Mobile Gaming Channel debuts in Nigeria, Ghana & Kenya - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Africa’s leading innovative media company Pulse and Good World Games today announced the introduction of Pulse Games channels across all its African digital media platforms (Pulse Nigeria, Pulse Ghana and Pulse Live Kenya). 

The channels will feature hundreds of premium hypercasual games along with new engaging media content.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring even more entertainment to our audience with this new addition to our content categories,” Yetunde Oyeleke, Director of Marketing, Pulse Africa expressed, “With the Pulse Games category, we’re offering an even richer digital experience to our users and this is strongly in line with our mission to engage Africa’s young audience and to lead in digital media innovation in Africa.”

The brand new Pulse Games channel (Pulse Nigeria Games, Pulse Ghana Games, Pulse Kenya Games) is a highly optimized gaming platform offering the best, instantly accessible HTML5 games from a variety of genres, including Arcade, Puzzle, Strategy, Action and Adventure. This lightweight platform is optimized to perform efficiently even where connectivity and device capabilities are limited.

“We are excited to power Pulse Games for Africa’s leading innovative media group,” said Gregory Sukornyk, CEO & Co-founder of Good World Games, creator and owner of GameTrove, “The growing demand for mobile, hypercasual gaming has been rising dramatically across Africa as it has the rest of the world. We believe Pulse’s fast-growing audience will embrace the curated selection of gaming content our platform offers.”

Derrick Horner, Chief Strategy Officer & Co-founder, added: “With improvements in web design and mobile and desktop browser functionality, leading media publishers have a major opportunity to embrace Html5 gaming experiences to grow and engage their online audiences. We expect to see explosive growth at the intersection of online media and casual games across Africa, which could ignite more activity among everyone from mobile operators to handset manufacturers.”

Pulse Games channel is now available across the following Pulse digital news platforms: Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.

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Protest your asset is investment - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The ‘Navigating Risk: Increasing Threats in the African Energy Market Under COVID-19’ webinar, hosted by Africa Oil & Power and the Africa Energy Chamber, tackled current threats to physical and cyber security of oil and gas assets on Friday; Panelists included Dr. Sara Vakhshouri, Founder & President of SVB Energy International; Shawn Robert Duthie, Managing Director of Inyani Intelligence; and C. Derek Campbell, CEO of Energy & Natural Resource Security, Inc.

Leaders in African energy risk management united in a webinar on Friday under the theme, ‘Navigating Risk: Increasing Threats in the African Energy Market Under COVID-19,’ to put forth strategies for mitigating physical, cyber and security risks, with a view toward protecting employees and assets.

From regulatory uncertainty to political unrest to physical and cyber security attacks, the risk of investment in several African countries has been heightened by the onset of COVID-19, not least of which has been the threat to stable energy demand.

“Global lockdowns have had a severe impact on both prices and demand. This double shock – in which both prices and demand collapsed – has implications for both oil producer and consumer countries,” said Dr. Sara Vakhshouri, Founder & President of SVB Energy International. “African countries are facing challenges to security of demand, since global consumption has been significantly hit. There are expectations that by the end of this year, demand will increase further and countries will start racking up their exports. But in the case of major African producers like Nigeria, we are seeing that they have not yet complied with OPEC production cuts.”

“The big impact of COVID-19 has been government-imposed lockdowns. It is the economic hit that increases risk for all businesses,” said Shawn Robert Duthie, Managing Director of Inyani Intelligence. “Lack of money means a lack of money for social services and social delivery. This could lead to social conflict. In South Africa, we haven’t seen much protest, but underneath it all, there is a growing social tension about how the government’s lockdown has affected people’s livelihoods and jobs.”

Reduced government revenues from crude oil exports due to a drop in demand could also lead to changes in tax and regulatory frameworks that govern oil-producing countries.

“Looking at a more macroeconomic level, we might see new regulations that increase taxes or financial burdens, especially on foreign companies and large multinationals,” Duthie added. “This is a risk for a lot of places, especially high-risk countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso that do have natural resources.”

When it comes to the increased threat to asset protection faced by companies during COVID-19, the question remains whether the crisis has only shed light on, rather than created, existing breaches in security.

“With a situation like COVID-19 coupled with depressed prices, your assets are exposed,” said C. Derek Campbell, CEO of Energy & Natural Resource Security, Inc. “You have human terrains gaps, cyber security gaps and indications and warnings of extremist groups looking at ways to attack infrastructure. As you have reduced manpower and lack of risk identification methods, you have invasion of sites. That’s at a tactical level.”

He highlighted that to mitigate potential threats to on-the-ground risk and security, regular risk assessment programs must be conducted to identify weaknesses and prevent breaches in security from affecting returns on project investments.

“Companies need to ensure that they have a consistent review and assessment program using global standards,” said Campbell. “In addition to an initial assessment, it needs to be done periodically. As an operator, you need to be able to ensure resiliency so that you can maintain continuity of operations. If you cannot do that, then you cannot optimize and monetize the asset. And that is what is at risk – capital investments in upstream, midstream and downstream projects. That is impacted by depressed prices because your posture is down and you are not concerned about protecting from physical and cyber risk, which ultimately impacts the financial risk.”

Sub-Saharan Africa has seen several physical and cyber-attacks in recent months, from pirates and vandals to militants, suggesting a need to prioritize investment into the security of projects in the region.

“There are a number of recent attacks offshore Equatorial Guinea, in Algeria around 2011 and 2012 and consistent threats that happen in Nigeria to operational networks in oil and gas, onshore and offshore,” Campbell noted. “When investors come in, they squeeze projects, charging a high rate of return. In order to mitigate financial risk, they squeeze the project and expect to get their returns in three years. But then the operator cannot mature the project because they don’t have the cash.

To mitigate that financial interplay between owners and operator, I recommend not looking at security of your asset as a cost, whether it’s a new Greenfield or ongoing activity. It is an investment that will help you mature that asset and make it grow.”

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Zimvest Economy Conversations to hold June 20 - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The digital private wealth and investment management firm, Zedcrest Investment Managers (“Zimvest”), will hold its maiden thought-leadership series named “Zimvest Economy Conversations” on Saturday, June 20, 2020.

Zimvest, the newly launched Investment Management subsidiary of Zedcrest, plans to be at the nexus of a continuing conversation series around Investment management and economic policy landscapes.

According to the company, “Zimvest Economy Conversations” was designed to improve Investment management competencies on the part of both Investors and Financial services providers. 

The maiden edition of the virtual event, themed “The Economic Landscape and Investor Preferences in Post-pandemic Africa”, seeks to explore the changing dynamics of the fiduciary relationship between the Investor and the financial institution. Today’s Investors want to take a more active approach to money management, evidenced by the massive shift to self-investing in Fixed-Income instruments and Alternative assets.

Speaking on Zimvest’s launch and the Zimvest Economy Conversations series, the Group Managing Director of Zedcrest, Adedayo Saheed Amzat, CFA, said “This episode will also look at the immediate economic environment and suggest practical actions that Businesses and Investors can take as the Economy resumes from the lockdowns effected in the wake of the COVID-19 health crises, and the attendant economic woes the virus leaves in its wake. It is hoped that Businesses/Investors will get more clarity as to the required next steps to steer their Businesses & Investments back to growth.”

“We are in a strong position to lead this dialogue as we have a strong reputation as financial market experts with recognition coming from the likes of the FMDQ and BusinessDay. Our Global markets subsidiary, Zedcap Partners, won the “best brokerage service provider” award at the 2019 FMDQ Gold awards. The Group also won the “Most Diversified Financial services Group” award at the 2019 BusinessDay awards. We have helped Banks, Pension funds, Insurance firms and Foreign Investors get access to the best investment products for the past seven years and we are now devoting the same expertise to the Individual and Corporate clients”, he added.

The first session which will take place from 11am to 1pm is headlined by Bola Onadele Koko, CEO of FMDQ as the Keynote Speaker. Confirmed panelists are Ini Ebong, Group Executive, Treasury & Financial Institutions at First Bank; Esiri Agbeyi, Partner and Head, Private Wealth Services at PWC; Adetoun Dosunmu, Treasurer at FBN Merchant Bank; Onome Komolafe, Divisional Head, CSCS & EX-COO at Coronation Merchant Bank; Chiefo Ejiofobiri, National Head, Product Sales at Fidelity Bank; & Abiola Adekoya, Wealth Expert and Ex-CEO at RMB Securities. The event will be moderated by Wole Famurewa, Anchor at CNBC Africa.

The maiden edition organized in partnership with online market news, data and research firm, Proshare Nigeria Limited is targeted at Investors, Businesses, Bankers, Asset Managers, Corporate Executives, HNIs and all investment enthusiasts. 

On the process of participation, Gbenga Adigun, Business Head at Zimvest urged all interested participants to register via the event link on any of Zimvest’s social media platforms (@zimvest). “This is an event anyone interested in the changing economic landscape and evolution of the post-pandemic investor would not want to miss”, he said.

“We are also using this medium to immensely thank our keynote speaker, moderator and the panelists for making out time to be part of this event. We are excited at the depth of knowledge and experience they will bring to bear on the conversations, he added.

Zimvest, a subsidiary of the foremost financial solutions powerhouse, Zedcrest, is licensed by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) as a Fund & Portfolio Manager. The company's products are designed to offer inflation and currency protection, risk management and sustainable growth. Other members of the Zedcrest Group include the leading consumer finance brand – Zedvance Finance, the leading Interdealer-Brokerage firm – Zedcap Partners and proprietary investment firm – Zedcrest Capital.

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Democracy Day: Fayemi says June 12, reminder a new Nigeria is possible - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has advocated the commencement of a new conversation that will arouse the citizens' confidence of a better life and a brighter future, reports ITREALMS.

Dr. Fayemi said June 12 holds a significant lesson that a new and better Nigeria having a democracy that instils confidence of the citizenry is possible.

The Ekiti helmsman who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) stated this in a commentary entitled: "Reminiscences on June 12 Struggle and its Imperatives" made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti, on Friday in commemoration of the this year's Democracy Day.

Fayemi paid glowing tributes to President Muhammadu Buhari for giving official recognition to June 12 as the nation's Democracy Day describing it as a symbolic gesture which has provided a psychosocial healing for the people who sacrificed for the enthronement of Democracy.

The Governor noted that Buhari, by the gesture, would be fondly remembered after he might have left office for giving June 12 a significant place in the national diary and acknowledging the symbol of the struggle, Chief Moshood Abiola as the rightful winner of the election and taking a step further to give him the nation's highest honour.

Buhari's gesture, Fayemi said, was also made remarkable by the highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) he conferred on the late Abiola who all the previous administrations had refused to recognise as the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Speaking on the significance of the date, Fayemi said: "The greatest take away from June 12 is that of the possibility of a new Nigeria where our so-called fault lines would no longer matter as our best lines.

"I therefore urge that we start a new conversation around a democracy that instils confidence in the citizenry, enables unrestrained breathing and holds a promise of a better life for all irrespective of whom they are or where they come from.

"This, for me, was the most significant lesson of June 12 and we must teach it, learn it and keep it etched in our sub-conscious in the certainty that a new Nigeria, a better Nigeria is possible.

"This symbolic gesture has provided a psycho-social healing for the people who sacrificed, including their lives, for the enthronement of democracy.

"Human life is generally ritualized and practised and that is the reason we talk of culture as an established conduct that has gained repeated and entrenched value for some time among a people.

"The declaration of June 12 as our National Democracy Day therefore, means for me, a significant and courageous move to further enculturate accountability even about knotty and unresolved historical issues of national importance."

According to him, June 12 was a concept that aggregated the collective resolve of the nation to see the end of military rule in Nigeria without minding threats to their lives and unprecedented brutality unleashed on them by the then ruling junta in demanding its revalidation.

Fayemi also paid tributes to distinguished Nigerians who stood to be counted in the struggle for the revalidation of June 12 and restoration of democracy.

He added: "When we recall the many sacrifices of these individuals, we would appreciate that the journey to our democratic nationhood was not an easy one.

"We must therefore, not only consciously tell the story of the significance of having June 12 as a National Democracy Day, we must also continue to re-engage ourselves in the useful conversations about how to re-enact the spirit of the time at a time of fractured unity.

"One can only look back now and thank God for surviving one of the most horrendous eras in our national history. The return of democracy in 1999 therefore, was a direct consequence of the relentless agitation by a coalition of civil society groups, students, labour movement, politicians, rights activists, journalists, academics and a host of people in the diaspora and diplomatic circles.

"It is one important moment that should never be forgotten because the tree of our democracy was irrigated with the blood of many known and unknown people who died as martyrs of democratic struggle," he said.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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What Buhari told Nigerians on first Democracy Day - ITREALMS

ForTheRecords@ITREALMS: 

Text of a National broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari on Democracy Day, June 12th 2020. 

Excerpts:

Fellow Nigerians,
1. The 2020 celebration of Democracy Day marks 21 years of uninterrupted civil administration in our dear country. This day provides us an opportunity to reflect on our journey as a nation, our achievements and struggles.
2. It is a day to honour our founding fathers who toiled to establish our republic and every Nigerian who has worked tirelessly to sustain it.
3. We are celebrating this year’s Democracy Day despite the COVID-19 pandemic which afflicts our nation and the whole world.
4. It is indeed a very difficult time for everyone especially those who have lost loved ones to the virus and those whose sources of livelihood have been severely constrained by the stringent measures we introduced at every level of government to contain the virus and save lives.
5. The dedication of our health and other essential services staff towards containing this virus is a testament of our courage and resilience as a people and as a great nation, and I use this opportunity to say thank you to all of you for your service to the nation.
6. Sustaining our democracy thus far has been a collective struggle, and I congratulate all Nigerians and particularly leaders of our democratic institutions on their resilience and determination to ensure that Nigeria remains a shining example of democracy.
7. In my 2019 Democracy Day address, I promised to frontally address the nation’s daunting challenges, especially insecurity, economy and corruption. I therefore find it necessary to give an account of my stewardship on this day.
8. We have recorded notable achievements in the course of implementing our nine priority objectives and are establishing a solid foundation for future success.
9. On the economic front, our objectives have remained to stabilize the macroeconomy, achieve agricultural and food security, ensure energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products, develop infrastructure, fight corruption and improve governance.
10. We have witnessed eleven quarters of consecutive GDP growth since exiting recession. The GDP grew from 1.91% in 2018 to 2.27% in 2019 but declined to 1.87% in the first quarter of 2020 as a result of the decline in global economic activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
11. Every single economy in the world has suffered a decline. Ours has been relatively moderate.
12. In order to stabilize the economy, the Monetary Authority took steps to build the external reserves which resulted in improved liquidity in the foreign exchange market. The external reserves grew from $33.42 billion on April 29th 2020 to about $36.00 billion in May, 2020 which is enough to finance seven months of import commitments.
13. Agriculture remains the key to our economic diversification strategy. The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative programme continues to deliver significant quantities of affordable and high-quality fertilizers to our farmers. This initiative has also revived 31 blending plants and created a significant number of direct and indirect jobs across the value chain.
14. Government is also revamping the cotton, textile and garment sector via a CBN Textile Revival Intervention Fund that would considerably reduce foreign exchange spent on cotton and other textile imports.
15. Through the food security initiative, we are promoting “Grow What We Eat” and “Eat What We Grow”. I am also delighted that more and more Nigerians are taking advantage of the opportunities in the agriculture and agri-business sector. I assure you that government will continue to support the Agriculture sector through the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme and similar schemes.
16. To protect our farming investments, we have deployed 5,000 Agro-Rangers and employed 30,289 in our para-military agencies.
17. We are also integrating rural communities to the formal economy by extending access to credit and inputs to rural farmers and building feeder roads.
18. Our efforts on growing non-oil exports have started to yield some results. For instance, in the past year, our revenue from Cocoa and Sesame Seed increased by $79.4 million and $153 million.
19. Africa presents a huge opportunity for our export base diversification and we are developing our strategy to grow intra-Africa trade through the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.
20. Nigeria has risen by 25 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking from 146th to 131st and is now rated as one of the top ten reforming countries.
21. This development is due to the Visa on Arrival policy, consistent promotion of initiatives that expand facilities available to Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, robust electronic registration and payment system, seamless processing of business registration and reduction of cost of registering business by 50%. We are confident that on-going efforts would result in further improvement of this rating.
22. We remain committed to expanding our mining sector. To this end, I have directed the resuscitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant based on Government-to-Government financing and a Public-Private Sector financing.
23. With foreign and domestic investments and the participation of Small Scale Miners, we are harnessing the supply value chain in gold production.
24. We would also be launching a fully digitized mineral rights management platform for quick processing of mineral rights application, digitization of records and plugging revenue leakages.
25. The Power Sector remains very critical to meeting our industrial development aspirations and we are tackling the challenges that still exist in the delivery of power through different strategies.
26. We are executing some critical projects through the Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme including the:
a. Alaoji to Onitsha, Delta Power Station to Benin and Kaduna to Kano;
b. 330kv DC 62km line between Birnin Kebbi and Kamba;
c. Lagos/Ogun Transmission Infrastructure Project;
d. Abuja Transmission Ring Scheme; and
e. Northern Corridor Transmission Project.
27. Our agreement with Siemens will transmit and distribute a total of 11,000 Megawatts by 2023, to serve our electricity needs.
28. On transportation, another critical sector to improving our economic competitiveness, we are growing the stock and quality of our road, rail, air and water transport infrastructure.
29. Through the SUKUK-Funded Road Projects, a total of 412km of the targeted 643km road projects have been completed, representing 64%.
30. The Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund projects are also progressing very well. On the 2nd Niger Bridge, piling work has been completed and the approach roads are being constructed. 48% of work on this bridge has been achieved. We have constructed 102km of the 376km Abuja – Kaduna – Kano Road, representing 38%, and the 42.9km Obajana – Kabba Road is 87.03% complete.
31. Furthermore, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency has completed routine maintenance on over 4,000km of federal roads out of the 5,000km targeted.
32. We are extending and upgrading our railway network too. We are introducing more locomotives, coaches and wagons for the Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line. The Central Ajaokuta – Itakpe - Warri Line has been completed and is being extended from Itakpe to Abuja on one end and from Warri Town to Warri Port on the other.
33. The Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line is 90% completed and would be extended to the Lagos Port which would help address the long-standing grid-lock at the Apapa port.
34. The Kano – Maradi Single Track Standard Gauge Railway, Coastal Railway Project and Port Harcourt – Maiduguri Standard Gauge Railway, with its associated branch lines running through the South Eastern and Gombe States, industrial park and Bonny Deep Sea Port are all ready for concessioning.
35. Government continues to make investments in the Aviation sector to position it as a travel and trade hub in West Africa and the wider African continent.
36. Airport Terminals in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt are being expanded, while the rehabilitation of the Enugu Airport is almost completed. All our airports are being raised to international standards with the provision of necessary equipment, especially navigational aids, to guarantee world class safety standards.
37. For the first time in over ten years, Nigeria is conducting bidding process for 57 Marginal Oil Fields to increase revenue and increase the participation of Nigerian companies in oil and exploration and production business.
38. We continue to grow local content in other areas of the oil and gas sector with the disbursement of funds from the $200 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund to indigenous manufacturers and service providers.
39. With sustained engagement of youths, opinion leaders and other stakeholders, we have restored peace in the Niger Delta Region and maintained our oil production levels.
40. The Head office of the Niger Delta Development Commission will be commissioned shortly. The Funding of sections I–IV of the East-West Road shall be pursued with a view to completing the project by the end of 2021.
41. Furthermore, I am determined to ensure that development meant for the people of the Niger Delta get to them so I have authorised a Forensic Audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
42. Digital Economy continues to play an important role in our development agenda as we move into the age of Artificial Intelligence.
43. Since the creation of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy has been launched. Steps have been taken to achieve a reduction of connectivity cluster gaps from 207 to 114 as well as increase the level of 4G coverage by 30%.
44. Nigeria remains committed to expanding access to quality education to enhance the productivity of its citizens and would continue to pursue the enforcement of free and compulsory basic education for the first 9 years of schooling.
45. In pursuit of this, we have launched the Better Education Service Delivery for All in 17 states, established additional 6 Federal Science and Technical Colleges and currently executing a pro-active Teacher Training Plan with all states of the Federation.
46. In our revision of the operations of specialized education funds and to implement reforms that would optimize their benefits to the sector, we have adopted a Public-Private Sector Partnership for provision of infrastructure and also collaborate with the private sector to create jobs.
47. Our pursuit of affordable housing for the low and middle-income earners has received a boost with the delivery of 1,200 housing units, provision of 520 service plots with infrastructure through a Public Private Sector partnership and the issuance of 868 mortgages totaling N7.7 Billion. Similarly, Home Renovation Loans totaling N16.2 Billion have been granted to 19,210 people.
48. To enable sustainable access to safe and sufficient water to meet the social, cultural, environmental and economic development needs of all Nigerians, we continue to expand our water supply, irrigation and dam facilities.
49. The Completion of Amauzari, Amla Otukpo and other 42 Earth Dams with combined job creation of about 43,354 direct jobs and 71,172 indirect jobs, would provide more support for irrigation agriculture and water supply.
50. To further institutionalize our effort in this regard, I signed the Executive Order 009 on Ending Open Defecation in Nigeria.
51. In order to improve our forest cover and in fulfilment of my commitment at the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2019, we have commenced the planting of 25 million trees. This initiative will also contribute to our effort to mitigate the effect of climate change.
52. In the area of security, we remain unshaken in our resolve to protect our national infrastructure including on-shore and off-shore oil installations, secure our territorial waters and end piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
53. Ending insurgency, banditry and other forms of criminality across the nation is being accorded appropriate priorities and the men and women of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have considerably downgraded such threats across all geo-political zones.
54. All the Local Governments that were taken over by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have long been recovered and are now occupied by indigenes of these areas who were hitherto forced to seek a living in areas far from their ancestral homes.
55. The total collapse of the economies of these areas, which constituted a threat to our food security, has also been reversed with the gradual recovery of farming and other economic activities.
56. I regret recent sporadic incidents with tragic loss of lives in Katsina and Borno States as a result of criminals taking advantage of COVID-19 restrictions. Security Agencies will pursue the perpetrators and bring them to swift justice.
57. I must implore state and local governments to revamp their intelligence assets so that the Security Agencies can nip in the bud any planned attacks in remote rural areas. I send my heartfelt condolences to all the relatives and communities affected.
58. As part of the strengthening of our internal security architecture, the Ministry of Police Affairs was created.
59. Amongst others, Government has expanded the National Command and Control Centre to nineteen states of the federation, resuscitated the National Public Security Communication System and commenced the implementation of the Community Policing Strategy.
60. Government has similarly established a Nigerian Police Trust Fund as a public-private sector vehicle for alternative sources of funding security activities.
61. To reduce security challenges through our external borders especially smuggling of oil products out of the country, inflow of small arms and drugs into the country and equally protect our local manufacturers, we introduced operation “Ex-Swift Response” closing our borders from August 20th 2019, and have considerably succeeded in meeting its objectives as well as improving our national revenue.
62. Our Government has continued to work to reduce social and economic inequality through targeted social investment programmes, education, technology and improved information.
63. Our Social Investment Programme has continued to be a model to other nations and has engaged 549,500 N-Power beneficiaries, 408,682 beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme and 2,238,334 beneficiaries of the Growth Enhancement and Empowerment Programme. This is being done in collaboration with the States.
64. Similarly, “Marketmoni” and “Tradermoni” Programmes have provided affordable loans to small and micro scale enterprises to grow their businesses. Under the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, over 9,963,729 children are being fed to keep them in school and improve their nutritional status.
65. Fellow Nigerians, the year 2020 has been like none other. In January 2020, the COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. The number of global infections has risen from less than 8,000 shared between China and eighteen other countries to over 7million spread over 216 countries and on all continents.
66. Nigeria recorded its first case of COVID-19 on February 27th 2020 and within the first 100 days, I have had cause to address the nation on three occasions within one month, which underscores the gravity of this pandemic.
67. There is no doubt that this pandemic has affected the global economy and all known socio-economic systems. It has also brought grief and pain to families that have lost their loved ones. Like many Nigerians, I feel the grief and pain not only as your President but also as someone who has lost a close member of my staff and some relatives and friends.
68. In order to have a robust National response, I approved a Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to provide guidance and leadership in tackling the pandemic nationwide.
69. State Governments also constituted their own COVID-19 Task Forces. Complementing this was the establishment of a National Emergency Operations Centre responsible for providing technical and professional guidance in the National Response.
70. The overall objective of the PTF COVID-19 is to ensure that the pandemic does not overwhelm our health systems, while ensuring that we maintain an effective Case Management System to help in containing the spread of the virus.
71. The impact of the pandemic has disrupted our economic system and to ensure its functioning while still addressing the spread, the Federal Government put in place a number of various non-pharmaceutical measures to slow down the spread of the virus, in addition to a progressive re-opening of the economy.
72. As part of the strategy to create jobs in reducing the effect of COVID-19 on our youths, I directed the employment of 774, 000 Nigerians. These youths will be engaged in Special Public Works Programme aimed at cushioning the effects of economic downturn. Each of the 774 local government areas in the country will be allotted 1,000 slots. I am pleased to report that this programme has commenced.
73. I receive regular briefing from the PTF on COVID-19. I note that the National Response relies on Science, Data and Experience in taking decisions. This informed my approval for the ease of lock down phase to ensure a balance between lives and livelihoods.
74. I am confident that the steps being taken by the PTF would result in flattening the COVID-19 curve. I, therefore, implore all Nigerians to abide by the approved guidelines and protocols. There is hope for us all if we take individual and collective responsibility.
75. Government is determined to turn this COVID-19 challenge into a motivation to action by building a nation-wide public health care system that will help us overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for any future outbreak.
76. Already, we have begun to look inward and I charge our inventors, researchers and scientists to come up with solutions to cure COVID-19.
77. Government has continued to implement accountability and transparent policies through the Open Government Partnership and the transparency portal on financial transactions. Similarly, we have strengthened auditing and accountability mechanisms so as to ensure that rules and regulations are followed strictly.
78. Anti-Corruption Agencies have secured more than 1,400 convictions and also recovered funds in excess of N800 billion. These monies are being ploughed into development and infrastructure projects.
79. The Public Service of Nigeria remains the bedrock for the formulation and implementation of policies, programmes and projects in the country. This accounts for why it continues to evolve especially as new socio-economic challenges emerge for Government to address.
80. I will continue to give all the necessary support for the on-going reforms designed to return discipline, integrity and patriotism as the hallmark of the public service.
81. In the face of dwindling resources and rising cost of governance, I have authorized that the White Paper on the Rationalisation of Government Parastatals and Agencies be reviewed for implementation.
82. Our youth population remains a source of strength in achieving development objectives. In this regard, we would continue to concentrate in developing their skills, providing them with opportunities to express their entrepreneurial, research and industrial capacities as well as ample opportunity to take leadership positions in the service of the nation.
83. The commitment of this Administration to the well-being of people living with disabilities remains unwavering. Government recognises their contributions to development. I have directed that all relevant Government agencies pay special attention to the peculiarities of persons with disabilities in the formulation and implementation of their policies and programmes, and where suitable their employment.
84. Nigerian women remain a particular treasure to this nation and for this reason this Administration has continued to give them a place of pride in the affairs of our country.
85. I salute your courage, enterprise and resilience as well as your contributions to national development. I wish to assure all our women of this administration’s determination to fight Gender Based Violence through the instrumentality of the law and awareness creation. I am particularly upset at recent incidents of rape especially of very young girls. The Police are pursuing these cases with a view to bringing perpetrators of these heinous crimes to swift justice.
86. Government continues to recognize and harness the power of the media for positive development. The reforms of the broadcast and advertising industries including digital switch over and continuous engagement through town hall meetings remain central to accurate and credible information dissemination.
87. Our culture provides the basis for our existence as a people and a nation. In preserving iconic aspects of our national culture, this government has been pursuing the recovery of artefacts removed from Nigeria, promoting heritage sites and festivals and working towards designating some of our heritage sites as UNESCO World Heritage Centres.
88. This administration is focused on ensuring that Nigeria would always be governed by the Rule of Law and I would do my utmost to uphold the constitution and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians.
89. Government has initiated a number of policies and programmes designed to promote the legal rights of Nigerians, facilitate the institutionalization of a responsive legal system, provide support to all constituted bodies in implementing their mandates and improve our custodial system of justice.
90. The National Assembly has been an important partner in our quest to sustain our democracy and achieve our development objectives.
91. I therefore greatly thank the leadership and members of the Senate and the House of Representatives for their invaluable support at all times.
92. I will also like to convey our deep appreciation to members of the Press for your doggedness in the struggle for attainment of democracy since the beginning of our nationhood.
93. I must admit that the relationship between the media and successive governments has not always been perfect. But there is no denying the fact that you have been an effective watchdog for the society especially in holding public officers to account. It is sad that in the course of securing our democracy, some of your colleagues have had to pay a heavy price.
94. We will continue to guarantee freedom of the Press as we place high premium on responsible journalism that is devoid of hate speech, fake news and other unethical professional conduct.
95. Fellow Nigerians, as we celebrate this year’s Democracy Day, let us remember that, notwithstanding our aspirations, humanity and indeed democracy is under the threat of COVID-19. Nigeria has survived many crises before and came out stronger. I am confident that by God’s grace we shall overcome this one and emerge stronger and more purposeful.
96. Thank you for listening. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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Junaid, Adebayo, Olodo for 2nd ITREALMS-DigitalSENSE webinar series - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:
The speakers for the second edition of the ITREALMS digital rights webinar series in collaboration with DigitalSENSE Africa, DNS Women – Nigeria and NaijaAgroNet, has been confirmed, with the theme: ‘Women and Rights in Digital Era’ reports ITREALMS.

The trio includes an author cum activist and social entrepreneur, Morenike Adebayo; a United Kingdom (UK)-based developmental actor, Abimbola Junaid and security analyst and president, Africa Security Forum, Mr. Temitope Olodo.

According to the Executive Director, Operations at DigitalSENSE Africa, Mrs. Nkem Nweke, the speakers in confirming attendance expressed readiness to address their respective subthemes judiciously.

She also said that the rate of recent rapes of women and girls in the country cannot be over-emphasised, decrying the situation in Nigeria, especially for the fact that some of the victims started off on social media like Facebook before ending up in rape and death.

Mrs Nweke said that confirmed knowledgeable speakers for this second edition include an author, activist and social entrepreneur, Morenike Adebayo, who would speak to the topic on “Nigerian Youth, Women and Rights in Digital Era.” A United Kingdom-based development actor, Abimbola Junaid will treat the Role of CSOs in safeguarding Women and Rights in Digital Era. Just as a renowned security analyst who presides over the Africa Security Forum, Mr. Temitope Olodo.

She noted that Morenike Adebayo who is the author of “52 Thoughts on Nigerian Politics,” activist and social entrepreneur, is a graduate of Politics and International Relations from the University of Bath, United Kingdom.

As said by Mrs Nweke, also on the lineup of speakers is the United Kingdom-based parliamentary aide and development actor, Abimbola Junaid and security analyst who presides over the Africa Security Forum, Mr. Temitope Olodo.

This webinar, slated for Saturday, June 13, 2020 by 11am, is second in Digital Rights series hosted by 

ITREALMS, an international award-winning news platform in collaboration with DigitalSENSE Africa Media, an Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) accredited At-Large Structure (ALS), Domain Name System [DNS] Women (Nigeria) and NaijaAgroNet, a publication focusing on Sustainable Development, women, environment and new energy.

In February 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent to the initial Digital Rights and Freedom (DRF) Bill after it was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate at the 8th National Assembly respectively.

The Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) stipulates that to “End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere; Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation; Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

Equally, Goal 5 is to “Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life. Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, as well as undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, to name a few.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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Zoho debuts with Bigin, a CRM solution for SMEs - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

Zoho, a global technology company that offers the most comprehensive suite of business software applications in the industry, today launched Bigin, a pipeline-centric CRM software designed specifically for small and micro business owners.

‘Bigin by Zoho CRM’ has been designed to provide a simple solution for small businesses to keep track of their customers and improve customer relationships without having to worry about high costs or complicated features.

"Small businesses are the heart and soul of our communities and with business owners struggling more than ever right now, our goal is to bring world-class customer relationship management technology to every sized business at an extremely affordable price,”says Andrew Bourne, Zoho country manager for Africa. "We created Bigin to help small businesses achieve maximum growth with a minimal learning curve. Using the product, small businesses can stop relying on dozens of spreadsheets to manage customer activities and instead move to a CRM that is easy to use and allows them to focus on growing and building strong customer relationships."

Bigin is a pipeline-centric CRM solution focused on small businesses who do not need an elaborate, end-to-end CRM application. The product includes: 

30-minute setup: Bigin allows users to get up and running within 30 minutes.

Multiple pipelines for customer operations: Bigin offers the option to create multiple pipelines with fully customisable stages.

Telephony: Making and receiving calls anytime, anywhere is made possible through Telephony, that allows users to choose from a range of popular telephony providers, such as RingCentral, JustCall and Yeastar, in Zoho PhoneBridge Marketplace. Bigin pulls information on each customer and prospect that is being called, helping users to have informed conversations.

Workflow Automation: Bigin helps sales reps drastically cut down the time spent on repetitive manual tasks with automated workflows.

Real-time notifications and analytics: Real-time notifications from prospects are delivered inside the CRM solution. Bigin includes out-of-the-box analytics dashboards with charts and KPIs.

Fully mobile: Users can manage emails, stay updated with their pipeline, and access key business information in real time with Bigin’s mobile apps for iOS and Android devices.

Bigin is priced at N2100 per user, per month, billed annually, specifically to cater to the budgets of small businesses, which do not yet need an elaborate, end-to-end CRM solution. Bigin is also suited for freelancers and individuals who want to manage their personal business pipelines online.

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Polaris Bank's SurePadi impacts millions households in 100 days - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Within its first 100 days of introduction, Polaris Bank’s Agency Banking initiative, SurePadi, has serviced over half a million customers impacting directly an estimated two million households across the seven business regions of the Bank nationwide. 

Beyond the direct impact on customers and households in Nigeria, the sheer volume and value in financial numbers on the gross earnings of the Bank has been significant as the Agency recorded giant strides in the number of services and transaction volumes it processed which was valued N10 billion.

The Bank in a statement quoted its Chief Digital Officer (CDO), Mr. Dele Adeyinka, as explaining that, in the first 100 days of introducing SurePadi, it had carried out over 500,000 services, and transaction volume above N10billion directly servicing over two million households, giving them easy access to cash for businesses and family needs. 

According to Adeyinka: “As a result of this milestone, SurePadi was ranked 5th in Q1, 2020 by the Shared Agent Network Expansion Facility (SANEF) report—an indication that it is bridging the gap and helping people to meet their needs of accessing funds; as well as sending money to their loved ones.” 

The CDO further stated that: “This is also part of Polaris Bank’s ongoing effort to drive financial inclusion among the underbanked and unbanked in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) regulatory mandate; intimating that 'from what we have seen so far, we are already making significant progress in this regard.” 

"With SurePadi’s spread across far-flung areas nationwide, this laudable initiative by the Bank has shown another way to bank—without physically visiting a bank’s branch—which allows the customer to make cash deposits, transfer money and enjoy other banking services like bills payment and purchase of airtime amongst others", he opined.

SurePadi Agents ensure individuals in the suburbs do not have to travel long hours to the city for their basic banking needs. This is because the gap between the tech-savvy and the low literacy clients has been bridged by the Agent who represents a convenient and comfortable alternative.

Aside from cash deposits and transfers, Polaris SurePadi is also intended to attract prospects to a host of other products and services that could better their lives as they enjoy the ease, convenience and cost-saving benefits from completing transactions in the comfort of their locality.

SurePadi offers financial benefits for stakeholders with the Bank’s introduction of viable partnerships with Supermarkets, Retail outlets, dealers in FMCG, Petrol Stations, etc. It is unique with comprehensive features to solve financial needs as users now have the opportunity to complete transactions to solve emergency needs without visiting the Bank. 

In this COVID-19 era, where movement is restricted in some major parts of the world—including Nigeria, this platform also serves as one of the many measures by Polaris Bank to support the need to promote social distancing and reduce drastically where physically possible, interactions of customers in bank branches in line with protocols of preventing the spread of the disease.

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COVID-19 non-compliance: Anambra to close Eke Awka Market - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Anambra State government has declare that Eke Awka market would be closed from Monday, June 15, 2020, for lack of compliance to the Coronavirus or COVID-19 protocols, reports 

ITREALMS.

Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, disclosed this on Thursday to ITREALMS, saying that Eke Awka Market, in Awka South Local Government will be shut down.

This, he said, is as a result of non-compliance by the market traders and customers with Covid-19 protocols including wearing of protective face masks, provision of running water and soap for washing of hands, keeping of physical distancing to name a few.

He also said in a press statement avaialble ITREALMS, that effective Monday, 15th June, 2020, curfew in Awka South local government will be from 8pm to 6am daily, until further notice.

These actions by the government is as a result of increased cases of Covid-19 in Awka South Local Government.

The government is also putting other market leaders and local government councils in the state on notice that a similar curfew action will be taken, and markets in the local government closed down if it is discovered that such markets do not observe Covid-19 protocols.

"All should please be guided and take the issue of observing Covid-19 protocols seriously," he warned.

Ozo Nweke Ozo in Awka/Editor

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Sophos unveils advanced version EDR - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Global leader in next-generation cybersecurity, Sophos, has unveiled an updated version of its Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), the first solution designed for both security analysts and IT administrators, available now in Sophos Intercept X Advanced and Intercept X Advanced for Server with EDR, reports ITREALMS.

Significant advancements and new capabilities make it faster and easier than ever before for security analysts to identify and neutralize evasive threats, and for IT administrators to proactively maintain secure IT operations to reduce risk.

Sophos also published new research, “An Insider View into the Increasingly Complex Kingminer Botnet,” underscoring the use of servers in carrying out attacks and the importance of threat intelligence in detecting such activity. 

The opportunistic Kingminer botnet attempts to gain server access by brute-forcing login credentials, and Sophos now finds that it’s using the infamous EternalBlue exploit in an attempt to spread malware among other attack mechanisms. The new version of Sophos EDR offers a custom-built query engine to detect indicators of compromise.

Kingminer shares many of the attributes that advanced ransomware attackers use to gain access, evidence of the need for EDR with the ability to hunt active attacks. As Sophos recently discovered in its State of Ransomware 2020 survey, only 24 per cent of organizations breached in a ransomware incident were able to detect the intrusion and stop it before it was able to encrypt their files.

Sophos’ new EDR capabilities help security and IT teams detect threats and breaches that could otherwise take months to uncover.

“Cybercriminals are raising the stakes, stopping at nothing to capitalize on expanded attack surfaces as organizations increasingly move to the cloud and enable remote workforces. Servers and other endpoints are all too insufficiently protected, creating vulnerable entry points that are ripe for attackers to exploit,” said Dan Schiappa, chief product officer, Sophos.

“Sophos EDR helps identify these attacks, preventing breaches and shining light on otherwise dark areas. Live querying capabilities only available with Sophos EDR in Intercept X enable organizations to search for past indicators of compromise and determine the current system state. This level of intelligence is critical in understanding changing attacker behaviors and reducing attacker dwell time.”

Sophos EDR now provides powerful visibility across an organization’s entire estate, enabling security and IT practitioners to quickly answer critical threat hunting and IT security operations questions, and easily respond. New features include:

· Live Discover: Pinpoint past and present activity with up to 90 days of data retention. Out-of-the-box ready SQL queries allow administrators to answer threat hunting and IT questions, and can be selected from a library of pre-written options and fully customized by users. This flexible query engine provides access to some of the most granular and detailed endpoint activity recordings that are further enhanced with Sophos' deep learning technology.

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NCC, FIRS sign MoU on VATable elements in telcos transactions - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Aligning with inter-agency collaboration, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to ensure the tax agency ascertain accuracy and completeness of value added tax (VAT) elements and other taxes payable in the transactions of telecoms operators, reports ITREALMS.

With the MoU, the FIRS will be able to integrate an application programming interface (API) technology solution with the systems of telecom Operators for independent verification of the amount of VAT that should be paid by mobile network operators (MNO) rather than relying entirely on the Operators’ books of accounts.

Speaking during the MoU signing ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said that diligence and appropriate due processes were undertaken to conclude the MoU, as the Commission took its time to understand the import of the MoU.

“Our concern, as Regulator of the telecoms industry, is that we needed to be sure that it is not another way to tax telecoms Operators, who are already dealing with multiple taxation issues. We have also ensured that the integration of the solutions with telcos’ transactions systems will not, in any way, impact the cost and quality of service delivery by the Operators to telecoms consumers,” he said.

Danbatta, therefore, assured telecoms consumers and stakeholders that the integration of FIRS solution with the Operators’ systems is entirely to ascertain the accuracy of the VAT elements being paid by the Operators on their transactions and will not, in any way, degrade the quality of service delivery or lead to high cost of service to the consumers.

In his comments, the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, FIRS, Muhammad Nami, who thanked the NCC for accepting to collaborate with the tax agency, said the MoU is mainly to ascertain completeness of tax transactions of mobile service providers to the Federal Government due to the shift of physical businesses to electronic-based business activities.

He said: “The API, which was developed in-house, is transaction-based and all we are trying to do is to ensure we have the basis for determining the completeness and accuracy of VAT elements in telecoms transactions.”

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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MFM Church services go live on TV today - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) has concluded arrangements to henceforth transmit her services live on television. The live services begin Wednesday, June 10, 2020, reports ITREALMS.

This followed the ongoing provision of adequate measures and installation of facilities to ensure successful reopening.

Chairman of the MFM Media Committee, Pastor Oladele Bank-Olemoh, who disclosed this, said "To reach more members, the Sunday services will be transmitted from 8am to 9am; Manna Water services on Wednesdays between 5 and 6pm, while the monthly power-packed Power Must Change Hands programme will be on air by 7 to 8am on the first Saturday of every month on the Lagos Television (LTV) from Wednesday, 10 June.

He also said that the Ministry’s General Overseer worldwide, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, considered the safety implications of opening the church for service, in view of her crowded services, prayer and deliverance nature, vibrancy and the peculiarity of her worship modes.

The International Headquarters of the MFM, situated at Onike, Yaba, in Lagos, hosts no fewer than 15,000 in any of her services.

The MFM urged her members to continue to fellowship through the media platforms already provided, which includes YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, MFM TV.

The ministry reminded members that services have not resumed yet, assuring that adequate notice will be given before the services resume.

Ayo Midele\Editor

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2nd ITREALMS, DigitalSENSE digital rights series harps on Women Rights in Digital Era webinar - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Concerned by the frequency of rapes in the country of late with some orchestrated through social media platforms, ITREALMS Online would this weekend stage its second edition of the Digital Rights Series Web Seminar (Webinar) on Saturday, June 13, 2020, reports ITREALMS.

The second edition of the Digital Rights Series is hosted by ITREALMS, an international award-winning news platform in collaboration with DigitalSENSE Africa Media, an Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) accredited At-Large Structure (ALS), DNS Women Nigeria and NaijaAgroNet, a publication focusing on Sustainable Development, women, environment and new energy; on the theme: ‘Women and Rights in Digital Era.’

Affirming this, the Executive Director, Operations at DigitalSENSE Africa, Mrs. Nkem Nweke, said that the rate of recent rapes of women and girl child in the country has become a great concern to her organisation and affiliates as well as women in Nigeria, especially for the fact that some of them started on social media like Facebook albeit ended in rape and death.

She said that while waiting for the National Assembly (NASS) to fast-track the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill (DRFB), its very important to note that the lives of Nigerian women and girls matter if the country must make viable progress in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Nweke recalled that in February 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent to the initial Digital Rights and Freedom (DRF) Bill after it was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate at the 8th National Assembly respectively, stressing that this will not deter actors.

The bill, she observed has gained momentum as its now with the public committee at the National Assembly and commended the likes of Paradigm Initiative for their steadfast in ensuring that DRF sees the light of the day and eventually get signed by Mr. President before end of this year.

She pointed out that the Goal 5 of the SDG which is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, has been identified as an integral part of SDGs considering the role of women in the society and development.

It would also highlighted some of the targets of Goal 5 include to “End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere; Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation; Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

She noted that Goal 5 targets, additionally is to “Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life.

Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, as well as undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, to name a few.

To this end, she said the second edition of this webinar on Digital Rights would address some youth beheavour online, especially for the female gender.

Experts in social development and knowledgeable on the subject matter she said, have been assembled to discourse and proffer solutions.

Some of those slated to speak include an author, activist, Morenike Adebayo, United Kingdom-based development actor, Abimbola Junaid and security analyst who presides over the Africa Security Forum, Mr. Temitope Olodo.

She further urged Nigerians and women and young women to participate in the webinar and actively too.

Chuks Egbune/Editor

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COVID-19 lockdown forces NLNG from commissioning headquarter - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The lockdown occasioned by spread of Coronavirus or Covid-19 has forced the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) from commissioning its corporate head office in Port Harcourt, reports ITREALMS.

Mr. Tony Attah, NLNG MD/CEO, disclosed this during a visit to Governor Nyesom Wike, and said that the lockdown has caused the delay of the formal commissioning of NLNG new Corporate Head Office at Eastern By-Pass in Port Harcourt.

"Our plan had been to host the event early this year," he declared, stressing that "We shall hold the commissioning of this impressive edifice as soon as practically possible."

He also revealed that the Bonny Bodo Road is being financed almost 50 per cent by NLNG.

"Your Excellency, it is timely that I share an update on Nigeria LNG’s biggest CSR project; the Bonny Bodo Road, a 38km stretch of road with 3 major bridges (Afa, Opobo and Nanabie) and 10 mini bridges. NLNG presently funds 50% of this endeavor," he said.

The COVID-19 situation, he also said, has impacted work progress, resulting in main construction sites in Bodo and Bonny remaining closed since March 2020.

"However, dredging and bush clearing works, requiring minimal physical contact, continue," he said.

Attah equally pointed out that this project has been identified as one of the critical FGN infrastructure projects.

"Plans are on for the Contractor to resume works fully at Bodo and Bonny sites under a revised COVID-19 Protocol, ensuring safety of personnel and continued sources of livelihood to the youths from these communities," he said.

NLNG further commended the Rivers State Government for ensuing peaceful cooperation from all communities along the Road Right of Way leading to minimal disruption of work.

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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Pix: L-R Eyono Fatayi-Williams, GM, External Relations & Sustainable Development, NLNG; Tony Attah, NLNG MD/CEO; and Sophia Horsfall, Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, NLNG during a visit to His Excellency, Chief (Barrister) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (CON), Executive Governor of Rivers State Monday.

Coal City University admits 247 students in virtual matriculation - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

In line with the Nigerian federal government's official safety protocol for the COVID-19 pandemic as outlined by the National Centre for Disease Control, on Monday, June 8 2020 held a historic its fourth matriculation ceremony for virtually, reports ITREALMS. 

Monday's ceremony was seamlessly migrated to a virtual platform, as all participants, officials and guests hooked up live on Zoom, Google Meet, YouTube, Face Book and other interlinked online platforms. Two hundred and forty-seven students were admitted to the university's oath, and formally took their places in the three faculties of the four year old citadel.

In his address to the students, the Vice-chancellor of Coal City University, Professor Afam Icha-Ituma charged them to “prioritise their study and strike the right balance between academic and extracurricular activities", a necessary prerequisite to acquiring the well-rounded education that the university prides itself on. He explained that the forward-thinking university, true to its tradition of excellence, is actively responding to ongoing developments with the Coronavirus outbreak and wouldn’t want to expose anyone to any unnecessary risks a crowd may pose, that is why the University resorted to a virtual ceremony as against the norm of an open air physical event.

The Vice-Chancellor pointed out that "the Coronavirus pandemic has resulted in the closure of all universities in the country to contain the spread of the virus, and has necessitated some adaptation and change in lifestyle to ensure adherence to government guidelines on public health". The Professor of Human Resources Management stated that “at a time that the global viral scourge has taken an adverse toll on academic activities across Nigerian universities, Coal City University has forged ahead unhindered by reaching into its robust technological infrastructure to deliver programmes to appreciative students. Many universities in Nigeria are unable to rise to the challenge and have closed down completely, particularly due to lack of technological infrastructure for e-learning. Coal City University is providing digital leadership in the higher education sector and has maintained teaching, learning and research activities, thanks to our prompt migration to our robust virtual learning environment (myCCU)", he explained. He stressed that in spite of the disruptions engendered by the Coronavirus disease in all spheres of human existence, the university has been able to live up to its steely resolve to deliver "a stable academic calendar and timely progression and graduation of all our students".

To buttress the university's unwavering commitment to excellence in research, the Vice Chancellor outlined the several veritable alliances between CCU and foreign universities, especially in the area of staff and students exchange programmes. 

This, he said, will enhance students employability, unleash entrepreneurial spirit and ultimately afford the students much-needed "international experience and a future centric mind-set". The online audience expressed its excitement when the VC revealed that CCU was collaborating with Delaware State University in the United States of America in developing a partnership programme that will provide opportunity for students to spend part of their study time at Delaware State University. In furtherance of these very lofty objectives, CCU students, on a per semester basis, will be periodically placed under the physical and remote tutelage of British- and American-trained academic dons.



Professor Icha-Ituma reminded the students of the need to remain focused on the primary purpose of coming to CCU, which is to acquire a sound education, irrespective of societal pull by extraneous factors. He urged them to avail themselves of the extracurricular activities within their environment (including "sporting and recreation facilities on campus") without misplacing their priorities. The Vice-chancellor also reminded the virtual audience that the University is open to applications from prospective students for the next academic year starting from September 2020, and assured them of nothing short of world class education experience without leaving the shores of Nigeria. He rounded up by assuring the matriculating students that the university management remains committed to warmly welcoming them during an in-person ceremony on a later and safer date.

The Chancellor of Coal City University, Sir Chinedu Ani congratulated the University Management for blazing the trail in technology-based pedagogy in Nigeria. He praised the Vice-Chancellor and the management team for the resounding success of the virtual matriculation ceremony, noting that while matriculation ceremonies and academic activities have been halted in many Universities in Nigeria amid the coronavirus pandemic, Coal City University is thinking without the box and adapting effectively to the new normal. He commended members of staff for their hard work and shared determination to do their best for students during the coronavirus pandemic. He assured the University Management of his unalloyed support in the University’s quest to become a world class institution and the pride of Africa.

In his inspirational remark aptly titled " Health Pandemic: The Impact of Technology in Transforming Education", the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Coal City University, Professor Chinedu Nebo, harped on the innovative strides that have come to be associated with Coal City University, as exemplified by its emergence as one of only two universities in Nigeria to hold a virtual matriculation for new intakes. He lauded the Vice-chancellor and the management team for the rare feat. He, however, bemoaned the general sad state of affairs in the education sector which has been utterly exposed by the advent of the Coronavirus disease. He pointed out that, "the current pandemic known as COVID 19 has taught us that the education sector is grossly inadequate and unprepared for global pandemics or meltdowns that will take a long time". He prescribed a revolutionary overhaul of an imperfect status quo operating at suboptimal levels in order to steer the sector back on track. Professor Nebo called on all relevant stakeholders, especially the federal government and players in the telecommunications industry to subsidise the cost of internet data for students currently engaged in e-learning in order to increase participatory access. He also reiterated the Vice-chancellor's assertion that the university will continue to provide online lectures during the current lockdown to ensure that all admitted students enjoy uninterrupted academic activities.



After the administration of the matriculation oath, the university registrar, Mrs Loretta Udeh informed the students that on formal resumption of the university, they should submit the hard copy of the oath to their respective faculties, and sign the matricular, noting that, it is only students who comply with this directive that shall be deemed to have formalised their admission, and therefore become entitled to all rights and privileges accruable to members of Coal City University. The matriculation ceremony attracted personalities from all walks of life, including academics, corporate gurus, political leaders and other friends of the university, all of whom converged online for the event.


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HP boosts remote working with innovative laptops, desktops - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

HP Inc. has introduced new additions to its Personal Systems portfolio designed to help people stay productive – whether they continue working from home or prepare to return to the office.

The new products include the HP EliteBook x360 1030 G7 and HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 (available in Nigeria from end of July 2020), HP EliteBook 835 G7, HP EliteBook 845 G7, and HP EliteBook 855 G7 (available in Nigeria from end of August 2020), HP EliteBook 830 G7, HP EliteBook 840 G7, and HP EliteBook 850 G7 (available in Nigeria from end of June 2020), and HP EliteBook x360 830 G7 (available in Nigeria from end of June 2020).

Others are HP EliteOne 800 G6 All-in-One PC (available in Nigeria from early November), HP Collaboration All-in-One G6 with Zoom Rooms whose availability will be announced at a later stage, HP EliteDesk 800 G6 Desktop Mini PC (available in Nigeria from end of July 2020), HP EliteDesk 800 G6 Small Form Factor PC and HP EliteDesk 800 G6 Tower PC (both expected to be available in Nigeria from end of September 2020; the HP ProDesk 600 G6 Series and the HP ProDesk 400 Series (expected to be available in Nigeria from end of July 2020); as well as the ZBook Firefly 14 G7 and ZBook Firefly 15 G7 which are expected to be available in the country from early July 2020.

The list also includes the HP E Series Monitors (available in Nigeria this June), the HP E14 Portable Monitor available in Nigeria by end Q1 2021, the HP U27 4K Wireless Monitor whose availability will be announced at a later stage, and the HP Device Provisioning Services which is available now to customers, but expected to be available for channel partners in the second half of 2020.

“As we experience a new normal that blurs reality between life and work, it’s clear that the PC is essential – allowing us to work, live, learn, collaborate, and create regardless of distance,” said Alex Cho, president, Personal Systems, HP Inc. “Today’s line-up of innovative products, our largest commercial product launch ever, including the next generation of Elite PCs and desktops, the world’s first ergonomic monitors with always-on low blue-light, and the world’s brightest 14-inch mobile workstation, along with dedicated services to improve remote employee experiences, reinforces HP’s commitment to equipping workers with the right tools, power, and performance for the ultimate work from home experience.”

The latest HP EliteBooks are designed for superb connection and collaboration for powerful business resiliency. 5G or Gigabit Class 4G LTE makes it easy to get connected and get work done. The wide-angle camera with an 88-degree field of view combined with AI-based audio that minimises background noises and makes video conference experiences sharper and clearer.

Tapered edges make the devices easier to open, the redesigned keyboard with rubber dome keys provides an extremely quiet typing experience, and the integrated webcam privacy shutters physically block the camera for immediate and worry-free privacy.

The HP EliteBook x360 1030 G7 and HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 are premium laptops that are 6.3% smaller than the previous generation and boast up to an 89% screen-to-body ratio, the highest in a business convertible. The laptops feature 10th Gen six-core Intel® Core™ vPro® processors for maximum performance.

The HP EliteBook 805 G7 and HP EliteBook 800 G7 Series PCs are designed to meet the demands of the multi-task, multi-place workday – now with both AMD and Intel-based processor options. Available with 13.3", 14", and 15.6" diagonal screens, users get a powerful, highly secure, and durable laptop that keeps them connected and productive in any setting.

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