African journalist Angela Quintal, Africa programme coordinator for press freedom group the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and her Kenyan colleague Muthoki Mumo were arrested from their hotel in Dar-es-Salaam and detained by authorities for 24 hours.

Rights groups and media advocates have recently expressed concerns about the freedom of expression in the country since election three years ago of Tanzania’s President, John Magufuli, whose regime has cracked down on independent media and close down critical newspapers.

Earlier in 2018, the government approved a new law regulating online content that gives them the right to revoke the permit if a website publishes content “that leads to public disorder” and “threatens national security”, according to media report.

It should be recalled that freedom of the press and right of people to information are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa.

Governments in Africa have a duty to refrain from undue interference with the right to media freedom and must promote and protect citizens’ rights of access to information.

In view of the above, African Media Initiative (AMI) reiterated that intimidation of journalists, harassment, arbitrary detentions, closures, internet cuts, media closure, censorship, and trials of journalists before military courts over crimes allegedly committed while discharging their duties contravene international treaties and covenants protecting the freedom of the press and the public’s right of access to information.

Also, AMI called on African governments to create a conducive environment for a free exercise of the media profession  and demanded the immediate release of journalists arrested across the continent.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Can artificial intelligence stop corruption? - ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS:

The amount of goods and services that governments purchase to discharge their official business is a staggering $10 trillion per year – and is estimated at 10 to 25 percent of global GDP. Without effective public scrutiny, the risk of money being lost to corruption and misappropriation is vast. Citizens, rightly so, are demanding more transparency around the process for awarding government contracts. And, at the end of the day, corruption hurts the poor the most by reducing access to essential services such as health and education.

For its part, the World Bank has in place robust mechanisms to sanction firms who are found to have engaged in fraud and corruption in Bank-financed operations. But an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. As systems and procedures continue to become more digitized, there are more opportunities to leverage available data to find the red flags that can indicate corruption and other integrity risks. But how can human beings sift through vast amounts of data to connect the dots necessary to pick up on every red flag that hints at corruption – without slowing down the government procurement process and ultimately public service delivery?

This is why we’re looking at the promise of artificial intelligence (AI) to help us harness the power of technology to promote transparency in all aspects of government administration. AI could help prevent and mitigate corruption risks as early as possible. This is part of a larger initiative that we are undertaking to help countries navigate how technology can positively transform the public sector.

Working with Microsoft’s Research group, we had the opportunity to see the power and potential of artificial intelligence to digest huge and diverse data sets to detect patterns that hint at the possibility of corrupt behavior. This would allow us to see links in bidding patterns of the winning and losing bidders to numeric patterns under “Benford’s Law,” along with beneficial ownership information from around the globe. It can also allow us to better map networks of relations, locations, use of shell companies, off-shore jurisdictions, and banking information of bidders to address potential risks before a contract is issued. These are just a few examples of indicators that can be assessed to reveal potential concerns.

If we are able to collect and interrogate the available data we have on World Bank-financed procurement, and possibly combine it with datasets from other international organizations, national procurement data, and beneficial ownership or other corporate information, we can gain greater insight on how to make better decisions on public spending to assure greater value-for-money and mitigate the corrosive effects of corruption. What’s even more exciting is the potential to take this exercise to scale and make this tool available to governments worldwide.

The promise is great, but much work remains to be done. In this early exploration of the potential of AI to improve public procurement, we’re collaborating with Microsoft, a leader in advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning to explore the potential of data driven corruption prediction and to identify data sets that prove to be of greatest value in detecting problems, and understanding what other types of data would be useful to probe. As we progress, we will be adding sets from other sources, expanding the pool of information to be probed, and further refining the tool’s potential to serve as a global public good.

Promoting the use of technology for more efficient, transparent, and responsive service delivery is a fundamental aspect of the World Bank’s commitment to fighting corruption. Partnering with technology firms who are exploring a new frontier of possibilities will be critical to our success. This week at the Anti-Corruption Collective Action Conference, we will be sharing the initial findings of our work and hope to benefit from the input of leaders who are looking at revolutionary ways to stop corruption.





CONTRIBUTED BY VINAY SHARMA

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Sanwo-Olu assures of all-inclusive government if elected - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship candidate for 2019 election in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has assured both indigenes and non-indigenes of his disposition to run an all-inclusive government when elected, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking to ITREALMS in Lagos, Wednesday, Sanwo-Olu said that he is putting every possible action in place to ensure that he emerges as Lagos State Governor come 2019 and carry everyone along in his administration.

Dressed in an Igbo attire, Sanwo-Olu said that beginning with his outfit, is an indication to accommodate all Lagosians both indigenes and non-indigenes.

While soliciting for the support of every, Sanwolu-Olu who was accompanied by his deputy in the gubernatorial race, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said they intend to explore technology and data to make their administration an outstanding one.

Although he said there is no specific master plan for Lagos State, his leadership in the centre of excellence will leverage the need to interface with the people so as to know what is their most pressing needs, especially on the local feeder roads.

Born June 25, 1965, Sanwo-Olu is a Lagos politician who contested and emerged winner of the gubernatorial primaries under the All Progressives Congress against incumbent governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in October 2018.

A graduate of the University of Lagos, Sanwo-Olu also an alumnus of the London Business School, Lagos Business School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Prior to his gubernatorial ambition, he was the Managing Director/CEO of Lagos State Property Development Commission (LSPDC).

He holds BSc in Surveying and an MBA from the University of Lagos; An associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) and Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Training and Development (NITAD).

Also, Sanwo-Olu was the treasurer at former Lead Merchant Bank between 1994 and 1997 and moved to the United Bank for Africa as the head of foreign money market. He then proceeded to First Inland Bank, Plc (now First City Monument Bank) as a deputy general manager and divisional head. He was the chairman of Baywatch Group Limited and First Class Group Limited. He is a board member of the Department for International Development (DFID/DEEPEN) Fund and Audit Committee of Caverton Offshore Services Group plc.

Beginning his political career in 2003 when he was appointed a Special Adviser on Corporate Matters to the then deputy governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro. He was later made the acting Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget until 2007, when he became the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry by then Governor, Bola Tinubu. 

Sequel to the 2007 general elections, Sanwo-Olu said he was appointed Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions by Governor Babatunde Fashola and was made Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in 2016.

Some of his notable public sector achievements include the supervision of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) privatization projects. He set up and was the Pioneer Board Chairman of Lagos Security Trust Fund. The LAGBUS System and the Control & Command Centre in Alausa were subsequently established under his direct supervision.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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GMES Africa invokes aspirations in agenda 2063 - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The African Union Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, H.E Professor Sarah Anyang Agbor has said the first Global Monitoring for Environment and Security and Africa (GMES and Africa) forum is evocation of the aspirations envisioned by the people of Africa in Agenda 2063, reports ITREALMS.

The GMES and Africa, ITREALMS recalled kicked off in the Gabonese capital, Libreville, was jointly organised by the African Union Commission and the government of Gabon.

The forum, which is the first gathering of all stakeholders involved in the GMES and Africa programme Prof. Agbor said will awaken the means to harness its resources to drive its own development on a sustainable basis.

She pointed out  that the pressing imperative for Africa to invest in technological innovation and harness its existing human capital for better health, education and infrastructure systems, cannot be over-emphasised.

The Head of the European Union delegation to Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tomé-et-Principe and CEEAC, H.E. Ambassador Helmut Rudolf KULITZ, stated that "GMES and Africa and its predecessor programmes represent more than 15 years of fruitful cooperation with Africa on Earth Observation and a European contribution of more than €100 million.

The 1st GMES and Africa Forum is centred on the theme “Unlocking the Potential of Earth Observation as a Key Driver of Africa’s Sustainable Development”, a reference to the existing imbalance between the continent’s potential and the actual benefits it derives from Earth Observation dividend. The theme addresses the means of harnessing opportunities offered by Earth Observation to leverage Africa’s socio-economic development.

‘By putting end users at the heart of product and service development, GMES and Africa has become a vision for the sustainable and efficient management of natural resources and security in Africa’, remarked Guy Bertrand Mapangou, Gabon’s Minister of Digital Economy, Communication and Post Office, who is also the government spokesperson.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Pix: Professor Sarah Anyang Agbor

Cell sites shutdown: CSEAN president says Kogi State action akin to DoS attack – ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The President of the Cyber Security Expert Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), Mr. Remi Afon has decried the shutdown of telecommunications sites in Kogi State, saying its akin to Denial of Service (DoS) attack, reports ITREALMS.

In computing, a denial-of-service attack is when perpetrator seeks to make a machine or network resource unavailable to its intended users by temporarily or indefinitely disrupting services of a host connected to the Internet which is network of networks. In essence, ITREALMS reports that a denial-of-service (DoS) is any attempt to prevent legitimate users from accessing the service.

ITREALMS recalls that the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello may have committed an offence under the Cybercrime Act of 2015 by ordering the sealing and shut downs of some 70 cell sites which have affected 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Affirming this in a chat with ITREALMS in reaction to the shutdown, CSEAN President, Remi Afon, could not understand why at this age a millennial governor like Yahaya Bello, should preside over government taking such a decision in the name of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

“Yahaya Bello’s action is akin to “Denial of Service Attack” on critical national infrastructure,” he decried.

Pointing out that this shutdown of critical infrastructure constitutes security and economic threat due to the fact that real-time communication will be impossible thereby allowing criminals to capitalise on this to carry their nefarious activities.

Also, CSEAN President said, a lot of small and medium size organisations will be affected in running their businesses thereby resulting to financial loss.

According to the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) who raised the alarm of the shut downs via its chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, this will amount to telecom outage in the country.

The shutdown, ITREALMS gathered will affect some 10 states including Kogi and nine others including Nassarawa, Benue, Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Niger States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.



CSEAN President also joined ALTON, in calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and National Assembly leadership to quickly intervene before it becomes too late as the impending telecom blackout will adversely affect the security architecture of the country and the economy.



Chuks Egbune/GEE




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MTN’s Mobile Money App debuts - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Mobile Money Open Application Programme Interface (API) has been unveiled and now accessible by third parties; the expectation is to enable innovation around payment systems, reports ITREALMS.

This is coming as MTN has launched a Startup Fund valued at Shs1bn and unveiled the MTN Open API App Challenge.

ITREALMS reports that MTN Uganda is the first telecom company in Uganda and in the MTN Group to grant access to third-parties to its Mobile Money Access Programming Interface (API).

An Open API platform enables developers and programmers to get free access to MTN mobile money proprietary software platform. MTN Mobile Money is the most widely used mobile money platform in Uganda. Developers can now access it, create products that ease payment options and leverage the 10M of MTN clients registered on Mobile Money.

“This is an exciting development for the Ugandan start-ups ecosystem. Innovators will now be able to develop applications that ease the customer experience in terms of mobile money payments. We do hope that this move will spur innovation in the developer community around the country because this is the first time this is being done here,” said Ms. Elsa Muzzolini, the General Manager, Mobile Financial Services MTN Uganda.

In January 2018, MTN Uganda and Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) entered a partnership intended to drive customer growth and activity by facilitating a wider range of mobile wallet applications for all customers through open APIs. According to CGAP, open APIs have the potential to further drive financial inclusion, which is already being accelerated by the usage of mobile money.

“Our expectations are that this decision will enable innovators to monetise their products, ensure that there is fast turnaround of innovations to get to market and improve the value created for innovators and entrepreneurs, why not a Ugandan Ebay or Amazon in the next few months” Ms. Muzzolini said.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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PhotoNews: Tim Okon @NAPE 2018 visits Shell stand - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Special Adviser on Fiscal Strategy to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources visits Shell stand at the 36th edition of the annual conference and exhibition of NAPE in Lagos

L-R: Exploration Manager, Shell Nigeria, Dan Agbaire; Special Adviser on Fiscal Strategy to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Tim Okon; and the outgoing President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Andrew Ejayeriese, during an inspection of the exhibition booth of Shell Companies in Nigeria at the opening ceremony of the 2018 edition of the annual conference and exhibition of NAPE in Lagos …on Tuesday

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Minister condoles families of deceased Kwara APC members - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Monday visited the families of the Kwara All Progressives Congress (APC) members who died in a road crash between Omu-Aran and Oro in Kwara State on Sunday, reports ITREALMS.

The Minister, who was accompanied by Kwara APC Chairman Bashir Bolarinwa, House of Representatives Member-elect Tunji Olawuyi, Kwara South Senatorial candidate Lola Ashiru and other state party officials, visited the families of the five deceased members in Arandun, Agbonda, Omu-Aran, Oko and Odo Owa, all in the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency, where the APC won a landmark victory at the polls on Saturday.

He also visited the two hospitals in Omu-Aran, where those injured in the accident are being treated, to personally wish them a speedy recovery.

At Agbonda, the Minister and his entourage attended the funeral service for one of the five deceased members, Chief Ayobami Adekeye, an official of the party in Ajase Ward 2.

While visiting the homes of the deceased, the Minister commiserated with their families, hailed the members for their supreme sacrifice for the emancipation of the people of Kwara and promised that the party will not abandon their dependants.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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NASS, Presidency must sanction Foreign Affairs Ministry for violating FOI Act - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has urged the National Assembly (NASS), the Presidency and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) to strongly condemn the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for violating the Freedom of Information Act and deceiving Nigerians, reports ITREALMS.

"We call on all relevant authorities, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) to strongly condemn this conduct as unworthy of a public institution and make clear that such practices, namely violating the provisions of the Law with impunity and the blatant attempt to deliberately mislead and deceive the Nigerian public, will not be condoned by this administration," MRA said in reaction.

ITREALMS recalled that the Ministry had on Wednesday, November 14, through its spokesman, Mr. George Ehidiamen Edokpa, issued a public statement which claimed it complied with provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, and condemned “in strong terms insinuations that the Ministry has consistently breached most of its duties and obligations under the FOI Act over the last seven years.”

The statement was apparently in response to an assessment by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) of the Ministry’s poor performance in the implementation of the FOI Act, as announced by Ms. Chioma Nwaodike, MRA’s Legal Officer, on Monday, November 12, 2018.

It is a matter of grave concern when a public institution like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, financed through public funds, violates our Laws with impunity. It is doubly worrisome when the same institution uses public resources to mislead and deceive the entire country, when it should be taking corrective measures to remedy its lapses. Such action shows a lack of remorse, insults the intelligence of Nigerians and erodes public trust and confidence in government.

Rather than respond to the specific issues of non-compliance which MRA raised, the Ministry has chosen to resort to an omnibus generalization, claiming: “The Ministry also engages in periodic and systematic dissemination of relevant information to the public, of its activities and programmes through regular press briefings, as well as press releases organised by the Crises Monitoring and Public Communications Division.”

MRA insist it was quite clear and specific about the aspects of the FOI Act that it accused the Ministry of failing to comply with.

For the avoidance of doubt, MRA reaffirmed "our position that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has consistently breached most of its duties and obligations under the FOI Act over the last seven years, and provide the following particulars:

· "Section 2(3)(d)(v) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 requires every public institution to proactively publish “information relating to the receipt or expenditure of public or other funds of the institution”. We assert that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in breach of this statutory obligation and has consistently breached this duty over the last seven years and challenge the Ministry to provide any evidence that it is in compliance with this duty under the FOI Act or provide a link to any platform on which it has published this information.

· Section 2(3)(d)(vi) of the Act places an obligation on every public institution to proactively publish “the names, salaries, titles, and dates of employment of all employees and officers of the institution”. We insist that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in breach of this statutory obligation and has consistently been in breach of the obligation over the last seven years. We challenge the Ministry to provide any evidence that it is in compliance with this duty under the FOI Act or provide a link to any platform on which it has published this information.

· "Section 2(3)(f) of the Act places an obligation on every public institution to proactively publish “the title and address of the appropriate officer of the institution to whom an application for information under this Act shall be sent”. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed in its statement under reference that “Contrary to the misleading report, there is a Desk Officer in the Ministry assigned to handle requests under the FOI Act.” We insist that the Ministry is in breach of this statutory obligation to proactively publish the title and address of such an officer, if indeed it has such a Desk Officer. We further insist that the Ministry has consistently breached this obligation over the last seven years and challenge the Ministry to provide any evidence that it is in compliance with this duty under the FOI Act and provide a link to any platform on which it has published this information. We note further that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, which has oversight in the implementation of the FOI Act, has, pursuant to his functions under the Act, repeatedly requested all public institutions to supply the Office with the names and contact details of the FOI Desk Officers and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has consistently failed to supply the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation with the name and contact details or any other information at all relating to its supposed FOI Desk Officer, in consequence of which there is no FOI Desk Officer for the Ministry in the Database of FOI Desk Officers maintained and published by the Federal Ministry of Justice.

· "Section 13 of the Act provides that “Every government or public institution must ensure the provision of appropriate training for its officials on the public’s right to access to information or records held by government or public institutions, as provided for in this Act andfor the effective implementation of this Act.” We assert that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in breach of this statutory obligation and has consistently breached this duty over the last seven years. We challenge the Ministry to state the date or dates on which it has provided the required training for its officials, who attended the training, who conducted the training and provide any evidence that such training actually took place.

· "Section 29(1) of the FOI Act provides that “On or before February 1 of each year, each public institution shall submit to the Attorney-General of the Federation a report which shall cover the preceding fiscal year …”. As at February 1, 2018, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ought to have submitted seven such reports to the Attorney-General of the Federation. However, in flagrant disregard of the provisions of the Act, the Ministry has to date only submitted one such report to the Attorney-General of the Federation, which was the report it submitted for the year 2013. We therefore insist that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has consistently been in breach of this obligation over the last seven years.

· "Section 29(2) of the FOI Act states that “Each public institution shall make such report available to the public, among other means, by computer and telecommunications, or if computer and telecommunications means have not been established by the Government or Public Institution, by other electronic means.” We therefore challenge the Ministry to state where and how it has made its annual implementation reports available to the public.

· "We challenge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to state how many applications for information it has received every year over the last seven years, the number of such applications for information that it has processed and granted as well as the number of such applications for information it has denied or ignored.

In the face of these facts, there can be no doubt that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has consistently breached most of its duties and obligations under the FOI Act over the last seven years.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Pix: Chairman of the National Assembly, Senate President Bukola Saraki

NCDMB, NCCF ICT set to host ICT Stakeholders on Thursday - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The 4^th quarterly meeting of the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum ICT (NCCF-ICT) Sectoral Working Group (SWG) has been scheduled for Thursday, reports ITREALMS.

A public statement dated 14^th of November, issued and signed by Mr. Remi Atanda and Mr. Uchenna Onyekaonwu, the executive Chairman of the Forum and representative of the Board respectively and made available to pressmen., showed that all is now set for the meeting.

According to the statement, the proposed meeting slated for 22^nd November in Lagos, has been set aside as continuation of the last meeting which took place on the 30^th of August at the Southern Sun Hotels, Ikoyi, Lagos State, which had twenty five members of the Forum in attendance.

The August meeting which Mr. Remi Atanda of the SystemSpecs Ltd, chaired deliberated on issues bordering around reviewing and extraction of ICT key sections from the NCDMB 10 Year Strategic Plan, Membership Registration of Nigerian Content Consultative Forum ICT (NCCF-ICT) SWG, commissioning of Research to determine consumption of ICT Goods and service in the Oil and Gas Sector, creating awareness and organizing sensitization programme on ICT Opportunities in Oil and Gas Industry.

Further, ITREALMS gathered that unveiled the Southern Sun Hotels, Ikoyi, Lagos as the venue of the meeting which will start by 10am.

Wale Adedoyin/GEE

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70 telecom sites shutdown: Gov. Yahaya Bello breaches Cybercrime Act 2015 - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

For the Kogi State government under the watch of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as governor, to shut down some 70 telecommunications sites, he may have breached the 2015 Cybercrime Act, and could be tried even after office, reports ITREALMS.

This action, ITREALMS gathered affected 10 states including Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Also, this is coming in the wake of reports that the Office of the National Security Adviser had written the state government to advise against such shutdowns as it constitute security breach as evident in the Part II: Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure, because telecommunications is.

Investigations by ITREALMS showed that by the shutdowns, Kogi State under his watch has constituted a critical national security threat and could be tried after his immunity expires on leaving his current office.

The controversial Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello may have after all committed an offence under the Cybercrime Act of 2015 by ordering the sealing and shut downs of some 70 cell sites which have affected 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, reports ITREALMS.

Investigations by ITREALMS showed that by the shutdowns, Kogi State under his watch has constituted a critical national security threat.

Reacting to the shutdowns by Kogi government of telecommunications sites, the Executive Chairman, Consultancy Support Services Limited, a Cyber Security & Information Communication Technology (ICT) Consultancy, told ITREALMS the government, may be in breach of the Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act 2015.

This, he explained will amount to serious denial of service to the telecom consumers in the country.

He expressed displeasure on the fact that the shutdown may not affect only Kogi State alone but 10 others, just as Ajijola said even the decision at the time electioneering campaign for 2019 is stating is absurd.

Ajijola also cautioned the nation’s political class to draw a line between Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and creation of viable jobs.

He argued that the so-called IGR is actually out of value chain jobs emanating from broad technology adoption in the country by the small, medium enterprises.

“Our political class and many public sector decision makers are unable to appreciate that government revenues accrue from taxes as a result of job and wealth creation, not the other way around,” he said.

Alternatively, the affected states may have to get court injunctions to restrain the Kogi Government and its agents from shutting down telecom infrastructures considering their effects even beyond the state.

ITREALMS recalls that the shutting down of telecommunications facilities in Kogi State was as a result of disputes arising from unusual taxes and levies demanded by the Kogi State Government through its Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, Kogi State Environmental Protection Board, championed by the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS), from the GSM Operators under the aegis of Association Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).

And the affected states include the entire Kogi State, parts of Abuja the Federal Capital Territory and  those  states sharing borders with Kogi State.

These include Nassarawa, Benue, Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Niger States.

Chuks Egbune/ED, Ops

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Aba Women Riot: Remembering 'Nwayereuwa, Nwannedia, Ikonnia & Nwugo' - ITREALMS

Tribute@ITREALMS:

'Nwayereuwa, Nwannedia, Ikonnia, Nwugo and yet another'

I am sure 90 per cent of Africans, Nigerians and mainly people of Igbo origin who read the headline of this post will be like who the hell are these people? 

Yes, we wouldn’t know them because we’ve been busy learning about their Mother Theresa and the fraudulent story of Mary Slessor.

On this day  89 years ago, in the morning of November 18th 1929, a man called Emereuwa upon the directive of his boss Okugo the warrant chief, walked into the compound of a widow called Nwanyereuwa, ordered her for a census of all her livestock and household.

The widow Nwanyereuwa knowing the census will determined how much she will be taxed by the British colonial government, embittered, shouted on Emereuwa “was your widowed mother at home counted?” An angry exchange ensued. Nwanyereuwa resentfully rushed down to the town and market square, consulted other disgruntled women; they with palm fronds quickly mobilised other women. 

And that marked the beginning of one of the greatest resistance, rebellion and uprising the British imperial colonial rule ever faced in Nigeria 🇳🇬and Africa in general, Called “#The_Aba_Women_Riot” otherwise known as “#The_women_who_went_to_war” 

While the men were subdued, while the man died in the men in the face of oppression and tyranny of colonialism. The women stepped up and in. Record has it that over ten thousand women were involved in this revolt, and about 50 women lost their lives in the war/riot. This resistance was orchestrated by:

1) Persuasive #Ikonnia
2) Intelligent #Nwannedia
3) Passionate #Nwugo and
4) Wise, Counselling and strategic #Nwanyereuwa these were the women that led the famous #Aba_Women_Riot.

Women from across Six ethnic groups were involved, the Igbos, Ibibio, Andoni, Ogoni, Bonny and Opobo

Hundreds of British colonial courts were burnt down and destroyed, hundreds of warrant chiefs were ostracised and banished. On the aftermath of the revolt, the British were forced to abandon the proposed plans to impose tax on the market women, powers of the warrant chiefs were considerably curbed and more robust room was created for women’s inclusiveness in the grand scheme of things. 

The Aba women’s riot was on the scale never seen before. It prompted, encouraged and inspired subsequent agitations like;

1) The Tax protest of 1938
2) The Owerri and Calabar oil mill protest of the 1940s
3) The Onitsha Aba Tax revolt of 1956
Then consequently the Nigeria 🇳🇬 independence in 1960. 

But unfortunately sad, when you drive through Aba today, you will see Faulks road, in owerri you will see Wetheral Road and Douglas road all of them are colonial relics. Imo state government house is called Douglas house, named after Harold Morday Douglas, a brutal British colonial district commissioner who orchestrated the Ahiara expedition of 1905 that saw villages wiped out. 

Today one deranged governor of Imo State is busy moulding status of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia 🇱🇷 and Jacob Zuma of South Africa 🇿🇦, that has no connection or historical relevance to the people of Imo State. We’ve seen streets, roads, government buildings and and schools named after strangers, monuments raised for people of little or no importance to our history and future. But the real heroes, heroins and legends have been relegated to obscurity, sent to oblivion in a complete sheer and crass negligence. 

I hope that one day, the Igbos, Ibibios, Andonis, Ogonis, Opobos and Bonnis will have a leadership that will remember these women, the fifty that lost their lives and all that paid the ultimate price, immortalise them. I hope one day I shall see Nwanyereuwa road, Ikonnia hospital, Nwannedia secondary school and Nwugo shopping plaza. I hope to see us name our children after these legendary women and mothers and tell them the story. 

Today 18th November 2018, I remember the women who didn’t only fight against an oppressive British colonial rule, but also had to fight their own men (Warrant chiefs) who chose the side of the Oppressor because of crumbs that fall from the table of master. 

Aba women’s riot, the women who went to war. We remember.''

*Contributed by Mazi Uba Acho/GEE

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Ref: Ogbuefi N' Malasia

Peter Obi, AGN President lead dignitaries to News Express 6th lecture - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

All is set for the News Express 6^th Anniversary Lecture & Economic Stakeholders Forum scheduled to hold today, Tuesday, November 20, 2018, at the main hall of Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, with Mr. Peter Obi, former Anambra State Governor and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as well as President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas Ejezie leading dignitaries, reports ITREALMS.

.

The event would also be used to unveil the News Express Special Print Edition, an all-gloss periodical magazine, the Publisher of the titles, Mr. Isaac Umunna, said in a statement issued on Monday in Lagos.

He disclosed that more dignitaries have confirmed their attendance, among them the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas Ejezie; international music icon and business tycoon, Dr Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli (MFR); top Nollywood stars; Controller of Prisons, Lagos State Command, Mr Tunde Ladipo; NTA Director, Mrs. Helen Onma Odeleye; and a representative of Mr. Peter Obi, former Anambra State Governor and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among several others.

“The event would be chaired by Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, eminent lawyer and President Emeritus of Aka Ikenga think tank, while four eminent Nigerians would deliver speeches on the Lecture theme, Transparency – Bedrock of Sustainable Development,” Umunna said.

He named the lecturers as the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Kehinde Bamigbetan; Executive Director of Media Law Centre, Richard Akinnola; and theAGN National President, Emeka Rollas Ejezie.

“The programme starts by 11:00 a.m. and is open to members of the public,” Umunna said.

He described the News Express Anniversary Lecture and Economic Stakeholders’ Forum as “an annual programme that has an established trend of bringing together important business and political leaders from across the country, as well as multifarious professionals and influential media stakeholders.”

News Express, which debuted on August 29, 2012, is one of Nigeria’s most popular and influential online dailies. It is read by hundreds of thousands of people around the world and records annual traffic of upwards of 100 million.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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