Hikes: FG not insensitive, plans solar for 5m says Lai Mohammed – ITREALMS

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The Federal Government has refuted the allegations making rounds that its insensitive to plight of Nigeria due to recent hikes in both Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and electricity tariffs in the country, reports ITREALMS.

As part of efforts to cushion the effects, FG has concluded plans to provide solar power to 5 million Nigerian households in the next 12 months. 

According to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who spoke to ITREALMS on Saturday in Lagos while reacting to insensitivity of FG over the recent increases in petrol and electricity prices, said the truth is that the government can no longer afford the cost of subsidy, mostly under the prevailing economic conditions.

Deregulation: MOMAN, downstream players applaud FG - ITREALMS

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The stakeholders in the downstream sector of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry, including the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), have applauded the Federal Government for the courage to tackle the challenges in the sector frontally, reports ITREALMS.

A press release by the corporation’s spokesman, Dr. Kennie Obateru, and available to ITREALMS that the stakeholders gave the commendation at a Downstream stakeholders’ meeting which held at the NNPC Towers, Abuja.

Microsoft: There's future with TD Africa’s Tech Experience Centre - ITREALMS

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The launch of the Tech Experience Centre, a mega technology project that will see Nigeria play host to cutting-edge technologies from the biggest global brands, has been described as a laudable initiative that will project Nigeria into the tech-driven future it deserves.

The foregoing was disclosed by Managing Director, Microsoft Nigeria, Akin Banuso at a pre-launch event.

Area F Command gets PCRC Traffic Corps - ITREALMS

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The Area F Command chapter of the Lagos State Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) traffic corps initiative has been officially inaugurated on Thursday, September 24, 2020, reports ITREALMS.

Group photo of participants

The event which took place at Area F Police Command, which had Area Commander, ACP John Ali Zongo, personally inaugurating the corps, comprising of Area F PCRC traffic corps team, Area Traffic Officer (ATO), all the Divisional Traffic Officers (DTOs) under Area F Command and a team from the Lagos State Traffic Management Agencies (LASMA), Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), Neighborhood Watch etc in attendance.

Lagos Philatelic Club partners Freedom Park for Nigeria@60 exhibition - ITREALMS

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The Lagos Philatelic Club is hosting a 15-day exhibition to commemorate the 60th independence day of Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.

Omar Farouq: Museum director appeals to Buhari, overturn sentence, offers self, 119 global volunteers - ITREALMS

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Poland-based Director of Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, Dr. Piotr M.A. Cywinsky, has made passionate appeal to the Nigerian President, General Muhammadu Buhari, retired, to intervene in the recent sentencing of a 13-year Omar Farouq to 120 months in prison, reports ITREALMS.

He also described as disgraceful judgement the sentence of Omar over an alleged blasphemy by a Sharia court, whilst in an argument with a friend and proposed to take the place Omar if the clemency he was pleading was not appealing enough, just as he plans to mobilise some 119 adult volunteers to serve Farouq’s jail term. 

Fayemi: My purported suspension, a joke - ITREALMS

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The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has reacted to his purported suspension by an unknown group, describing it as a joke taken too far, reports ITREALMS.

According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a party is governed by laws, adding that members of the group cannot hide under their recent suspension to announce a dubious suspension they lack the locus to handle.

GABF steps up Pan-African Trade & Investment interests - ITREALMS

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The “Investment and Trade for Africa’s Economic Development” webinar held on Wednesday which targeted opportunities for cross-border collaboration between Africa and Germany; the African Export-Import Bank disclosed plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with German car manufacturers to establish an automotive industry in Africa, reports ITREALMS.

The webinar was hosted by the Germany-Africa Business Forum (GABF), Africa Oil & Power and the African Energy Chamber as part of a GABF cooperation-focused series.

FACTI worried over tax abuse, money laundering, global corruption plague - ITREALMS

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The High-Level Panel on International Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity for Achieving the 2030 Agenda (FACTI Panel) has expressed worries over global plague occasioned by the tax abuses, money laundering and corruption, reports ITREALMS.

This was contained in its latest interim report available to ITREALMS, claiming that governments globally must do more to tackle tax abuse and corruption in global finance.

The panel made up of former heads of state and government, past central bank governors, business and civil society leaders and prominent academics, stated in an interim report.

Honoris launches 21st Century Skills Certificate - ITREALMS

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The Honoris United Universities, the first and largest pan-African network of private higher education institutions, has launched 'Honoris 21st Century Skills Certificate' reports
ITREALMS.

This, ITREALMS gathered is to further enhance the employability of its students by equipping them with the most in-demand soft and digital skills required to thrive and be competitive in the 21st century world of work.

Winners emerge @2020 Yidan Prize Laureates - ITREALMS

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The world’s largest international prize in education, Yidan Prize has awarded laureates for the 2020 edition hosted by the Yidan Prize Foundation, reports ITREALMS.

The laureates include Ms Lucy Lake and Ms Angeline Murimirwa from CAMFED (Campaign for Female Education) got the Yidan Prize for Education Development. CAMFED is a pan-African movement revolutionizing how girl's education is delivered.

Reversal fuel, electricity hike, labour leaders tell FG - ITREALMS

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The second meeting between the Federal Government and members of the organised Labour ended in deadlock as Labour Leaders insisted that FG reverses the fuel, and electricity hikes for any meaningful talk to exist, ITREALMS reports.

ITREALMS recalls that the Thursday meeting was the second on efforts by FG to forestall the avowed industrial action due to commence on Monday, September 28, 2020 by labour movement on the recent increase in the prices of petrol and electricity.

Applause for TD Africa’s Tech Experience Centre says Travers - ITREALMS

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The Director, Central and West Africa, Dell Technologies, Mr. Nicholas Travers, has expressed delight over the expected launch of the Tech Experience Centre, reports ITREALMS.

Tech Experience Centre is an ambitious technology project aimed at bridging the gap to cutting-edge technologies for millions of Nigerians. 

Specifically, he revealed that the project will save the huge costs and capital flight while also boosting technology adoption in Nigeria.

Obaseki: The Tsunami - ITREALMS

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The recent victory of H.E Godwin Obaseki is a lesson that many can learn from. I think it sends a very clear message to Nigerians as a whole, but a direct message to APC and a quiet message to the PDP in particular. 

Today I will leave the international community out of it. They still have their own fishes to fry. Their progression from what I had previously described as very toothless bulldogs to now issuing travel bans on election riggers, is a good first step. But they know they can do more.

Some will still not learn this lesson, but that will not detract from the lecture being given. Let those who have ears, please hear:

Smoking: Tobacco firms indicted over failure to advance harm reduction - ITREALMS

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The first Tobacco Transformation Index (TTI), released this week has found out that most of the 15 largest tobacco companies across the world are not making substantive progress in phasing out cigarettes and other high-risk tobacco products and transitioning smokers to reduced-risk alternatives, reports ITREALMS.

TTI, ITREALMS gathered was made possible with funding from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, also revealed that a small group of companies have made public commitments to harm reduction and backed them with significant investments.

Nigerian physician, Dr. Funsho, 99 others make TIME’s most influential people in world - ITREALMS

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The TIME has named Nigerian physician Dr. Tunji Funsho to the 2020 TIME100, its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. 

The full list and related tributes are available now at time.com/time100, and Dr. Funsho’s TIME100 profile is available here.

The list, now in its seventeenth year, recognizes the activism, innovation and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals.

Cyber Risk Aware partners Liquid Telecom - ITREALMS

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Leading cyber security awareness platform, the Cyber Risk Aware, has been selected as the security awareness education and phishing simulation solution for the leading pan-African telecommunications group Liquid Telecom, within their newly unveiled Cyber Security unit. 

Cyber Risk Aware’s industry leading solution has been curated to help Liquid Telecom’s customers educate their staff avoid becoming victims of cyber-crime, by raising staff cyber security awareness.

Oluwande Muoyo appointed non-Executive Director @First Bank - ITREALMS

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First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, has appointed Mrs. Oluwande Muoyo as a Non-Executive Director, reports ITREALMS. 

Mrs. Muoyo joined the board of FirstBank from FBN Holdings Plc., the parent company of First Bank of Nigeria Limited. 

1yr anniversary: Polaris Bank says UNEP-FI banking principles remarkable - ITREALMS

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Polaris Bank has said it recorded remarkable success in adopting the United Nations Environment Programme Financial Initiatives (UNEP-FI) Principles for Responsible Banking, reports ITREALMS.

The Principles for Responsible Banking, an initiative of UNEP, an Agency of United Nations (UN), provide a framework of six principles for integrating Sustainability into the heart of banking operations.

Kyari blames unstable fiscal regime over stifling Nigerian petroleum industry - ITREALMS

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The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, has blamed the absence of a stable fiscal environment as inhibiting factor to the growth of the Nigerian petroleum industry, especially the upstream sector, reports ITREALMS.

Mallam Kyari, who stated this while playing host to members of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) who were on an oversight visit to the Corporation recently, said international investors were losing confidence in the nation’s oil and gas industry and tasked the lawmakers to act fast and arrest the situation.

Nokia 8.3 5G goes on sale as Nokia 3.4 and Nokia 2.4 smartphones debut - ITREALMS

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Acclaimed home of Nokia phones, HMD Global, has unveiled two new additions to its entry-level smartphone family, the Nokia 3.4 and Nokia 2.4, a new accessories range and HMD Connect Pro offering enterprises a secure and transparent global data roaming service, reports ITREALMS.

This is coming as ITREALMS reports that Nokia 8.3 5G has gone on sale globally, but would be available in Nigeria on October 1, 2020 at an average retail price of N232,000.

Latest smartphone from Nokia shelf is coming in two storage/RAM options: 2GB/32GB and 3GB/64GB, the Nokia 2.4 will be available in Nigeria from 1st October, 2020 at N47,500 and N54,000, respectively.

15-years later: Ogun community applauds Airtel for restoring electricity - ITREALMS

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Airtel Nigeria, has been commended by members and leaders of a community in Ogun State, Isokan community, for helping to reconnect the community to the public power grid 15 years after it was disconnected due to equipment failure, reports ITREALMS.

Airtel is a leading telecommunications in Nigeria and across Africa.

The situation of the Isokan community was brought to the attention of the telco after a member heard about the Airtel Touching Lives initiative and beckoned on the organization to intervene.

NCC commences cost-based study to determine new termination rates - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has embarked on a cost-based study to set the new pricing regime for mobile International Termination Rate (ITR) for inbound international voice calls in the country, reports ITREALMS.

The ITR is the rate paid to local operators by international operators to terminate calls in Nigeria.

Tech Experience Centre: HP applauds TD Africa, delighted - ITREALMS

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Globally renowned tech giant, Hewlett Packard Inc. (HP) has applauded the management of TD Africa for spearheading the project, noting that the centre will herald a new technological wave in Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.

This is coming as Nigeria looks forward to the official launch of the Tech Experience Centre, on October 1, 2020 in the centre of excellence, Lagos.

Niger Delta youths back Akpabio, NDDC IMC, warn detractors - ITREALMS

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The youths under the aegis of Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM) has extolled the sterling qualities of the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio, describing him as a man of honour.

NDYM also praised the National Assembly for working with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs towards the realization of its objectives.

Sabo-Lagos inferno: BBC faults NNPC claims, links fire to neglect of pipelines - ITREALMS

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New evidence has emerged that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) claims absolving itself from responsibility over the Sabo-Lagos inferno that killed over 23 persons has been faulted by the BBC Africa Eye reports available to ITREALMS.

According to the BBC in a video documentary available to ITREALMS, showed that new evidence obtained by BBC Africa Eye contradicts the official explanation for the cause of an explosion which left 23 people and destroyed a girls boarding school in Sabo-Lagos, Nigeria commercial centre and a residential neighbourhood of Lagos on March 15, 2020 at 8:56am.

NBC to hold youth summit 2020 - ITREALMS

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Leading consumer packaged goods company, the Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd (NBC), would concluded plans for its Youth Summit slated for Thursday, September 24, on helping Nigerian youths reposition to take advantage of the new global economy, reports ITREALMS.

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The Summit will also witness the launch of the Nigeria Business League for Youth, a coalition of corporate organizations committed to deepening the youth development agenda in Nigeria.

Nigerian CSOs to unveil most transparent public institutions - ITREALMS

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The most transparent public institutions in Nigeria over the last one year as well as the least open and responsive will be unveiled on September 28 at the second edition of the National Freedom of Information (FOI) Ranking scheduled to take place in Abuja as part of activities to commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), who also has oversight over all public institutions in Nigeria in the implementation of the FOI Act, is expected to be Special Guest of Honour at the event, which is co-organised by six civil society organisations, namely Basic Rights Watch (BRW), BudgIT, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), and Right to Know (R2K).

Post-COVID0-19: NCC, Digital Encode support NITRA Innovative Tech Forum - ITREALMS

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National umbrella body of ICT reporters, the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) is partnering with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Digital Encode, reports ITREALMS.

NCC, ITREALMS gathered is the telecommunications regulator, Digital Encode is cybersecurity and compliance advisory firm and both would be x-raying the industry’s future plans for ICT growth post pandemic era at this forum.

Rivers, Shell inaugurate development board for Assa NOrth Gas Project - ITREALMS

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The Rivers State government and energy company, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), in Port Harcourt on Thursday, September 17, 2020, inaugurated the Egi/Igburu Cluster Development Board (CDB) for pipeline communities to SPDC’s Assa North Gas project, reports ITREALMS.

The project, ITREALMS has a capacity for 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day and the potential to be one of the largest domestic gas projects in Nigeria when completed.

Polaris Bank names Segun Opeke as Executive Director - ITREALMS

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The Board of Directors and AMCON have jointly endorsed the appointment of Mr. Segun Opeke as an Executive Director of Polaris Bank Limited, reports ITREALMS.

Company Secretary, Mr. Babatunde Osibodu confirmed this development to ITREALMS saying that its coming on the heels of the recent appointment of Mr. Innocent C. Ike as the Acting Managing Director of the Bank.

ITREALMS gathered that Opeke has over 26 years of hands-on work experience acquired from leading Nigerian commercial banks with over fifteen of these years in Senior and Executive Management roles.

FirstBank CEO Adeduntan bags Forbes Best of Africa award - ITREALMS

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Nigeria’s leading financial inclusion services provider, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, has announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, has been honoured with the Forbes Best of Africa Award, reports ITREALMS.

The award presentation was held on Friday, 11 September 2020 at a virtual event by Forbes in conjunction with the Foreign Investment Network (FIN).

Citygate Group acquires land for global headquarters, staff now over 400 - ITREALMS

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Citygate Group has acquired a parcel of land for its global headquarters in Ikeja area of Lagos State, reports ITREALMS.

The group, ITREALMS gathered is one of Nigeria’s biggest finance outfits, with headquarters in Lagos, started from a one room apartment 14 years ago and now has presence in 13 states and Abuja, with over 400 staff.

A director of the company, Seun Durojaye, noted that at the headquarters in Lagos, the staff are spread across three buildings, with two of them not owned by the company.

Konga's Freedom Sales goes live - ITREALMS

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All is set for the 2020 edition of the Konga Freedom Sales, an annual promotion by the foremost composite e-Commerce giant targeted at celebrating Nigeria’s independence anniversary.

Specifically, the Konga Freedom Sales goes live on Monday, September 21, 2020 and will run until Friday, October 9, 2020 across Nigeria.

ICRC applauds NNPC for transparent public bid opening processes - ITREALMS

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The Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Engr. Chidi Izurah, has applauded the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for totally driving a transparent bid opening processes for the rehabilitation of NNPC pipelines and its critical downstream infrastructure, reports ITREALMS.

ICRC also noted that NNPC is showing to the world that things could be done correctly such that would yield value for Nigerians.

The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, quoted Engr. Izurah in a press statement available to ITREALMS as saying that the novel NNPC virtual public bid-opening exercise was in line with the ICRC infrastructure revolution drive.

Global groups to Buhari: London ruling on PI&D vindicates former Magu - ITREALMS

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The Nigeria's President, General Muhammadu Buhari, retired, has been told that former Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu was vindicated by the recent ruling by London court on the P&ID, reports ITREALMS.

In a letter to President Buhari last Thursday, four international anti-corruption groups said the recent ruling of the London High Court was a clear vindication of Magu.

Facebook to open office in Lagos, Nigeria - ITREALMS

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Facebook has disclosed that its will be opening an office in Lagos, Nigeria, which its second office on the African continent, reports ITREALMS.

Aimed at supporting the entire Sub-Saharan Africa region, the office is expected to become operational in H2 2021 and will be the first on the continent to house a team of expert engineers building for the future of Africa and beyond.

LASG releases 2020/2021 academic calendar - ITREALMS

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The Lagos State Ministry of Education has released the approved school calendar for the year 2020/2021 session, reports ITREALMS.

Confirming this to ITREALMS, the Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, said that public and private schools below tertiary level would resume first term academic activities on Monday, 21st September, 2020 and end on Friday, 18th December, 2020.

The second term, she said will start on Monday, 4th January, 2021 and runs until Friday, 16th April, 2021, while students will resume for Third Term on Tuesday, 4th May, 2021 and close on Friday, 6th August, 2021.