" ITREALMS: May 2020

Saturday, May 30, 2020

Prof. Kanu tasks media on positive migration narratives - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The foremost migration advocate, Professor Ikechukwu Anthony Kanu, O.S.A., has admonished the media to change the tide of negative perception about migrants and migration, especially on the continent, reports ITREALMS.
The summit, ITREALMS gathered has scheduled online sessions on May 29 and 30, 2020 and another on June 5 and 6, which has attracted participants and speakers beyond Africa and Europe.

Speaking Friday at the opening ceremony of a two-day  international online summit hosted by the Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM) titled Migration: Remedies For Covid-19 and the Economy, he charged media practitioners to change the narratives for good with positive vibes.

The don charged the media to report migration with human face, fact, knowledge of migration law and culture devoid of hate speech and colour divide.

Delivering a paper on "Positive Impact of Migration on Society," he said it was a pity that some section of the media both in Africa and other continents sometimes paint migrants in bad light.
He also cautioned developed nations to stop pretending about economic gains from migration, stressing that it was wrong to view migrants as threat and second class human beings anywhere in the world, but rather they were economic and institution developers.

“When one reads some headlines coming from European and America media, one cannot but feel sad. Daily Express London sometime captioned its headline thus: ‘Migrants Swarm To Britain’. Apart from that you sometimes see other captions like: ‘Migration Out Of Control’, 'Migration Numbers are at Crisis Point', among others.

“All these are dehumanizing and uncalled for. Remember the genocide in Rwanda started with a tribe refering to the other as cockroaches”.

The Professor quoted the Diaspora remittance from migration alone in 2018 to the low income countries totaling $520 billion while the high income economy raked $689 billion within period under review.

He said migration had brought more positive vibes to the economy and national development of any nation in terms of cultural exchange, technology transfer, labour and access to new culture and new markets and talents.

In terms of return, in 2019 alone China reaped $20.42 billion, United States got $61.38 billion and Russia got 19.7 billion from migration gains.

In Africa, he said the continent had populated Europe and other continents with human resources and had also reaped the benefits through diasporas remittance and foreign direct investment.

“Who is echoing the stories of Barack Obama and Chiamanda? Both are Africans that impacted positively on the US. Obama remains one of the best presidents in US. All these people had their root as migrants.

“Out of the entire diasporas returns to the entire sub-sahara Africa, record has it that Nigeria gets 65 per cent a and 2 per cent of the entire gains of migration globally. What an expatriate from London or American earn from oil company in Nigeria is far above what 100 Africa migrants in Europe put together annually.

“Migrants are not criminals. Therefore, it is wrong to give impression that they are parasites anywhere".

“Reports have suggested that in few years from now America will be short of 2.3 million workforce and 2.4 million in Germany.”

Prof. Kanu argued that there was need to welcome and allow free movement of people across the globe to the benefit of humanity.

Nkem Nweke/Editor

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Enyioha @50, Agu-Awka Beckons - ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS:

Chief Ugochukwu Okeke, a man driven by passion and purpose is 50 today.

Enyioha as he is fondly called for his infectious style of touching lives is man who what he thinks, what he says and what he does are in harmony.

Born into the family of Engr. & Mrs. G C Okeke of Umuogbuafor, Ihiala, Anambra State, May 30, 1970, Enyioha is a great leader with fantastic strategies for conflict resolution.

Ugochukwu is a dependable and reliable man who measures success by the positive impacts on people around him.

He is a graduate of Banking and Finance from the prestigious University of Nigeria Nsukka .

Armed with other relevant educations and trainings, Ugochukwu, is a seasoned administrator with the capacity to breathe life into deadwoods.

With an outstanding experience in business, politics, and human relationship management, he is a born leader whose influence is real- anywhere and everywhere.

He is also a seasoned and serial entrepreneur and sits on the board of several companies.

His mark of generosity over the years has endeared him special place in the hearts of so many.

In line with his unreserved commitment in advancing the course of humanity, Enyioha takes it as a responsibility to empower numerous youths through vocational studies and skill acquisition programmes.

Ugochukwu moves mountains and make it look easy.

Excellence is in his DNA, which is why he is one of the most is sought after resource person at home and abroad.

A ministerial nominee in 2014, Enyioha is also a grassroot politician and has been a firm believer in the People's Democratic Party (PDP). In his usual candor and loyalty to whatever he believes in.

He is a translator of positive intentions into tangible results and has continued to show total commitment and loyalty to PDP and had at various times served in several capacities and accepted numerous assignments within the party.

Some of these tasks include: coordinator for Goodluck Jonathan Campaign in 2015 (LGA); coordinator at the last governorship election in Anambra 2017; appointed State Secretary of the Anambra Caretaker Committee after serving diligently as Exco member in 2017;

Others are: member PDP State House of Assembly Committee, Kaduna; member National Assembly Committee for Kebbi State; member/Organizer Enugu State Exco Election Committee 2015; and secretary National Assembly Committee for Yobe State 2016.

And as Anambra state prepares to go to the poll to elect the next governor in 2021, Ugochukwu, has accepted the call to run for governorship.

He accepted because it is in line with his relentless pursuit of adding value and improving lives.

Enyioha hopes to tap from the best brains in the state to run the first knowledge driven state in Nigeria.

To him, Nigeria and indeed the third world having missed the industrial revolution would rely on Anambra state for new primary source of wealth creation when he is elected.

Enyioha who hopes to pick the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the forthcoming election, has urged Ndi-Anambra to keep their hopes burning in spite of the ruinous cloud of bad governance that has enveloped the state over the past few years, leaving critical infrastructure in tatters and rural communities in adverse neglect, that the state can still be redeemed.

He clear of his vision to define a pathway- a set of seamless road upon which Anambra will be rebuilt irrespective of town or senatorial zone.

Ugochukwu is a victor who looks to the future with a sense of purpose.

Happy birthday Enyioha! You have made here a better place in the last 50 years and may your next 50 be better.

*Contributed by Ken Nwogbo/Editor

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Friday, May 29, 2020

ITREALMS to host webinar on IPv6 - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The multiple international award-winning medium, 
ITREALMS Online has concluded plans to host its first virtual meeting on the Internet Protocol version Six (IPv6) on Saturday, June 6, 2020, reports ITREALMS.

The Editor-in-Chief of 
ITREALMS, Remmy Nweke, the meeting has been slated in commemoration of the World IPv6 Day, 2020 as part of the media house drive for education and enlightenment under its digital rights series.

According to Nweke, this year’s theme would focus on “Role of IP in 5G v COVID-19 Debate” with some subthemes, for the webinar slated for Saturday, June 6, by 10am Universal Time 11am Nigeria time at Zoom Webinar with meeting ID: Meeting ID: 748 9663 7846 and Password: 3ggKaz.

He recalled that a collaborating organization, DigitalSENSE Africa, has been leading this effort under the aegis of the Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable in commemoration of the World Internet Protocol Version Six (IPv6) Day, celebrated every June 6; to promote the adoption of IPv6 for the products and services as well as create awareness, especially in Nigeria.

He noted that 
ITREALMS is collaborating with DigitalSENSE Africa, an Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) accredited At-Large Structure (ALS), which brought IPv6 awareness to Nigeria since 2011.

Nweke also said that this year’s virtual event is to sustain the awareness around the IPv6 evolution despite the Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic, which trajectory kickoff was occasioned by the depletion of the Internet Protocol version Four (IPv4), over eight years ago.

He equally said that experts have been selected to speak to the theme of this year “Role of IP in 5G v COVID-19 Debate” urging interested public to join in the webinar to know more on the theme.

Nenye Dom/Editor

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

NCC blames exigencies over ejection of NiDCOM - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has blamed exigencies over its recent ejection of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) at the NCC’s Communications and Digital Economy Complex located at Mbora District, Abuja, reports 
ITREALMS.

NCC, 
ITREALMS, clarified that the Hon. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, was never involved in the process of offer of office allocation to NIDCOM and and eventual ejection, as the public was being made to believe.

The Commission reiterated this position in a press statement signed by its Director Public Affairs, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, in which it made further clarifications to the members of public and other stakeholders on the situation.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, was never involved in the offer to the office space, nor in the withdrawal of the offer for same office space. the Minister should not, therefore, be brought into the issue,” he said.

According to Dr. Nkemadu, the decision to withdraw the offer of office space from NiDCOM was purely of the NCC, the custodian of the office complex.

“It should, however, be made abundantly clear that the withdrawal of the offer of the office space, which was unconditionally given, in the first instance, to NiDCOM, was informed by exigencies and change in priorities within the NCC, which led to the taking back of the office space earlier allocated with intention of finding a suitable replacement for NiDCOM,” he said.

The Commission therefore reiterates its confidence in the leadership, person and office of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Thursday, May 28, 2020

GMCC, UN host webinar for Africans - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

As the global fight against Covid-19 continues, the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation have been helping to bring together medical experts from around the world to share knowledge, experience and best practices for combating and treating Covid-19. 

The Global MediXChange for Combatting COVID-19 (GMCC) is a platform established by both Foundations and Alibaba Health with the goal of fighting the virus through knowledge sharing and communication. Through GMCC, global medical workers have digital access to epidemic prevention resources, videos and webinars, and tools for online discussions. The establishment of the GMCC follows global donations from the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation of medical supplies to more than 150 countries and regions including all 54 countries in Africa.

In Africa, 11 webinars have been held as part of the GMCC for medical workers from nine African countries, including Kenya, Ghana, Egypt, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Sudan. In total, 102 African hospitals and over 4,500 medical personnel have taken part in these sessions. The webinars have focused on urgent questions as outlined by the participating hospitals and spanned topics including hospital preparation, resource allocation, infection control and treatment, as well as nursing and rehabilitation best practices. The latest webinar was held today in collaboration with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.

Today’s webcast saw the participation of Dr. Sara Abdelazim Hassanain, Undersecretary of Federal Ministry of Health, Sudan, who delivered opening remarks; and Dr. Xiaojun Grace Wang, Deputy Director, United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).

While attending a GMCC webinar co-hosted by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) last month (https://bit.ly/3c6CN8n), Jack Ma, founder of the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Group, noted the importance of collaboration and sharing in combatting the health crisis, “Over the past 3 months, I have spent each and every day following the pandemic. And during our donation efforts, we realized that not only medical supplies are needed, but also frontline experience to fight the virus. That is why we established the GMCC. The virus does not distinguish between races and people; the virus does not need a passport. Solidarity and collaboration are the only way we can succeed. The solution is not isolation, but instead cooperation.”

The medical community in Africa have noted that the exchange of insights and key learnings has helped drive practical and implementable progress in the ongoing efforts to defeat the virus. Here are some of the most notable comments:

“Partnership is key to winning the war against Covid-19 (…) If we do not want Africa to be the next epicenter, we must foster multisectoral partnerships at the community level, at the national level, at the continental level and the global level. This important collaboration is a major milestone in achieving this.” said Dr. John Nkengasong, Director, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).


Nenye Dom/Editor

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Olori Afolabi distributes noodles, face masks @Children's day 2020 - ITREALMS

ITREALMS
The Queen of Apomuland, Olori Janet Afolabi, has distributed face masks and cartons of noodles to indigent children in Apomu community, reports ITREALMS.

The packages were well distributed to the children in their various suburbs, a development that has received great commendation from their parents and the entire community.

Olori Afolabi assured that the gift package is not a one off exercise, adding that it will be done intermittently.

She pointed out on the reason for reaching out was because of the plight of these children, especially in this season of COVID-19.

Further, she said many families cannot feed their children following the effect of the COVID-19, which has shut down economic activities.

“As we celebrate 2020 children day, we should remember children in need and put a smile on their faces.

“We should give them hope for a greater tomorrow,” she said.

In addition, Olori Afolabi charged parents on their expected roles in keeping their children safe during this pandemic.

Urging parents and caretakers to guide children about regular hand washing and social distancing.

She equally emphasised on regular preventive messages to reduce the spread of COVID19.

Olori Afolabi also extended the act of kindness to some blind children in Ekiti State, where she donated 100 face masks to Government Special School for the Blind in Ikere Ekiti.

Ayo Midele/Editor

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS:
+2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

POST-COVID-19: FG approves N50bn for Creative Industry - ITREALMS

The Federal Government of Nigeria may have approved the sum of N50 billion for the small holder businesses and the Creative Industry to support them in the post Coronavirus or COVID-19 era, reports ITREALMS.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, revealed this in his opening remarks at the Virtual Forum of the African Union Ministers responsible for Arts, Culture and Heritage.

He expressed optimism, saying that the measures are being put in place will yield positive results in sustaining the Creative Industry in Nigeria in the days to come. 

"I also look forward to sharing in the experiences from other member-nations of the African Union in tackling the challenges occasioned by the pandemic,”  he said.

Also, the minister said that FG have decided to amend the Act establishing the National Endowment for the Arts so it can better meet the demands of the sector, which has been greatly impacted by the pandemic.

''The main objectives of the Endowment is to support every medium and area of creative activity in the art, culture and heritage sector as well as to foster professional excellence in the sector,” said Alhaji Mohammed, who doubles as the 2nd Vice Chairperson of the African Union's 3rd Specialized Technical Committee on Youth Culture and Sport.

He noted that the Creative Industry remains the worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic because it is audience-centred and, with the social distancing, ban on mass gathering and travel restrictions put in place globally, the fortunes of the industry has taken a nose dive.

“This is why we have decided to face the challenges squarely. Realizing the imperative of having a collective and government-supported approach in dealing with the situation, we have set up a 22-member stakeholders committee, cutting across art, culture, heritage, tourism, streaming, music, film, etc., to come up with immediate, short and long term economic stimulus and initiatives for the industry, in order to mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the sector,” he said.

The virtual meeting, which was chaired by Alhaji Mohammed, was joined by about 20 Ministers of Arts, Culture and Heritage in Africa, who made presentations.

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

FG to amend Act Establishing National Endowment for Arts - ITREALMS

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the Federal Government will amend the Act establishing the National Endowment for the Arts to enable it play a pivotal role in responding to the demands of the sector, which has been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, reports ITREALMS.

The Minister stated this in Abuja on Wednesday, in his opening remarks at the Virtual Forum of the African Union Ministers responsible for Arts, Culture and Heritage.

''We have decided to amend the Act establishing the National Endowment for the Arts so it can better meet the demands of the sector, which has been greatly impacted by the pandemic.

''The main objectives of the Endowment is to support every medium and area of creative activity in the art, culture and heritage sector as well as to foster professional excellence in the sector,” said Alhaji Mohammed, who doubles as the 2nd Vice Chairperson of the African Union's 3rd Specialized Technical Committee on Youth Culture and Sport.

He noted that the Creative Industry remains the worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic because it is audience-centred and, with the social distancing, ban on mass gathering and travel restrictions put in place globally, the fortunes of the industry has taken a nose dive.

“This is why we have decided to face the challenges squarely. Realizing the imperative of having a collective and government-supported approach in dealing with the situation, we have set up a 22-member stakeholders committee, cutting across art, culture, heritage, tourism, streaming, music, film, etc., to come up with immediate, short and long term economic stimulus and initiatives for the industry, in order to mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the sector,” he said.

He said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also set aside 50 billion Naira for small holder businesses and the Creative Industry to support the industry in the post Covid-19 era.

“I have no doubt that the measures we are putting in place will yield positive results in sustaining the Creative Industry in Nigeria in the days to come. I also look forward to sharing in the experiences from other member-nations of the African Union in tackling the challenges occasioned by the pandemic,”  Minister said.

The virtual meeting, which was chaired by Alhaji Mohammed, was joined by about 20 Ministers of Arts, Culture and Heritage in Africa, who made presentations.

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

NCC suspends spectrum trading guidelines 2018 - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:
Telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has suspended the Spectrum Trading Guidelines 2018 for the Nigerian telecommunications industry, reports ITREALMS.

The NCC board, ITREALMS gathered, rose from its meeting recently with this position and is informing all licensed telecommunications operators, prospective investors, industry stakeholders and the general public in that regard.

Confirming this to ITREALMS, the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, said the board had earlier taken the decision for Spectrum Trading in response to telecommunications global dynamics as well as the efforts to optimally utilize and maximize the benefits of the Spectrum scarce resource.

“Spectrum is a scarce commodity which when inefficiently utilized greatly limits broadband coverage and speeds. The current Spectrum Trading Guidelines were developed in 2018 after industry-wide consultations and this instrument allows that the Spectrum resource be traded on the Secondary Market through Transfer, Sharing or Leasing upon satisfying stipulated regulatory conditions,” he told ITREALMS.

In addition, he told ITREALMS in a press statement, the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020 - 2025 launched by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja in March 2020 required that these guidelines be reviewed to ensure that unutilized spectrum is fairly traded and to facilitate rollout by other operators amongst others. This is to address the need for ubiquitous broadband deployment to accelerate penetration and access in line with the economic Agenda of the Federal Government.

“In accordance with the NNBP 2020 – 2025, for optimal use of spectrum, licensees have the obligation of the Use it or Lose It Policy because idle high demand spectrum does a disservice to poorly served populations and should be released for effective use as may be required to Promote Efficient Use of assigned Spectrum. The ‘Use it or Lose it’ rule should therefore apply in all instances where assigned spectrum is found to be non-utilized or underutilized and ensures unutilised spectrum is fairly traded to facilitate rollout by other operators,” Nkemadu said.



Further, he noted that in response to the need for the review of these Guidelines as highlighted above, and also following Paragraph 12 of the Spectrum Trading Guidelines, 2018 which vests the Commission with the right to review cum vary and modify these guidelines from time to time as it may deem fit, the Spectrum Trading Guidelines 2018 application in Nigeria is hereby suspended until further notice, as declared by the board.




Chuks Egbune/DoP




*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

ARC gets 2 new Non-Executive Directors - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The African Risk Capacity Limited (ARC Ltd) has appointed two new Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), Mr Jurgen Meisch and Mr. Phillip Pettersen, to join its Board of Directors to bring independent strategic guidance and oversight to its operations.

The new directors joined a group of other industry experts led by Mr. Abdoulie Janneh and Dr Frannie Leautier who serves as interim Chair and as alternate Chairperson, respectively.

In just over 6 years of operations, the ARC Ltd has made $60m payouts to Governments of Senegal, Mauritania and Malawi following droughts episodes in 2014, 2015 and 2019. These funds have gone towards assisting over 2.1 million people whose livelihoods rely on agriculture, preventing the loss of hard-earned developmental gains in addition to 924,689 livestock. Governments have used ARC Ltd funding to scale up cash transfers, subsidize livestock feeds, replenish depleted food reserves, and distribute emergency food supplies.

Speaking on the appointments, ASG Mohamed Beavogui, the Director-General of ARC Agency said, “we have always been guided by the principle that the quality of our work depends on the capacity of our people. The impressive outcomes we have recorded over the years attest to this principle. We are hopeful that the new Directors will bring a fresh impetus and an uncommon expertise to our operations to serve our Member States even more effectively.”

Expressing confidence in the integrity of the new Directors, the CEO of ARC Ltd, Mr. Lesley Ndlovu, stated, “a common denominator I have seen in ARC is the professionalism of the women and men constituting its Management and staff. The rigorous selection process of the new directors, not just based on their rich professional credentials, but especially on their deep passion for the industry, validates the faith of various stakeholders in our ability to field the right people to deliver desirable outcomes.”

The ARC Ltd is a financial affiliate of the African Risk Capacity (ARC), which is a Specialised Agency of the African Union established to assist member states in tackling the impact of natural disasters on vulnerable people. ARC transfers the burden of weather and other natural disaster risks away from governments, enabling them to build resilience and better plan, prepare, and respond to extreme events.

ARC Ltd is a ground-breaking public-private partnership that focuses on facilitating economic development in Africa and empowering governments to protect their vulnerable populations from the impact of natural disasters through the provision of sovereign insurance. Seeded by the UK’s DFID and Germany’s BMZ through KFW, ARC Ltd is a mutual insurance company that will eventually be wholly owned by African sovereigns.

The appointments of the new Directors terms commenced on 01 May 2020 and will run for a tenure of 3 years.

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

COVID-19: Olori Janet Afolabi lifts School for Blind with face masks - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:
The Queen of Apomuland and Publisher of Scroll Report online magazine, Olori Janet Afolabi, has lifted the Government Special School for the Blind, Ikere Ekiti in Ekiti State, with a donation of some 100 face masks, reports ITREALMS.

The school Principal, Omojala Adewale, who received the face masks from Mercy Aderiyi, on behalf of Olori Afolabi, commended the donor.

Olori Afolabi said the act of kindness was part of her effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, which has been described as the world’s largest emergency.

Also, she advised that the hygiene protocols against COVID-19 should be obeyed, encouraging people to wash their hands regularly and maintain physical distancing, particularly in crowded areas.

Ayo Midele/Editor

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

NIDCOM ejection: JIFORM berates NCC, Pantami - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Journalists International Forum on Migration (JIFORM) has berated the 
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Patami over an untidy eviction of the staff of the Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) from NCC's annex in Abuja 48 hours within the week the notice was served on the agency, reports ITREALMS.

JIFORM also noted that the action generating attention was allegedly carried out based on the orders of Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Patami via a text message on the February 9, 2020.

According to the media foundation comprising of over 200 journalists spread across the continents covering migration issues, the nation and the Federal Government does not deserve the needless distractions and embarrassments the crisis is causing at the moment.

President of JIFORM, Ajibola Abayomi, told 
ITREALMS on Tuesday, the body have analyzed the recent exchanges between the NCC and NIDCOM, and found it extremely unfortunate and uncalled for on the manner the eviction was carried out and the reasons adduced.

“While we consider it as an act of respect to the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy not to delve much into the contradictory explanations offered by the NCC, the agency under his ministry’s supervision to justify the action, we however make bold to say that no ministry or agency can claim exclusive ownership of any property in its care as they all belong to the federal government of Nigeria built by tax payers money.
“We therefore call on the Government to wade into the matter and thoroughly investigate the ugly incident and save the nation from further embarrassment.

“At this moment when all the good energies of the nation are being channeled to contain the corona virus, it is expected that all agencies of government should work with harmonious synergy devoid of undue ego to strengthen the economy.

Ajibola disclosed that JIFORM had been inundated with calls and enquiries from media in several countries on the matter days ago.

We cannot but say we read and watched with dismay the statement of the NCC and the video of the eviction of the NIDCOM staff with uttermost dismay and also found totally unacceptable the explanations offered to justify the action.

“Commissioning of any edifice by President Muhammadu Buhari since his assumption of office, to our knowledge has never caused known distraction or obstruction of any working arrangement in the nation. It was laughable the suggestion by the NCC on one hand that certain measures of restriction to access the office were necessary to stop the NIDCOM staff that are equally under the payroll of the government from accessing the office. Very strange and laughable.

JIFORM stated that Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa aside from being the Chief Executive Officer/Chairman of NIDCOM was a ranking member of National Assembly that should have been accorded respect to be duly informed while on official duty outside Nigeria and be allowed to sort out staff under her before the forceful eviction.

“We are fully aware and can confirm the refurbishing of the said office by NIDCOM before the undue eviction with suspicious alacrity. Giving the development, it is our belief that NIDCOM being an agency interfacing on behalf of the federal government on matters relating to her nationals abroad, deserve to be allocated permanent office. Therefore it is expedient for government to do so without much ado” Ajibola demanded.

Ayo Midele/Editor

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Angus Okoye: RULAAC petitions Anambra CJ, urges case assignment - ITREALMS


ITREALMS:

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has petitioned the Chief Judge of Anambra urging the assignment of the Angus Okoye's case, who was murdered with high-profile suspect arrested and released without due process, reports ITREALMS.

According to RULAAC petition available to ITREALMS, entitled "RULAAC Calls on the Chief Judge of Ananbra State to promptly assign the case of murder of Angus Okoye by Anthony Onyeagolu and others already filed before the Anambra State High Court by the Legal Department of the Anambra State Police Command in order to scuttle the unrelenting plots by the wealthy prime murder suspect to escape arraignment and prosecution" and dated Sunday 24, May 2020.


RULAAC alleged that action of the Anambra State Police Command negates due process in the murder case, recalling that on April 23, 2020, the centre raised alarm exposing the underhand and odious action by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Legal Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja CP Austin Sanomi, who lagedly ordered the release, "at midnight hours, of a wealthy murder suspect Anthony Onyeagolu from custody at SCID Awka."

Onyeagolu and his co-accused, RULAAC said, were awaiting arraignment after investigation into how he "as mastermind and others murdered Angus Okoye in their community, Isuaniocha, Awka North LGA, Anambra State."

RULAAC noted that following the uncovering of this shocking surreptitious release and the alarm raised by RULAAC and the ensuing media attention, the DIG FCID, Force Headquarters ordered the immediate re-arrest and return to custody of the suspect and his co-accused persons and their immediate arraignment at the Anambra State High Court for murder.

"Further, in their desperate bid to deliver on a paid devious assignment, the CP Legal and his cohort hatched another nefarious plot to suppress the murder charge by preferring a lesser charge of attempted murder against the murder mastermind. The CP Legal has also been accused of altering the police investigation report and compromised the entire case file in order to shield and provide an escape route for the wealthy and desperate prime suspect.

The petition stated that "Again, the nefarious plot to change the charge from murder to attempted murder was exposed and scuttled following an SOS sent by the family representative of the victim to the DIG FCID who ordered that the accused be immediately arraigned for murder."

RULAAC pointed out that on May 15, the CP Anambra, CP John Abang, in demonstration of his commitment to allow justice prevail, summoned the O/C Legal, Anambra State Command and gave him a firm directive to immediately file murder charges against the accused.

The O/C Legal, Anambra State Command, Awka has confirmed to RULAAC that "the case has been charged in line with the CP's directive," adding that "If you file a charge at the High court, you wait till the case is assigned to a court by the CJ. As soon as the assignment is done the prosecutor will go to the court where the matter is assigned and obtain a date for the arraignment. So, right now, the matter is in court and there is no going back."

We have further information that the wealthy prime murder suspect and his two co-accused, in their unrelenting desperation to evade arraignment and trial for murder, have filed three fundamental human rights applications before three different High Court Judges in Onitsha Anambra State respectively for each of them.

While we concede to them their entitlement to their fundamental rights including the right to approach the High Courts for the enforcement of their rights, we are only concerned by the revelation that they have filed false information to the courts with a view to misleading the courts to hear and grant them reliefs based on false claims about the nature of their crime and the location of their arrest.

This is therefore, to put the Chief Judge of Anambra State on notice to be alert to ensure the scrutiny of claims in any application brought by Anthony Onyeagolu and his accomplices and to ensure that both the Police and the complainants in the murder case are put on notice before considering and granting any prayers that the murder suspects may bring before the courts.

This is to ensure that suspects in heinous multiple crimes of murder and attempted murder are not allowed to manipulate and use the judiciary to escape justice.

ITREALMS further recalled that a wealthy murder suspect, Anthony Onyeagolu, who is awaiting arraignment and trial for the murder of one Angus Okoye, was freed by the police on 20/04/2020.

Onyeagolu, 
ITREALMS gathered was released by the Officer in Charge of Legal Matters, Anambra Command following the directive of the Commissioner of Police in charge of Legal Matters, Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mr Augustine Sanomi.

Okoye, a 48-year-old businessman, was killed after being kidnapped at about 1:30 am on December 16, 2018 at his home in Ifite Isu Village, Isuaniocha, under Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

His family members said he was killed for being the star witness in a case of N100m fraud instituted by the community through the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Onyeagolu.

One Chidiebere Okoye, an indigene of the community, who was one of those kidnapped, tortured, shot and presumed dead, survived and was invited by the police to make statement on the incident where he indicted Onyeagolu.

Okoye also named others linked to the incident to include Boniface Enweani, Augustine Adigwe, Mr Moses Emebo, Stephen Ibeania and others.

Elder George Okoye, elder brother to the deceased, in a save our soul message sent to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Michael Ogbizi, said the family members and community had been thrown into sorrow with the release of the principal suspect.

Okoye narrated the trajectory of the murder and the tortuous efforts to get the police to arrest the suspects and investigate them.

He said, “We petitioned the Force Headquarters on 3/1/19 over the alleged murder of our brother, Angus Okoye, in Isuaniocha, Awka, by Anthony Onyeagolu and others.

“A long drawn investigation by officer Amuche, who is now with the IGP Monitoring Unit, was frustrated by a former DC now CP Anyim of Homicide.

“We were ridiculed as a poor family while our brother's dead body lies in the mortuary till date. God touched your heart, out of our prayers we received a call from the IPO Bitrus sometime in September 2019, who said you invited us to revisit our case under DC Anyim.

“We were reluctant because we knew the end would be like this under the same Ayim, now CP in the same case.

“But we were later convinced by Bitrus to come, which we did and actually the three suspects were arrested a year after the murder.

“After concluding the investigation by the IPO under the same CP Ayim, the case was again killed in connivance with the CP Legal.

“Right now, the murderers are enjoying freedom without going to court, having been released in the midnight of April 20 in suspected circumstance due to their compromise as usual.

“Sir, where is your promise that the deceased family will get justice.

“The same murderer-in-chief was released from SCID Awka in readiness for arraignment that led to the killing of my brother.

“Worst still, the case file was emptied by your legal men in connivance with your CP to get soft landing in court for their wealthy benefactor which they could not even wait to arraign to justify their own side of the bargain with him.”

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre called on the Police Service Commission to order a prompt, exhaustive and effective investigation into the release of Onyeagolu while awaiting arraignment and trial for murder on the orders of Sanomia.

The Executive Director, RULAAC, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, who made this call in a statement, said the investigation was with a view to determining the grounds and motive, if any, upon which the suspect could be released at midnight and to determine whether indeed the case file had been tampered with as alleged and appropriate remedial and disciplinary action taken.

Nwanguma noted that upon receiving this information, RULAAC first made contacts with the SCID in Awka and confirmed that the suspect was actually released at odd hours but without the knowledge of the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, Mr John Abang.

According to him, “RULAAC made several calls, texted and sent WhatsApp messages to Mr Austin Sanomia, CP Legal, Force Headquarters, Abuja, to verify the information that he ordered the release and to understand why, but has received no answer or reply till the time of issuing this alert.

“Our repeated efforts to get the CP Legal to confirm or rebut the information have not yielded any result.

“We then also sent the information to the DIG FCID, Michael Ogbizi...”

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

CWG: 2019 financial year ends with gross revenue 23.4% rise - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Nigeria’s largest system integration company, CWG Plc has increased its gross revenue by 23.4 per cent, representing N9.6billion from N7.8billion in 2018 in the 2019 audited full-year financial results, reports 
ITREALMS.

Sources close to the Pan-African Information and Communications Technology (ICT) company, informed 
ITREALMS that the firm listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) a few years ago, has a Net Assets growth of 67.4 percent to N192million from N115million in the previous year.

This growth, according to reports was achieved with a reduced OPEX of 23 percent over the 2018 financial year. The reports disclosed that CWG Plc also closed 2019 with a positive EBITDA at N892million, PBT N634million and ended that year with a Profit after Tax of N73 million.
ITREALMS recollects that CWG Plc is one of Nigeria's leading players in the Hardware and IT enterprise solution industry. As part of its efforts to step up its operational value, it got its shares listed on the Nigerian stock exchange a few years ago.

Nenye Dom/Editor

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Africa Regional Integration Index underlines key to resilient economies - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The second Africa Regional Integration Index (ARII 2019) has underlined key to resilient economies, reports 
 reports ITREALMS.

The 2019 Index, ITREALMS gathered, was launched last Friday by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and the African Union Commission (AUC), with a call to action to African economies to deepen their integration.

The 2019 Index, which builds on the first edition published in 2016, provides up-to-date data on the status and progress of regional integration in Africa. It also helps to assess the level of integration for every Regional Economic Community (REC) and their member countries.

The report observed that although 20 countries score above average, no African country can be considered well integrated in its region. Even the most integrated country, South Africa, scores 0.625 less than two-thirds of its potential on the scale.

The report found that much more needs to be done to integrate regional economies to make them more resilient to shocks such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the Index shows that levels of integration on the continent are relatively low with an average score of 0.327 out of 1.

“Whereas the Index edition we are releasing today has data cut off points in 2019, the present COVID-19 pandemic has reopened the question of whether enough is being done in advancing regional integration as a means to help Africa withstand systematic shocks such as the one being experienced today,” said Stephen Karingi, Regional Integration Division Director at the ECA.

“This index is both a measurement exercise and a call to action; to build resilient economies through integration,” he added. “It will identify the solutions needed to truly build an integrated Africa.”

Jean-Denis Gabikini, Acting Director of the AUC’s Economic Affairs Department, welcomed the collaboration in producing the Index. He noted that the Index covers issues of intellectual property, competition policy, investment and digital trade which are critical to the successful negotiations of Phase II and III of AfCFTA.

“To achieve an “integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, representing a dynamic force in the concert of nations”, this ARII report will support AU Member States and RECs to address industrialisation and value addition priorities for the development of the continent,” Gabikini said.

With the establishment of RECs and the creation of AfCFTA, Africa has reinforced regional integration as a major development priority for the continent under the 2012 Boosting Intra-African Trade (BIAT) Action Plan.

The Index ranks the level of integration of African countries within their respective RECs and also with the rest of the continent. It scores across five key dimensions: trade, productive capacity, macroeconomic policy, infrastructure, and free movement of people.

Among the eight RECs recognised by the AU, the East African Community (EAC) scored highest for overall integration, with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) coming last.

The African Development Bank’s Director for Regional Development and Regional Integration, Moono Mupotola, said the Index was a useful tool for tracking progress on the regional integration front and would help countries identify priorities to improve integration.

“The crippling effects of COVID-19 illustrate the need for enhanced production of African finished goods and services that can readily be traded across the continent,” Mupotola said.

David Luke, coordinator of the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) at the ECA pointed out that the productive and infrastructure dimensions of regional integration are intricately linked. Tackling these two dimensions along with implementing the AfCFTA would be a massive boost for trade, he said.

Nenye Dom/Editor


*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Role of human capital management in new workforce - ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS
The world of work has been changing for some time, particularly over the last decade as emerging technologies equipped enterprises with the tools to operate with greater efficiency, innovate and explore a new potential. However, unprecedented events in 2020, have accelerated this transformation at an unimaginable pace.

With mandates to work from home if possible, the disruption of traditional business models is being driven by pure necessity. Like other contemporary, cloud-based business systems, Human Capital Management (HCM) has a vital role to play in ensuring business continuity, and resilience, as we march into the new world of work.

First and foremost, cloud-based HCM is essential to provide continued access to and support for remote workers, and at the same time safeguard the safety and health of employees. In the case of the latter, one product example is Oracle’s Workforce Health and Safety solution, currently free to all Oracle HCM Cloud customers. A business’s workforce is its greatest asset and should remain its greatest concern. Especially now. With employees scattered, the data collected, and analytics generated, by next-generation HCM solutions become crucial to combat absenteeism, identify at-risk individual employees and formulate a succession planning strategy across an entire organisation.

Crises, and the manner in which they are handled internally, can have a major impact on talent retention and acquisition, which will have a knock-on effect for business delivery. Reassurance through empathetic communication is essential. Empowering employees with information about the company’s strategy during such periods, as well as providing open channels for two-way conversation, gives people a sense of belonging to an organisation that is looking after and listening to them.

Going hand in hand is the need to help grow employees. Learning and development are often affected when enterprises embark on crisis cost-cutting, but the current climate is the perfect opportunity for HR to equip staff for new roles, or take advantage of employee skills and use them in new ways (possibly gig economy opportunities) that support the organisation, and the individual’s own professional growth.

It is important to note that the new world of work is under a microscope. Business success is no longer solely reflected in revenue. Public perception can have a powerful impact on customer behaviour, as it spotlights caring organisations and their opposite: those enterprises taking advantage of a situation and their staff.  Cloud-based HCM applications help make work inherently more human-focused.

The new world of work is also notable for its drastically altered business processes. Older ways of working are often proving too inflexible to overcome current challenges. Cloud HCM plays its part in breaking down rigid division, not only between departments but data sets as well. As a powerful integration tool, it can bring together information and related components that do not naturally connect. For example, analytical tools can be combined with a combination of absentee data and workforce plans to model scenarios and combat skill gaps in reality. Such is the case with newly available Oracle Analytics for Fusion HCM, which seamlessly draws together and uses cross-functional data.

Cloud HCM’s’ removal of barriers applies to people too. The future of work is about connection, and contemporary applications equip employees to work more diversely within an organisation, collaborating with colleagues across the whole company ecosystem. Hierarchies and silos have given way to a flattened organisational structure of diverse networks working towards a single goal, opening the door to innovation and greater operational agility.

The foundation of a lasting, successful business process change is a culture shift. The latest HCM tools break down resistance to new systems, especially now as workers engage with the modules regularly from their remote work location. HCM is ushering in acceptance of a whole new way of working, with the likes of voice-commanded digital assistants proving their time-saving value, and other benefits, to users.

The new world of work is unquestionably one of co-existence between humans and autonomous systems, underpinned by the likes of machine learning and robotics. Just as traditional HR helped to streamline an employee’s entrance into an organisation, maximise their contribution and bolster their employability, cloud HCM is fulfilling the same function. This, while bringing together man and machine, which is key to business success in the future of work.
*Contributed by Ronnie Toerien, Oracle HCM Sales Development & Strategy Leader – Africa
 *JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Addressing cross-border insurance in Africa - ITREALMS

Africa remains one of the regions with the greatest growth potential in the world with African organisations focusing their growth strategies beyond borders. With these growth strategies come complex new risks which demand sophisticated cross-border insurance solutions. Doing business between different African countries means that all involved need comprehensive cross-border insurance, as this can protect operations by covering all potential risks that may arise between different legal frameworks. DLA Piper’s Luc Bigel and Hamza Akli share insight on Africa’s challenges in this regard and how to structure an efficient, cost-effective insurance programme for cross border risks. Excerpts.

What are the main challenges to trade in Africa, particularly with regard to potential business loss?

We believe there are two main challenges, depending on the situation in which the investor or partner finds themselves. The first is that of solvency. Indeed, in many African countries there is an obligation to use local players to provide insurance cover, at least on the front line. In our view, these protective rules are an opportunity for African countries to develop their own insurance industry. However, the difficulty stems from the fact that the solvency rules of local insurers are not yet uniform, such as in Europe, and they may have limited coverage capacities in terms of amounts. Thus, to these first frontlines, we add second line or other policies (master / umbrella) whose purpose will be to enable compliance with the local requirements of African countries while allowing the investor to match his level of risk exposure with corresponding coverage capacities.

It is clear that the real issue is therefore to match the capacities of the global insurance market while adhering to local constraints. In this respect, reinsurance can be a useful solution. There is also the challenge of agreeing on the typology of insurance to be put in place. Not all insurance has the same purpose. This work of completeness between the market offers and the content of the project contracts must involve collaboration between the lawyer, the risk manager and the broker or insurer. This collaboration makes it possible to limit risk exposure as much as possible.

What are the insurance policies that would cover these potential losses?

There are several insurance policies that are intended to be mobilized and, in this respect, it should be noted that there are several influences on the insurance market in Africa. Some regions, with more Anglo-Saxon influence, will experience slightly different insurance mechanisms from the French-speaking regions of influence.

There are schematically three types of cover relating to the implementation of a project, the exact contours of which vary according to the African countries. The first type of coverage is construction site coverage. The purpose of this cover is to protect against any damage affecting the construction site until the completed project’s delivery. Thus, when the building site is a few weeks old, the eventual compensation is quite low which is not the same as when the building site is a few days away from its delivery and a fire breaks out.

The second type of coverage is contractor's liability. It can happen that, in the course of a project or construction, a contractor realizes the financial consequences of damage that will have to be repaired.

Finally, the third coverage is that attached to the construction itself. Its purpose is to cover construction defects in a manner uncorrelated to civil liability. In addition to these insurance types relating to the conduct of a project, there are also the insurance policies intended to cover the conduct of the infrastructure activity such as multi-risk or business interruption insurance – which are particularly useful. We are also witnessing an emerging phenomenon, that of the implementation of cyber coverage intended to cover damage of this nature.

How does regulation, and the different regulation regimes from state to state, come into play when looking at a cross-border insurance programme?

Such differences need to be considered especially now, as we can witness that the insurance sector in Africa is evolving because of the regulatory changes that are impacting the market. We strongly believe that this new regulatory framework being implemented should not be viewed as a brake or constraint on a cross border insurance program but as a genuine development challenge. The main topic is that of local compulsory insurance, local retention, or the establishment of a local first line. These points are the most important to consider and require case-by-case studies.

What are the key factors to consider in setting up a cross-border insurance structure?

As just previously mentioned, the regulatory environment should be taken into account, particularly at the moment, with the support of local branches that have a clear vision of the hurdles to overcome region by region. The insurance system and the regulatory requirements as well as the market practices may vary greatly, not only the region where the project is considered but also depending on the moment the investors are willing to engage in such a project.

It is necessary to have a clear vision of the risks that may affect a project, of the local insurance market and of the compliance rules of the states in question. Such visions cannot be achieved without a strong local support and a deep analysis of the regulatory environment.

What are the different options or types of cross-border insurance structures? Is there a best option?
Unfortunately, there is no magic formula! The best option is team cooperation as well as legal and insurance cooperation in order to set up a programme that meets the needs of investors and is compliant with each of the local regulations.

Are there legal compliance requirements associated with African trade and the necessity of cross-border insurance?

There are rules for the use of local insurers (especially primary insurers) as well as local compulsory insurance. Each legislation is particular and specific to each region.

*Contributed by Luc Bigel, DLA Piper France Counsel and Hamza Akli, DLA Piper France Associate

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Monday, May 25, 2020

COVID-19: Online publisher lauds FG planned stimulus package for media, creative industry - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:
The Federal Government (FG) has been lauded by a leading online publisher, Femi Soneye, over the planned stimulus package initiated to cushion effects of COVID-19 on Nigerian media and the creative industry, reports ITREALMS.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also received a pat on the back for the expected intervention.

Soneye, Publisher and CEO of Persecondnews.com, gave the commendation in Abeokuta on Monday while presenting COVID-19 palliatives to the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council at the Press Centre, known as Iwe Irohin House.

Soneye, who was represented by Ayodele Akinsola, Persecondnews Managing Editor, said: “A recent bold step to give a stimulus package to the media and creative industry by the Hon. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is cheery news and a timely intervention amid COVID-19 pandemic.

“We urge the Minister to pursue this agenda to a logical conclusion.”

Describing the media as one of the tripod stands on which the nation’s democracy rests, thrives and flourishes, he urged journalists not to spare any effort in holding public officials accountable to the people.

He, however, pointed out that only accurate and factual reports could hold public officials accountable to the citizens.

He said: “Journalists, as members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm after the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, are empowered by Section 22 of Chapter two of the 1999 Constitution.

“Without free press and free speech, democracy is endangered.

“I recall with nostalgia our efforts and struggles on a heroic scale to fight the military to a standstill and return the country to constitutional democracy in 1999 have not been adequately rewarded and reciprocated by the political class with some of them scandalously harassing, brutalising and clamping down on the media.”

Still expounding the role of the media, the publisher added: “The media, in spite of its imperfections like democracy, are indispensable to the nation’s fledgling democracy of about 21 years and to the Nigeria Project.”

On the state of the Nigerian media, Soneye noted that the parlous state of the economy had caused thousands of journalists to lose their jobs due to permanent shut down of their organisations, while others are being owed one or two years salaries.

He said: “I wish, therefore, to make a passionate appeal to those in authority at all levels – federal, state and local government – to patronise the media – newspapers, magazines, online publications, radio and television stations – to stay afloat.”

On the COVID-19 pandemic, Soneye commended the media for its excellent coverage of the health crisis across the country in spite of the attendant risks to lives and urged them to continue to join forces with the government to rout the virus.

He said: “As experts and WHO have said, it is unlikely for the virus to go away soon.

“There is, therefore, the need for us as journalists to be COVID-19 protocol-compliant — stay safe, play safe, observe physical distancing, use your face mask, wash your hands and use sanitizers.”

Soneye also challenged journalists to report research findings and investigations on COVID-19 therapeutics, especially the local cure – herbal or orthodox – to defeat the virus.

Wale Oluokun, Secretary, Ogun State NUJ Caretaker Committee, who received the items on behalf of the chairperson, Omolola Adeyinka, thanked Persecondnews for the gesture, which he described as first of its kind.

Oluokun said: “It is quite novel and welcoming that journalists can look back and give back to the profession; it is equally commendable.

“Apart from the gifts, a strong message has been passed to us to take the fight against coronavirus seriously.”

Among the officers present at the presentation were Lekan Yinusa (Sweet FM), Bidemi Bello (Channels TV), Anthony Gandonu and Bunmi Adigun.

Ayo Midele/Editor

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Asiwaju applauds Aregbesola @63 - ITREALMS


ITREALMS:
The All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has applauded the Minister of Interior,
Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, on his 63rd birthday, reports ITREALMS.

Tinubu commended him for his pioneering inspirational leadership in Osun and for his continued service to Nigeria.

In a statement congratulating him on his 63rd birthday issued by his Media Office and signed by Tunde Rahman, Asiwaju Tinubu said: “Ogbeni Aregbesola has done a lot for his state and country. He laid the foundation for the infrastructural development of the State of Osun and turned it to what it is today: a modern state.

“He is creative and innovative. He provided inspirational leadership in Osun and now at the centre in Abuja.

“An engineer and political activist, Aregbesola made the difference in Lagos as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure for eight years, in Osun as governor for two terms and at present as Minister of Interior.

“He is resolute and committed to worthy causes. He is bold, courageous and always eager to take decisions that would impart the lives of a majority of our people.

“Aregbesola is loyal and dependable. He is someone I describe as my partner, comrade, friend and brother.

“He is an exceptional grassroots campaigner and mobilizer. And he remains invaluable to us in APC.

“I congratulate him as he turns 63. May the grace of Almighty Allah continue to be with him. May He grant him many more years, good health and renewed energy to continue in the service of our people and humanity."

Ayo Midele/Editor

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Pix: Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola

Featured post @ITREALMS

Sophia Oluchi Nwafor of Urum wins Anambra State 'Most Innovative Content Creator' - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news! A student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State in the Department of Eco...