Fayemi canvasses one-day election, e-Voting - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has said he looked forward to a time when Nigeria would be able to conduct all her elections in one day, possibly through electronic voting, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking shortly after casting his vote at his country home, Isan Ekiti, the Governor said the current election schedule where elections into all elective positions are conducted separately “is not a good use of time and effort”.

Dr Fayemi expressed optimism that the country would take advantage of technological advancement and switch to electronic voting to enhance seamless voting process that will enable the electorate exercise their voting right while going about their normal daily work.

The Governor however commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for quickly addressing some hiccups that could have paralysed the smooth conduct of the 2019 general elections; saying that he would be happy if the process run smoothly in all parts of the State just as the card reader worked perfectly in Isan Ekiti where he voted.

“The card reader work, my fingerprint was read and it took less than a minute for me to do these and vote. If it is like this everywhere, we really have to give kudos to INEC. There may have been some errors in the past but they have quickly corrected those and they have done well in this election.

"I look forward to a time when all the elections can actually happen in one day. This is not a good use of our time the time we commit to this effort, the man working hour is just too much. So we hope technology will improve, we hope to get to the point of electronic voting and get to the point where everything can be smooth and fast and we can combine work with voting”, he said.

The Governor who voted at 11:28am said the election went reasonably well and peaceful but turnout was lower than it was during the presidential election a fortnight ago.

His words: “I have been in touch with virtually every local government and community in the State. The election has gone reasonably well, peaceful and the poll officials got to their units on time and voters were treated respectfully. It appears that we have a low turn out today, lower than we recorded during the presidential and NASS election two weeks ago”.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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Sanwo-Olu wins polling unit, says APC sure of victory - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer for the governorship election, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, delivered his Polling Unit for his party, saying he is expecting to be victorious when the overall results of the elections are officially announced, reports ITREALMS.

APC polled a total of 124 votes, while the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), garnered 26 votes at the Unit 019, Lateef Jakande Avenue/Femi Okunnu in Ikoyi II.

Sanwo-Olu, who arrived at his Polling Unit in company with his wife, Dr. Ibijoke at 10:33am, described the process as “generally peaceful”, despite pockets of delays recorded in some parts of the state.

‘’I think the whole process has been generally peaceful. Reports coming in from our party agents from across the State show that all is going on well save some areas where they are experiencing minor delays.’’

Speaking to reporters after he voted, Sanwo-Olu said he was confident of victory, having traversed the length and breadth of the state during the campaign and felt the pulse of the voters.

He said: “Exactly six months ago today, I picked the APC gubernatorial nomination form to contest in this election. I have done a thorough campaign. I went to every nook and cranny of the state to meet voters and stakeholders. I listened to everybody and heard their concerns. Given all of these, it means that we are better prepared to earn the confidence of Lagosians. So, I am confident of victory at the end of this process.”

Asked what he will do if the outcome does not favour him, Sanwo-Olu said the election was never a do-or-die affair for him, urging voters to engage peacefully and desist from acts that may lead to the cancellation of the results. He added that the outcome would reflect the wishes of the people.

Initially, there were minor glitches when the election started at Sanwo-Olu’s polling unit. A card reader did not function properly, leading to complaints among voters. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) technical staff at the unit immediately intervened and reset the malfunctioning card reader. The process went on smoothly thereafter.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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Oluremi Tinubu: We don't trust Igbo anymore - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

A Senator from Lagos State and wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Mrs. OluRemi Shade Tinubu, has already cast her votes in the governorship and state Assembly elections at Polling Unit 034, Falomo Police Barracks IV, Ikoyi, Lagos, reports ITREALMS.

Shortly after casting her votes at the polling unit located directly in front of her Bourdillon residence, Mrs. Tinubu was besieged by a crowd of people waiting on her.

Addressing the crowd of people who were making monetary requests from her, she said, “Show me your hand, get the money.”

Mrs. Tinubu, who was addressing the crowd in a mixture of pidgin English, Yoruba and Itsekiri languages, however, said she was not into vote-buying.

She urged the people to go to the polling booth and cast their votes.

▪ Speaking specifically to an Igbo man, Charles Nnamani, in pidgin, Mrs. Tinubu complained that the Igbo in Lagos did not vote for President Muhammadu Buhari during the presidential election. 

But Nnamani, who is physically-challenged, told her that he voted for Buhari.

▪ Responding, Mrs. Tinubu said, “How will I know? You Igbo, we don’t trust you anymore.” 

Among the crowd was an Itsekiri woman and her children who told the former Lagos State First Lady in her dialect that she came with her children because she heard that money was being shared.

Earlier, while speaking with journalists, Tinubu, who represents  ‎Lagos Central at the Senate, attributed the low voter turnout at the polling unit to her belief that the elite living in the highbrow area believed that only the Federal Government’s policies could impact on their business interests.

*The Punch:

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NUJ/NAWOJ Housing Fraud: Hearing for Tunji Ogunwusi, Ifeyinwa Omowole, Deji Elumoye, Tosin Odusola comes up March 13

ITREALMS:

The case between some Lagos journalists and other claimants versus Prince Tunji Ogunwusi's Primewaterview Holdings, NAWOJ's National President, Ifeyinwa Omowole, Deji Elumoye, Tosin Odusola and NUJ will come up for hearing next Wednesday, 13th of March, 2019 at the Lagos Multidoor Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Igbosere-Lagos with the mediator, Mrs. Dupe Ogunsanwo urging all interested parties to appear at the sitting in their own interest in order to find amicable resolution to the case, reports ITREALMS.

At the last sitting, out of the six defendants, only NUJ was present while the duo of Omowole and Elumoye were represented by Barrister Yinka Kalejaye with no one from Primewaterviews Holdings of Tunji Ogunwusi, under whose chairmanship, the project began.

Mrs Ogunsanwo advised that the presence of the key individuals involved is very important, Kalejaye claimed that Ifeyinwa and Deji cannot appear in person because they are now working in Abuja.

Mrs Ogunsanwo strongly advised that it will be in their own interest to appear in person on March 13th, 2019, regarding the case filed by the Oluyinka Olujimi Chambers.

Lawyer to the petitioners, Oladimeji Olowu of Oluyinka Olujimi chambers also reiterated the need for respondents to appear in person if the case must be settled as soon as possible and also for the affected journalists to find time to be in court for good reportage of the proceedings.

It should be noted that the lawyer to Primewaterview Holdings who chose the date for the last hearing did not show up again.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, at its inaugural meeting held in Abuja, directed that every legal steps should be taken to recover the money not accounted for out of the several millions paid to the Primewaterview Holdings Limited in five instalments between July 2016, and April 2017, and returned to Subscribers.

Also, NEC directed that Lagos State Council must take steps to verify the N4million returned from the conversion of the said “expired dollars” claimed by Mrs. Ifeyinwa Omowole, which they are yet to do.

NEC however deferred any sanction on erring members pending the outcome of the case before Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

Ayo Midele/Editor

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IWD 2019: A celebration of womanhood - ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS:

"I celebrate with Nigerian Women all over the world on the occasion of the International Women’s day, 2019.

"Beyond the recognition of the struggles and achievements of womenfolk, it is a celebration of womanhood – her strength, resilience, power and doggedness.

"This year, there are two themes in commemoration of International Women’s Day - ‘Balance for Better’ and "Think equal, build smart, innovate for change." While both themes may appear to be at variance, they are both pointers to the way forward in the quest for the protection of rights of women and a reminder that we must devise new strategies in the pursuit of gender equity and balance.

"It is apparent that to adequately entrench the rights of women, abrogate gender based violence and ensure equal opportunities for all, men have a role to play. Conscripting men into gender based discussions and actions will enable us address issues of gender disparity, equality in every strata of life, ensure gender balance in government, employment, remuneration of employees and wealth creation.

"Thus, I enjoin men to speak up in support of Women. Gender balance will benefit us all and our Nation as a whole.

"In addition, Women must rise up and equip themselves to fill gaps in Politics, Public Office, and Management. This can only be done if we are all ready to make a difference, speak up for worthy causes and impact on our immediate communities, the type of change we wish to see.

"Thus, I congratulate you all once again and assure you of my unwavering commitment to the empowerment of Nigerian Women."

*Senator Oluremi Tinubu, OON

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Facebook enters battle over vaccine misinformation - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Facebook has advanced strategies to combat vaccine misinformation, reports ITREALMS.

According to the Vice President, Global Policy Management at Facebook, Ms Monika Bickert they are looking at reducing the ranking of groups and pages that spread misinformation about vaccinations in news feed and search.

"We are working to tackle vaccine misinformation on Facebook by reducing its distribution and providing people with authoritative information on the topic. We are starting by taking a series of steps," she said.

These groups and pages, she said, will not be included in recommendations or in predictions when people type into search.

"When we find ads that include misinformation about vaccinations, we will reject them. We also removed related targeting options, like 'vaccine controversies.' For ad accounts that continue to violate our policies, we may take further action, such as disabling the ad account," she said.

Facebook, she insisted would not show or recommend content that contains misinformation about vaccinations on Instagram Explore or hashtag pages.

Further, she revealed that they are exploring ways to share educational information about vaccines when people come across misinformation on this topic.

"Leading global health organizations, such as the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have publicly identified verifiable vaccine hoaxes. If these vaccine hoaxes appear on Facebook, we will take action against them," she declared.

Chuks Egbune/DoP

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True cost of violence against children - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The high economic cost of violence against children in Nigeria was been revealed in an unprecedented report, launched jointly by UNICEF and the Federal Government, under the leadership of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, reports ITREALMS.

According to the report, the economic impact of the violence against children in Nigeria is estimated to be about USD$6.1 billion, which is equivalent to about 1.07 percent of the country’s GDP.

This financial loss is from the cumulative loss of earnings due to loss of productivity, stemming from suffering associated with different degrees of violence, over time.

“The cost of inaction is high, when it comes to violence against children,” said Mrs. Ifeoma Anagbogu, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. “Violence affects children’s health, education, and productivity. It is clear that we need to eliminate any form of violence against children – both from a moral perspective and an economic perspective.”

The report revealed that about half of the Nigerian children surveyed experienced physical violence by parents, adult relatives, direct or indirect caregivers or community members, before they reached 18.

“The findings of this study point to the strong need for increased funding of interventions by government to reduce violence against children in Nigeria,” said Mr Olajide S. Odewale, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

It was noted that the study may actually underestimate the economic burden of violence against children, as several serious consequences of such violence were not included, due to a current lack of data.

The evidence presented in the report indicates an urgent need to provide child protection services in Nigeria and prioritize the elimination of violence against children, which can ensure the country’s human capital has the mental, physical, and emotional stability needed to boost its social and economic development.

“This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, giving us an opportunity to join our collective efforts to protecting children from violence, abuse and neglect. This includes a re-commitment to increase investment in child protection services,” said Mohamed Malick Fall, UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria.

The research on violence against children was led by the Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with UNICEF, and with funding from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), through USAID, the EU and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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Fashola endorses Sanwo-Olu, urges Lagosians to choose experience - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Lagos State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reiterated that his government will be people oriented, reports ITREALMS.

This is coming as the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola urged the Lagos electorates to vote for him and his Running mate, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat in the Saturday March 9th gubernatorial election, saying no one should trade experience for someone who is merely desperate to be governor.

Speaking during a live television interview programme on Television Continental, where he, Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat were guests, Fashola, who was the immediate past Governor of Lagos, noted that voting for the APC candidate is to guarantee continuity of the great strides that Lagos has made since 1999.

According to the former Governor, the candidacy of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat is the best that can happen to Lagosians, as the two men are not novices to the workings of government.

"They are not only tested, but have also been part of the process of development that Lagos has witnessed since 1999 till date.

The former Governor said that Lagos cannot afford to experiment at this point in the history of the State saying that the people had gone beyond that stage where governance will be left in the hands of inexperienced individual.

‘‘We have gone beyond the stage of experimenting. This is not a State to experiment.’’

Imploring voters to cast their ballot for the APC, Fashola said it is not that Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat are the most brilliant, but they have what it takes to provide good governance by the virtue of the experiences they have garnered over the years both in the private and public sectors.

Therefore, Lagosians should not jeopardise their future by allowing novices to take over",

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Wowo: Accused wrongly in Gambia, gets justice in ECOWAS Court - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Justice Joseph Wowo, the Nigerian lawyer, who by dint of hardwork and brilliance, rose to the enviable position of the Chief Justice of The Gambia, until he was pushed out, can now heave a sigh of relief.

Accused of corruption by some Gambians who obviously couldn’t stand a foreigner overseeing the third arm of their government, the ECOWAS Court of Justice, where he took the matter to for adjudication, has not only exonerated him of all the cooked-up allegations, but also awarded $200,000 damages in his favour.

Wowo, it would be recalled, joined The Gambian judiciary in 2000. His uncanny brilliance and divine favour, in 2003, pushed him to the exalted position of the country’s CJ. Being a non-Gambian, new friends and enemies were made in almost equal proportions.

Members of the Gambia Bar Association, expectedly, dominated the latter group. With the arrowheads being Ms Ubna Farage, who was then the President of the Gambia Bar Association and Ms Amie Joof, the Minister of Justice.

The allegations levelled against Wowo were not properly looked into before he was unceremoniously removed from office by the then President Yahaya Jammeh. Alarmed, he contested his removal first via the Security Authority, which later initiated another investigation into the matter. At the end of their investigation, no announcement was made with regards to their findings. And this led to Justice Joseph Wowo calling a press conference to put the records straight.

President Yahaya Jammeh saw Justice Wowo’s action as an affront, and decided that he should be put away for a long time. Hence, the shocking charade of a trial that culminated in his incarceration. The world cried out against this travesty of justice. Eventually, he was granted State Pardon. But not satisfied with the State Pardon, and in a bid to also clear his name permanently, Justice Wowo approached the ECOWAS Court of Justice, sitting in Abuja, Nigeria, in a Suit – JUSTICE JOSEPH WOWO VS THE GAMBIA and with No: ECW/CCJ/APP/06/18, seeking several reliefs.

After painstakingly listening to both parties, and with Judgment No: ECW/CCJ/JUD/09/19, delivered on February 27, 2019, the three Justices, comprising the Hon. Justice Edward Amaoko Asante (Presiding), Hon. Justice Gberi-Be Quattara (Member) and Hon. Justice Keikura Bangura (Member), held as follows:

a) That Justice Emmanuel Nkea who found Justice Joseph Wowo guilty in The Gambia was undergoing a corruption hearing before the same Justice Joseph Wowo and therefore was biased, which resulted in the violation of his human rights and fair trial.

b) That the procedures for the removal of the Chief Justice of The Gambia as stated in the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia, with respect to a tribunal conducting an independent investigation, sending the outcome to the National Assembly, who will then, by a two-third vote, remove the Chief Justice, were not complied with.

c) That the Hon. Justice Joseph Wowo has been cleared of any stigma and cannot now be described as an ex-convict.

d) Award of nominal damages of the sum of U.S.D $150,000.00 to Justice Joseph Wowo for the violation of his rights to fair hearing and unjust incarceration.

e) Payment of Attorney’s fees of U.S.D. $50,000.00 and other costs to be assessed as a result of the application.

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120 Niger Delta entrepreneurs receive Shell Nigeria LiveWIRE grants - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Another 120 youth entrepreneurs from seven states of the Niger Delta have been given Shell Nigeria LiveWIRE business training and N48 million by The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Joint Venture to begin small-scale businesses in their respective states in the expectation that they will become models for alternative livelihoods as part of the programme to deter involvement of youths in vices, reports ITREALMS.

The 120 beneficiaries received their certificates at a Regional LiveWIRE graduation ceremony in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

SPDC General Manager External Relations, Mr. Igo Weli, described the company’s flagship youth enterprise development programme, Shell Nigeria LiveWIRE, as a potent initiative that has produced over 7,000 Niger Delta entrepreneurs since inception in 2003 with most of them now employers of labour.

He said, “Some of the beneficiaries have also been given the opportunity to participate in SPDC’s supply chain as vendors and have been linked to growth capital from other agencies.”

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Director of Secondary Education, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Sokari Davies, commended SPDC and its joint venture partners for the consistent sponsorship of the Shell Nigeria LiveWIRE programme.

Mrs. Davies said, “Irrespective of the challenges in the operating environment, SPDC still deemed it necessary to empower and develop the youths. Other multinational oil companies should copy SPDC and channel resources towards the development of the youths. That way, restiveness will greatly reduce. Government will continue to partner with SPDC because of this.

“It is indeed a remarkable day for the 120 beneficiaries and we are pleased to see this group of young entrepreneurs start-up businesses that will contribute to the economic development of our communities.”

A previous LiveWIRE beneficiary and now Managing Director of De-Rabacon Plastics, Yolo Bakumor Smith, told the Regional LiveWIRE graduates how he also won the maiden Shell Outstanding Achievement Prize in the 2018 Shell LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators Global Awards.

Yolo said, ’’I owe my gratitude to Shell because no other multinational operating in our region has given back the way and manner that they have. I am my own boss now and I have been privileged to assist a lot of people courtesy of Shell.’.

The Shell LiveWIRE Nigeria programme, a part of the global Shell LiveWIRE social investment programme, enables young people to start their own business and create employment. In 16 years of operation in Nigeria, the Shell LiveWIRE has received local and international recognitions. For example, in 2011, the programme received the African Leadership Magazine award for Youth Development, Social Enterprise and Reports Award (SERA) 2010’’.

Two Nigerian beneficiaries emerged winners in the 2017 and 2018 editions of the Global Shell LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators Award. Three others won the 2017 pitching contest in LiveWIRE #Makethefuture Accelerator event held in Port Harcourt and, between 2010 and now, five beneficiaries have won the international ‘’GO and Trade Enterprise Linkage Award’’ (which enabled them to make international trade visits to London, Dubai in United Arab Emirates and Neighbouring Ghana.)

At the national level, five beneficiaries have won the Federal Government ‘YOU WIN’ awards in 2014 and 2015. Two of them won the Central Bank of Nigeria Entrepreneurship award, while 10 others won the Tony Elumelu Foundation Award.’’

The Regional LiveWIRE programme operates in the Niger Delta region and aims to inspire, encourage and support young people aged 18-30 to start up their own businesses in the Nigerian states of Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, Imo, Cross River and Akwa Ibom.

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Nigeria: German govt boosts quality education for conflict affected children - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The German Government has announced a new contribution of 15 million euros to UNICEF Nigeria to support the provision of quality and equitable basic education and strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable communities, especially children, in Adamawa and Yobe states, reports ITREALMS.

Provided through the German Government’s Development Bank - Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), this new contribution will enable UNICEF to support the Government of Nigeria to provide 1,060,000 conflict-affected children and adolescents with increased access to quality education in a safe and healthy learning environment. It will also provide 8,200 teachers with increased capacity to deliver quality learning at pre-primary and primary levels and support 500 school-based management committees to plan and maintain a safe and healthy learning environment in schools, with increased community participation.

“All children, regardless of their situation, must be supported to access all their basic rights.

Investing in education is perhaps the best investment any nation can make for its children,” said UNICEF Representative Mohamed Fall. “This investment is timely, as it comes at a moment when we are redoubling our efforts to improve both access and quality of education for conflict-affected children.”

The KfW contribution will also support UNICEF’s work to link humanitarian needs and long-term development opportunities in target conflict-affected communities in north-east Nigeria.

The German Government is a long-standing partner of UNICEF Nigeria, having contributed over 21 million euros towards the humanitarian and development response in Nigeria since 2016.

Uj. N. Dominic/Editor

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Lagos Diocese Anglican Communion stages centenary rally - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

A mammoth crowd made up of all archdeaconry members of the Lagos Diocese Anglican Communion on Saturday, converged and staged an impressive rally at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan area in Lagos as part of ongoing activities in commemoration of 100 years of existence of the premier Anglican Diocese in Nigeria.

Bonded by One Purpose, One Faith in One God towards One Goal, the entire fourteen archdeaconries of the Mother-Diocese were in the height of mood as members tried to out-shine each other with different drumbeats, praise songs and dance styles even as they all radiated in a uniform wine-coloured T-Shirt adorned with matching face caps that compelled a wait- and-watch from passersby.

Addressing the jolly gathering, the Rt. Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye noted that the rally was a fantastic opportunity to come together to share in fellowship with Christ ‘as we get stronger, deeper and higher as a diocese.’

While thanking the Divine Mandate Partners, whom he described as formidable partners in moving the Diocese forward especially in the realisation of the Centenary projects, Olumakaiye described the Centenary Celebration as one designed run through the year; targeted at fostering a more cordial relationship among us all as we look forward to establishing something that the coming generations will also appreciate us for.

Speaking on the planned Centenary City, the elated Bishop disclosed that: “To the glory of God, we just secured 1,500 plots of land as our Centenary City through the huge support of you good people of this Diocese.

“This City is the legacy that we will hand over to the next generation alongside the ones we received from our forefathers.

“This will also allow us to add more value to our Diocese and our society in the form of low Income Housing Estate, St. Luke's Global Hospital, Garden of Gethsemane, camp ground, amusement park and many more.

“We will also give something back to the Church in form of empowerment of our women and our teeming youths. By the grace of God, we will soon move to our Centenary City.”

He expressed the faith that opening of some facilities in the Centenary City would be part of activities marking the grand finale of the diocesan centenary celebration.

Olumakaiye also thanked the stakeholders who have contributed significantly towards the realisation of the centenary project with special appreciation of the committee as well as other sub-committees in charge of the rally.

In his remarks, immediate past Archbishop of the dicese, the Most Revd. Adebola Ademowo, thanked God for what God is doing in the diocese describing Olumakaiye as a goal getter.

“For us to have him in the diocese the Lord has really blessed us. He is committed to the spiritual growth of the diocese. He is a man filled with Holy Spirit and he has been demonstrating this ever since he assumed office as Bishop of this great diocese. I am sure he is taking the diocese to greater heights”

“Within a very short of time the Bishop took the mantle of leadership, he has gone very far. He went round all the churches in the diocese, there is a centenary city that he is trying to put in place, there is the radio for the diocese, right in front of the diocesan palace you will see the electronic board. There are many things the Bishop is doing. I usually fast, but when the Bishop was enthroned, he asked us to fast for 21 days and I didn’t miss a single one. At the beginning of this year he asked us to fast for 14 days. The man is not doing the work in the flesh, he is doing it in the spirit, he is charismatic, prophetic, and he is a man of God to the core. So we thank God for all the lord is doing, we need people like him. In this country.

Ademowo also spoke glowingly of the Bishop’s wife, Prof. Motunrayo Olumakaiye whom Ademowo described as “spectacularly humble” despite her academic status as a professor.

On the expectations after 100 years, he said: “There are many things in the pipeline, but the Bishop wants the members to grow spiritually more than ever before, because that is very important, the diocese is growing physically, but he also wants members to grow spiritually and he wants them to be enablers,” Ademowo said.

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2019 Bullion Lecture gets March 26th date - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The 2019 edition of The Bullion Lecture, has gotten a date this March in Lagos, reports ITREALMS.

The annual lecture series of Centre for Financial Journalism, ITREALMS gathered was conceptualized as a platform for lively discourse on national and international issues.

According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Centre for Financial Journalism, Mr. Ray Echebiri, told ITREALMS that the 2019 edition has been slated for Tuesday, March 26, The Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Echebiri also said that the theme for this year is on “Leveraging The African Continental Free Trade Agreement for Nigeria’s Economic Development” with the guest lecturer as the Professor Benedict Oramah, President, African Export-Import Bank, Cairo, Egypt.

He equally said that the chairman of the day would be Dr. Uche Olowu, President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

Additionally, he said, the panelists would include Mr. Muda Yusuf, Director-General, The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Ade Adefeko, Vice President, Corporate and Government Relations, Olam Nigeria.

The chief host, he said, will be the chairman of the board of trustees of CFJ, Mr. Ernest Ebi.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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2019 Lent Message: Preparing for paschal mystery by Pope Francis - ITREALMS

Sermon@ITREALMS:

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God” (Rm 8: 19)

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Each year, through Mother Church, God “gives us this joyful season when we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery with mind and heart renewed… as we recall the great events that gave us new life in Christ” (Preface of Lent I). We can thus journey from Easter to Easter towards the fulfilment of the salvation we have already received as a result of Christ’s paschal mystery – “for in hope we were saved” (Rom 8:24). This mystery of salvation, already at work in us during our earthly lives, is a dynamic process that also embraces history and all of creation. As Saint Paul says, “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God” (Rom 8:19). In this perspective, I would like to offer a few reflections to accompany our journey of conversion this coming Lent.

1. The redemption of creation

The celebration of the Paschal Triduum of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection, the culmination of the liturgical year, calls us yearly to undertake a journey of preparation, in the knowledge that our being conformed to Christ (cf. Rom 8:29) is a priceless gift of God’s mercy.

When we live as children of God, redeemed, led by the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 8:14) and capable of acknowledging and obeying God’s law, beginning with the law written on our hearts and in nature, we also benefit creation by cooperating in its redemption. That is why Saint Paul says that creation eagerly longs for the revelation of the children of God; in other words, that all those who enjoy the grace of Jesus’ paschal mystery may experience its fulfilment in the redemption of the human body itself. When the love of Christ transfigures the lives of the saints in spirit, body and soul, they give praise to God. Through prayer, contemplation and art, they also include other creatures in that praise, as we see admirably expressed in the “Canticle of the Creatures” by Saint Francis of Assisi (cf. Laudato Si’, 87). Yet in this world, the harmony generated by redemption is constantly threatened by the negative power of sin and death.

2. The destructive power of sin

Indeed, when we fail to live as children of God, we often behave in a destructive way towards our neighbours and other creatures – and ourselves as well – since we begin to think more or less consciously that we can use them as we will. Intemperance then takes the upper hand: we start to live a life that exceeds those limits imposed by our human condition and nature itself. We yield to those untrammelled desires that the Book of Wisdom sees as typical of the ungodly, those who act without thought for God or hope for the future (cf. 2:1-11). Unless we tend constantly towards Easter, towards the horizon of the Resurrection, the mentality expressed in the slogans “I want it all and I want it now!” and “Too much is never enough”, gains the upper hand.

The root of all evil, as we know, is sin, which from its first appearance has disrupted our communion with God, with others and with creation itself, to which we are linked in a particular way by our body. This rupture of communion with God likewise undermines our harmonious relationship with the environment in which we are called to live, so that the garden has become a wilderness (cf. Gen3:17-18). Sin leads man to consider himself the god of creation, to see himself as its absolute master and to use it, not for the purpose willed by the Creator but for his own interests, to the detriment of other creatures.

Once God’s law, the law of love, is forsaken, then the law of the strong over the weak takes over. The sin that lurks in the human heart (cf. Mk 7:20-23) takes the shape of greed and unbridled pursuit of comfort, lack of concern for the good of others and even of oneself. It leads to the exploitation of creation, both persons and the environment, due to that insatiable covetousness which sees every desire as a right and sooner or later destroys all those in its grip.

3. The healing power of repentance and forgiveness

Creation urgently needs the revelation of the children of God, who have been made “a new creation”. For “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor 5:17). Indeed, by virtue of their being revealed,creation itself can celebrate a Pasch, opening itself to a new heaven and a new earth (cf. Rev 21:1). The path to Easter demands that we renew our faces and hearts as Christians through repentance, conversion and forgiveness, so as to live fully the abundant grace of the paschal mystery.

This “eager longing”, this expectation of all creation, will be fulfilled in the revelation of the children of God, that is, when Christians and all people enter decisively into the “travail” that conversion entails. All creation is called, with us, to go forth “from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom 8:21). Lent is a sacramental sign of this conversion. It invites Christians to embody the paschal mystery more deeply and concretely in their personal, family and social lives, above all by fasting, prayer and almsgiving.

Fasting, that is, learning to change our attitude towards others and all of creation, turning away from the temptation to “devour” everything to satisfy our voracity and being ready to suffer for love, which can fill the emptiness of our hearts. Prayer, which teaches us to abandon idolatry and the self-sufficiency of our ego, and to acknowledge our need of the Lord and his mercy.Almsgiving, whereby we escape from the insanity of hoarding everything for ourselves in the illusory belief that we can secure a future that does not belong to us. And thus to rediscover the joy of God’s plan for creation and for each of us, which is to love him, our brothers and sisters, and the entire world, and to find in this love our true happiness.

Dear brothers and sisters, the “lenten” period of forty days spent by the Son of God in the desert of creation had the goal of making it once more that garden of communion with God that it was before original sin (cf. Mk 1:12-13; Is 51:3). May our Lent this year be a journey along that same path, bringing the hope of Christ also to creation, so that it may be “set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom 8:21). Let us not allow this season of grace to pass in vain! Let us ask God to help us set out on a path of true conversion. Let us leave behind our selfishness and self-absorption, and turn to Jesus’ Pasch. Let us stand beside our brothers and sisters in need, sharing our spiritual and material goods with them. In this way, by concretely welcoming Christ’s victory over sin and death into our lives, we will also radiate its transforming power to all of creation.

*From the Vatican, 4 October 2018, Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi

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Unlocking value of innovation investments by Accenture - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Accenture's research team has found out that although businesses are increasing their innovation spend, return on investment has declined by 27 per cent over the past five years, reports ITREALMS.

Also the research revealed that almost one-third (29 per cent) of those Accenture surveyed expect to increase their investments in innovation by more than 50 per cent over the next five years.

Accenture, the professional services firm, pointed out that over half (57 per cent) of businesses making significant investments in innovation have underperformed against industry peers when it comes to growth or market value.

"At the same time, almost one-third (29 per cent) of those Accenture surveyed expect to increase their investments in innovation by more than 50 per cent over the next five years," the firm said in a press statement made available to ITREALMS.

Affirming this research findings to ITREALMS, the Managing Director, Financial Services at Accenture, Toluleke Adenmosun, said the fact that return on investment overall is dropping is a worrying trend, because businesses are spending more than ever, but their inability to see proper returns is shocking.

“One of the reasons for this could be that many organisations still see innovation as a peripheral activity separate to the core business; an “ad-hoc creative process” rather than a set of practices that will fundamentally change their way of doing business. It’s like going jogging once a month and then expecting to be able to run a marathon.

“Over the last five years, roughly $3.2tn was spent on innovation worldwide. Yet, the study shows it is not how much you spend that matters, it is how you spend it. The companies bucking the trend and seeing the biggest returns are investing in bold, watershed moves rather than incremental shifts.”

“The companies reaping the biggest rewards show a “go big or go home” mentality by investing in truly disruptive innovation projects,” added Toluleke “They don’t just tinker around the edges.”

Toluleke also argued that some companies just chase the latest tech trends without thinking about how to connect what they’re spending to the biggest problems or opportunities in their business.

The research also reveals that there are seven key characteristics that are adopted by companies deliberately driving innovation.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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ALTON writes FG, seeks clarifications on EIA - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Industry body of all licensed telecommunications operators in Nigeria, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has written the Federal Government (FG) seeking clarifications on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), reports ITREALMS.

ALTON, a duly registered under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria interfaces with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies on behalf of the telecommunication industry.

According to ALTON chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, they received complaints from members who are being molested with demand notices for EIA payment from the states, which he described as an aberration.

“We have received complaints from our members that they have been receiving demand notices for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) payment from some States Government Ministries of Environment, which we considered as an aberration of the existing law,” he said.

ALTON members, he told ITREALMS are responsible corporate citizens of the country that abide with the laws of the land, stressing that its partners in progress have directed the industry body to make clarification on some four burning issues.

These, ITREALMS gathered include:

“1. That the Federal Ministry of Environment has ceded the EIA oversight functions to some States Ministry of Environment to issue EIA Certification to our members.

“2. That some States Ministry of Environment as the case may be can conduct EIA process to our members without recourse to the Federal Ministry of Environment and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

“3. That the Statutory responsibility on environmental issues of the Federal Ministry of Environment (FME) has been transferred to the States Government.

“4. That the States now have powers to collect ecological fund from private sector after payment has been made to them by the Federal Government,” ALTON demanded.

Further, he said they are requesting from the Federal Ministry of Environment to clarify these positions, so to guide ALTON and its membership in dealing with the situation accordingly.

Chuks Egbune/DoP

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Ekiti private sector unions, non-indigenes hail Fayemi over peaceful poll - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Private Sector Unions and non-indigenous ethnic groups in Ekiti State have hailed Governor Kayode Fayemi for the peaceful conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections in the State, reports ITREALMS.

The unions at a rally in Ado- Ekiti, the state capital, on Monday said the peaceful atmosphere during the election was not unconnected to the all-inclusive government of Governor Kayode Fayemi which has enabled all stakeholders to take ownership of the electioneering process.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the Private Sector Union, Prince Aladeloye Oroya, the Union commended Fayemi for his “selfless and detribalized politics” which, according to the union, has endeared the governor to Ekiti people.

Oroya said the victory of the APC in Ekiti State was a product of Fayemi’s “unparalleled generosity and sportsmanship as well as President Muhammadu Buhari’s “personal integrity and public office records”.

The State President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nathaniel Uzoma, said the rally was organized to felicitate with Buhari on his victory; adding that the outcome of the election amounted to an endorsement of the people-oriented programmes of the Buhari-led government.

“Your Excellency, we have come to congratulate you on the victor of President Buhari. All of us cannot go to Abuja but we know that you, as our very good friend, can extend our goodwill message to the president. It is good to allow the president continue his good works”, he said.

The chairman of Hausa community in the State, Badamosi Mahadi also commended the Governor for creating a peaceful environment for the election to hold in the State; noting that it is only in Ekiti State that ballot snatching and violence were not recorded during the polls.

Mahadi called on all Hausa people in the State to come out en masse on Saturday and vote for all the House of Assembly candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the State.

Responding, Governor Fayemi thanked the unions and non indigenous groups for rallying support for him and the APC in the last election.

Fayemi who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Biodun Omoleye said his government believes in peace because development can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace.

The governor said the hitch-free election in the State was made possible by the cooperation and unity demonstrated by all ethnic groups in the State.

He urged Ekiti people to vote en masse for the All Progressives Congress House of Assembly candidates on Saturday. 

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How to manage multi-accounts with MySocialPost - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Experts have explained how to manage multiple social media accounts with MySocialPosts, reports ITREALMS.

The trio of the experts who spoke in Enugu, capital of Enugu State recently during Enugu Digital Marketing Masterclass included Israel Unya, Uka Francis and Ify Melody Ajumobi.

According to them, MySocialPosts is a web application designed to help anyone manage lots of social media profiles from one central platform.

“With MySocialPosts, you can easily post to the Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account of any brand simultaneously without having to log in to each of these platforms one by one to make your updates,” Unya declared.

One outstanding feature of MySocialPost, he also said, is that one could schedule updates to go out at a later date on the handles they manage.

“So you can take a few minutes, plan your social media posts for a week, a month or even a year and ensure you don't lose your engagement with your fans,” he said.

Stressing that “It is a true time saver and a tool every brand should take advantage of.”

He emphasized that for those looking for an extra income source or need an online business to engage in this year, they can get started with Social Media Management using MySocialPosts as an easy to use tool to manage multiple business profiles.

“To get started, sign up and use Mysocialposts at absoutely no cost - https://www.mysocialposts.com,” he urged, just as they are active on Facebook.

Chuks Egbune/Editor

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NCC, Others Join eBusiness Life Girls in ICT Campaign - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Nigerian communications Commission (NCC) has given its nod to be part of the campaign being organised by eBusiness Life Communication Limited in Nigeria tagged "International Girls in ICT Day" celebration for this year, reports ITREALMS.

Also from the sectorial ICT firms, Systemspecs, VDT Communication, Vodacom Business Nigeria and Access Bank have signed on to be part of the forthcoming 8th Edition of the campaign being organised by eBusiness Life, publishers of eBusiness Life Magazine in Lagos, Nigeria.

The event with the theme: “Expand Horizons Changing Attitudes: An ICT Skilled GirlForce”, which is scheduled to hold In Lagos on April 25, 2019 in the Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel in Lekki, is part of a global campaign to encourage young girls to delve into ICT as a profession and contribute their quota to the growth of the industry in Nigeria while also actualising self-development.

International Girls’ in ICT Day is an initiative launched through ITU Resolution 70 with the idea of creating a global environment that will empower and encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the field of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

In the past seven years, eBusiness Life had organised the event annually in Nigeria, gathering young girls from different schools, to educate and sensitize them on the opportunities inherent in professions in ICT, and providing a platform for organisations to synergise on complementary ways to further the cause. Also the girls had been made to go through hands-on training on various aspects of ICT and facility visits to ICT companies to get a first-hand experience of the intricacies of the ICT firms.

Systemspecs, with its flagship solution, Remita has been able to transform the epayment arena in Nigeria, becoming a top choice for remittance of funds both in the private and public sectors of the economy. The company’s support for the campaign is stemmed on its belief in global competitiveness through manpower development.

VDT Communications, which operates a Modular Trainee Engineering Program through which it trains engineering graduates annually, says its quest to train young Nigerians is to increase their employability in the industry, especially young girls. The company had consistently partnered with the organisers on the campaign.

Vodacom Business Nigeria is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Vodacom Group and leading pan-African corporate connectivity and telecommunications provider that has brought affordable and reliable connectivity to Africa since 1992.

Access Bank Plc, which recently acquired Diamond Bank, while indicating interest in joining the campaign, noted that it will further lend its voice in highlighting the need to get young girls into the profession of the future.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of eBusiness Life Communication and convener of the event, Mrs. Ufuoma Emuophedaro, the need to sensitise young girls is premised on the fact that the society has unconsciously relegated the female gender and delegated careers in technical fields, especially in ICT, to their male counterparts.

She called on corporate bodies and the society at large to recommit to supporting every girl to develop her skills, enter the workforce on equal terms and reach her full potential. “We need to equip the girls with transferable and lifelong skills such as critical thinking, creativity and digital awareness. Having role models will also be critical, especially in the sciences and other fields where the presence of women is sparse.”

She further noted that efforts should be made to introduce young girls to career opportunities in technical fields in both the public and private sectors to help them have a wide range of options and contribute their quota in the industry.

Mrs Emuophedaro stated that pursuant of the International Girls in ICT Day celebration and subsequent campaign will further open up opportunities for girls in the ICT sector.

Speaking further, Mrs. Emuophedaro noted that supporting the global Girls in ICT movement empowers girls and young women, giving them the confidence to pursue ICT studies and careers. “Girls and young women have the potential not only to become ICT users, but also to become ICT creators. “

As part of the 2019 event, students from select secondary schools will receive prior practical training on an aspect of ICT and compete on it on the D-Day. Also a roundtable discussion, interactive and motivational talk from renowned women ICT professionals, will be part of the events lined up for the day.

The campaign, which continues after the D-Day, will see young girls take part in facility tours to ICT facilities; participate in seminars that promote ICT development and undergo trainings in ICT.

At the end of the event, it is expected that young girls and students should be able to introspect and pursue any desired career path in ICT without bias, or gender consciousness.

Awards will also be given to deserving female ICT practitioners will form part of the celebration.

e-Business Life Communication Limited publishes a monthly Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Magazine incorporated to bring better information that would link users and service providers as well as enable Nigeria take its pride of place among the comity of nations in the new global economy.

The mission at e-Business Life Magazine is to inform and educate ICT users on trends and developments both locally and internationally; to provide a platform on which to build ICTs in a Nigeria and also to be a voice for ICT consumers in the country. In addition, the company is poised to create a world where Nigerian youths have a better understanding of modern technologies and can easily deploy these technologies in developing their communities.

Nenye Dom/DoP

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Atiku cries out: My son-in-law, lawyer detained for supporting me - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has raised alarm that his son-in-law, Babalele Abdullahi, and lawyer are still in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), reports ITREALMS.

Confirming this via a tweet on Monday, Atiku decried that one of them has been determined for upward of three weeks.

“My son in law and lawyer have been detained, one for 3 weeks and the other recently,” he declared.

Atiku also alleged that their arrest is not farfetched from their support for his presidential candidacy.

“They are paying the price for supporting me,” he lamented.

He reminded those persecuting them to remember that a government’s mandate is to pursue peace and justice for all and not selected few.

“I urge those now persecuting them to remember that a government’s mandate is to pursue peace and justice for all, and not just those who support them,” he said.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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Top 10 reasons every Nigerian business should own website - ITREALMS

MondayCommentary@ITREALMS:

Why every Nigerian business should have a website. While the overall performance of virtually every structure of the Nigerian society is discouraging and far behind that of other developed nations, the same cannot be said about its telecommunication sector due in part to the input of private investors. Yes, we lack the adequate social amenities required to have a healthy lifestyle as a nation, but we are not far behind in terms of digital presence on the cyberspace.

With an average of 103 million internet users in the last five month (Source: NCC), Nigeria is gradually becoming a nation where not having an online presence for a business will be akin to not having a business at all.

For the vast majority of internet users, the very first place they visit when they need information about any product or service is the internet. As such, the significance of having an Online presence cannot be overemphasized as it is gradually taking precedence over having a physical presence. In fact, the widespread use of the internet in Nigeria has made it possible for any business-minded individual to have a successful business without necessarily having a brick n mortar store/office.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at ten of the most important reasons why you should have a website as a Nigerian Business owner.

Increases turnover: The main aim of every business owner is to increase profit and reduce overhead cost without necessarily compromising on the quality of output. By having a fully optimized business website built by an experienced web development firm, your presence on Google’s SERP will significantly improve and you will, in turn, have higher leads which can be converted into sales.

Provides 24/7 virtual presence: Unlike a brick n mortar store/office where you will have to close at a specific time, having an effective website affords the owner around the clock presence. As a result, web visitors can always visit your website at any moment for information pertaining to the services you offer and maybe initiate transactions.

Cheaper Advert medium: Not only is advert placement via the cyberspace cheaper than that of other media tools like the television, radio and print media, it is also more effective and capable of producing higher leads due to the fact that lots of people are gradually spending more time on their internet-enabled smartphones and computers than on any other mass media tools.

Gives you the opportunity to stay ahead of your competitors: By having a virtual presence, you are not limited by physical space. As such, you can showcase as many items you want on your website without consuming extra space and incurring the additional cost of hiring more staff members.

Opportunity to attract clients beyond geographical boundaries: Unlike a physical store, having a business website affords you the opportunity to have clients that transcend beyond your present geographical boundary.

A streamlined marketing strategy: As a website owner, you get to receive data about web visitor’s interest. This gives you the opportunity to redesign your marketing strategy to target your potential clients alone.

Adds Credibility to your business: Regardless of the type of business you are running, having an operational website for your business boosts its public image as a reputable firm willing to adapt to new realities.

An automated customer support system: With a business website, you can save yourself from the additional stress and manpower required to attend to customers’ enquiries, requests and complaints by having a comprehensive FAQ, a chatbot and other automated media of communication preinstalled on your website.

An easier alternative for clients: Even in states where traffic congestion is almost non-existent, the majority will still prefer to have their commodity of choice delivered to their doorstep instead of having to be in a brick n mortar store/office for purchases. By consulting us at Lead web, we can help you integrate the home delivery and other customer-friendly media available to make transactions seamless for your clients.

Increase your client’s base: Should your existing clients be kind enough to use the review option to share their experience with the public, this will inevitably increase your client base as long as the comments are positive.

Keep in mind that the above is definitely not an exclusive list of the opportunities associated with having a business website in Nigeria since discoveries are still being unveiled. You should also know that your chances of maximizing the plethora of opportunities floating on the cyberspace depend largely on the web development agency you contacted for this service.

We provide a flexible payment plan and there is a website for every budget(i.e Small business or Hybrid Business). For more information about the steps required to own an effective business website in Nigeria, you can contact us.

*Contributed by Timothy Egwuatu | Business Development(Head), LEAD WEB PRAXIS MEDIA< Email: timothy.ikenna@leadwebpraxis.com

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