29-yrs after: Saddest Military Aviation history of 26 September 1992 - ITREALMS

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Saturday, September 26, 1992 was a perfect day for flying.

There was an atmosphere of joy and anticipation amongst the passengers when the last of the 158 passengers took his seat at the rear of the aircraft.

They included the best and the brightest of the country’s military minds.

Shortly before 4:15pm, the air force Lockheed C130 Hercules got clearance from the control tower to take off.

Sitting in the cockpit were experienced pilot and Air force Wing Commander JP Alabosun and his copilot Wing Commander Mamadi.

The premonition of the great evil about to befall the passengers was present but the gods weren’t showing it.

Sophos accelerates growth of MSP Connect - ITREALMS

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Global leader in next-generation cybersecurity, Sophos has accelerated worldwide growth of Managed Service Providers MSP Connect, the firm's award-winning programme to help MSPs increase customer management efficiencies, unlock new business opportunities and boost revenue, reports ITREALMS.

Scott Barlow, Sophos' VP global MSP and cloud alliances

The growth, ITREALMS gathered was fueled by the increased demand for Sophos’ next-generation cybersecurity solutions and services that protect against ransomware and other cyberthreats.

ICPC arraigns PRODA DG for alleged N23.5 million fraud - ITREALMS

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned the Director-General of Project Development Institute (PRODA) Enugu, Engr. Dr. Charles Agulanna before Hon. Justice Buba Ibrahim of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, for allegedly committing procurement fraud.

Engr. (Dr.) Charles Agulanna.

Engr Agulanna, who is facing a 1-count charge, was alleged by the ICPC to have sometime in August, 2017 or thereabout, while being the Director General of Projects Development Institute, committed procurement fraud by awarding a contract for the revaluation of land belonging to PRODA in the sum of N23,500,037.50 to T.O. Thomas & Co., even when the company was not a registered surveyor/valuer and did not submit any memorandum of understanding with any registered surveyor/valuer in its tender bid, an offence contrary to section 58(4)(b) and punishable under section 58(5) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

Cholera outbreak: Oyo Ministry launches hotlines, prevention measures

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The Oyo State government, on Friday, launched some hotlines as part of its prevention measures for communities to reach the Ministry of Health in her domain, in preparedness to battle any cholera outbreak, reports ITREALMS.

The hotlines, ITREALMS gathered include 09058704101, 08025245809, to report suspected cases urgently and to alert the Ministry of Health.

Brief history of Awba-Ofemili - ITREALMS

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Awba-Ofemili is a town in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The town has an estimated population of 15,978 according to the 2006 Nigerian Census. Awba-Ofemili has eight villages, each of which made up small communities of kindreds.

The eight villages in Awba-Ofemili today include Umuokpe, Umuchibu, Ezike, Akpana, Enugwu-Agu, Umuosite, Enugwu, Umuezeavu.

HRH Igwe Ezekwesili Maduagwuna,
Ofemili 1 of Awba-Ofemili

Awba-Ofemili is about 30kilometers (km) from Awka, the capital city of Anambra State. Like most towns in Awka-North, Awba-Ofemili’s climate and soil conditions are favorable to farming, especially for rice mass production.

Anniversary Alert! FG raises security alarm ahead 61st independence - ITREALMS

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The Federal Government (FG) has alerted the general public to heightened security activities preparatory to the events marking the country's 61st Independence anniversary, reports ITREALMS.

The alert was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, through Segun Adeyemi, his Special Assistant on Media.

Obateru: Celebrating a Quintessential PR Man at 60 - ITREALMS

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The job of managing the image and reputation of a company that many love to hate and others hate to love is no mean task. Very often, one leaves the job inheriting the ‘enemies’ of the company as personal enemies. Very rarely does one leave the job in a gale of accolades as Dr. Kennie Obateru is doing today from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) upon clocking the statutory retirement age of 60.

Dr Obateru

Obateru assumed office as the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC in March 2020 at a time when various countries across the world, including Nigeria, were going into lockdown to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. He quickly retooled the Division to be able to promptly respond to the challenges of the time. This saw the robust engagement of the Corporation’s publics with the Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, leading the charge in clarifying the issues around production cuts, decline in crude oil sales and efforts to shore up revenues for the nation.

Between Taliban, Christaliban and ChristAlobam - ITREALMS

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The use of mobile phones as alibi for religious inclination is a worrisome situation as return of Taliban may cause rise to Christaliban and ChristAlobam writes REMMY NWEKE.

Preamble:
Following the fall of Kabul on 15 August 2021, the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. The word Taliban according to online encyclopedia, Wikipedia means 'students' or 'seekers' also known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA). Earlier researchers point to a Deobandi Islamist religious-political movement and military organization in Afghanistan. Currently one of the two entities claiming to be the legitimate government of Afghanistan, alongside the internationally recognized Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Taliban maintained de facto control in the country.

ITREALMS gathered that the Taliban's ideology has been described as combining an "innovative" form of Sharia Islamic law based on Deobandi fundamentalism and militant Islamism, with Pashtun social and cultural norms known as Pashtunwali, as most Taliban are Pashtun tribesmen.

Anambra State Anti-Grazing bill scales second reading - ITREALMS

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A bill for a law to prohibit and abolish open and Nomadic cattle and other livestock grazing and rearing in Anambra State and to establish cattle and other livestock ranches in the state, has scaled the second reading in the Anambra State House of Assembly.

Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State

Introducing the bill during plenary, the majority leader, Dr. Nnamdi Okafor explained that the bill is aimed at arresting any form of open cattle rearing and grazing in Anambra State, promote modern techniques in animal husbandry, prevent the destruction of farms by nomads as well as stop killings and herder - farmer clashes in the state.

Dehumanising Corps member unacceptable, unprofessional says Nigerian Army, apologises - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Army (NA) has condemned the officer dehumanising a corps member in a viral video, describing it as unacceptable and unprofessional, even apologised to the victim, reports ITREALMS.

Lt Chika and Corper Ifenyinwa

The Nigerian Army (NA) through the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu informed ITREALMS in a press statement that they have taken cognizance of a video clip currently making the rounds on the social media, where a female officer was seen dehumanizing a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Calabar, Cross River State.

Okada riders kill LASTMA Police @Ajao Estate - ITREALMS

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An unidentified Police officer attached to the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) has been killed by irate Okada riders at the Ajao Estate junction off Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road, Lagos, reports ITREALMS. 

The incident which occurred Thursday, according to eye-witness, the dead officer came along with armed policemen, had embarked on the seizure of commercial motorcycles at Ajao Estate Junction Bus-Stop, but following resistance by the riders largely from the north who regrouped after some 10 bikes have been seized.

Why FG is borrowing by Lai Mohammed - ITREALMS

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the General Mohammadu Buhari's administration is taking loans in order to build world class infrastructure that will benefit generations of Nigerians and reverse the massive infrastructure deficit in the country.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The Minister stated this in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Thursday at a town hall meeting to address the vandalism of power and telecommunications infrastructure in the country.

9PSB, Flutterwave partner for inclusive financial services - ITREALMS

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The first-ever Nigeria's payment service bank, 9PSB and Africa’s leading payments technology company, Flutterwave have entered into a partnership agreement that will help facilitate seamless financial services for Nigerians.

9PSB, Flutterwave MoU signing by both CEOs

In a joint statement issued by both companies, the partnership seeks to create a seamless payment ecosystem by aggregating and simplifying transactions for banking agents, merchants, and consumers.

Amnesty Staff Fight Back: 'We're professionals not criminals' - ITREALMS

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Some staff of the Presidential Amnesty Office have come out to refute claims by Col. Milland Dikio, that staff of the office sabotaged his administration, while in office.

Last week Col. Dikio, through a press release issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Nneotaobase Egbe, entitled “Corrupt Officials in Nigeria's Presidential Amnesty Programme Office Delaying Projects for Ex-militants”, said that, “officials of the office had adopted various tactics to stall important projects in the reintegration process”. Some concerned staff who requested anonymity have denied these claims with facts.

Microsoft CM, Olatomiwa Williams to keynote @AfriTECH2021 - ITREALMS

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The Country Manager for Microsoft Nigeria, Olatomiwa Williams, has been confirmed to keynote at the Africa Tech Alliance Forum 2021 (#AfriTECH2021), reports ITREALMS.

Olatomiwa Williams

She was appointed by Microsoft recently to lead the company’s efforts to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation and cloud adoption across all Microsoft customer segments.

GOCOP 5th confab: Sanwo-Olu, Boss Mustapha to lead dignitaries - ITREALMS

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The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has confirmed that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, as chairman and keynote speaker, at its fifth annual conference, slated for next month in Lagos, reports ITREALMS.

The Publicity Secretary at GOCOP, Mr. Olumide Iyanda, in a press statement available to ITREALMS, said Mr. Mustapha will speak on the conference theme COVID-19 Pandemic: Recovery and Reconstruction in Nigeria.”

Reps, ICPC to collaborate in tackling IFFs, corruption - ITREALMS

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is to strengthen its collaboration with the House of Representatives in addressing corruption and Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) in the country.

The Chairman of the ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, made this known at the opening of a two-day capacity building retreat for members of House of Representatives’ Committee on Anti-Corruption, and board members and directors of the Commission held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Jobberman unveils Alliance for Better Work - ITREALMS

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The acclaimed single largest job placement website in sub-Saharan Africa, Jobberman, has unveiled its Alliance for Better Work initiative, as part of longstanding partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, reports ITREALMS.

The employer-centred initiative, ITREALMS gathered, is geared to radically bolster recruitment in Nigeria, with a focus on driving female hires and providing integrated end-to-end support on the easy to use online jobs platform.

Editors’ confab excites corporate Nigeria - ITREALMS

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... Gets supports from Elumelu Foundation, CBN others

Just few weeks to the 17th All Nigeria Editors’ Conference, many corporate organisations and security agencies, including, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Globacom, Air Peace, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, Department of State Security (DSS) and others, have backed the conference.

The editors conference, which is the largest gathering of Nigerian editors and owners of mass media: newspapers, magazines, radio/television stations and online newspapers in Nigeria, is scheduled to hold between October 21 and 22 at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.

ICPC arraigns Ex-NIS officer over certificate fraud - ITREALMS

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A retired Chief Superintendent of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Imam Aminu, has been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), over alleged forgery of academic certificates.

The Commission, in a 4-count charge brought before Honourable Justice A.O. Abong of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 18, sitting in Gwagwalada, Abuja averred that the accused person had forged a National Diploma Certificate in Public Administration from the Kaduna State Polytechnic and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from the University of Calabar.

NNPC records $219.75m in May sales - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has recorded a total crude oil and gas export sales of $219.75m in May 2021, representing 180.29 per cent increase on sales from the previous month of April 2021.

This is contained in the May 2021 edition of the NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations Report (MFOR), according to a press release by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Mr. Garba Deen Muhammad.

FirstBank expands international money transfer network - ITREALMS

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In furtherance of the need to expand diaspora remittance inflow into the country, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has increased its network of International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs), targeted at easing the accessibility of its customers to receive money from close to 100 countries across the world in a safe and secured manner. With over 750 branches across the country, customers can receive money from the nearest FirstBank branch closest to them.

Over the years, FirstBank has been in partnership with Western Union, MoneyGram, Ria, Transfast, and WorldRemit. The bank is also in partnership with other IMTOs which include Wari, Smallworld, Sendwave, Flutherwave, Funtech, Thunes and Venture Garden Group to promote remittance inflow into the country, thereby putting Nigerians and residents at an advantage in receiving money from their families, friends and loved ones across the world.

Ndiaye hoists Senegal flag @WATRA Secretariat as Danbatta applauds - ITREALMS

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History was made recently by Senegal at the Secretariat of West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) as the country hoists her flag, reports ITREALMS.

Aboki, Ndiaye and Danbatta

The Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to Nigeria, His Excellency, Babacar Matar Ndiaye performed the hoisting the flag in the company of the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta.

Universal Connectivity: Broadband Commission calls for people-centred solutions - ITREALMS

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Over a year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic, amid relentless global demand for broadband services, the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development has reaffirmed its call for digital cooperation, innovation with information and communication technologies (ICTs), and collaborative approaches to secure universal connectivity and access to digital skills.

The Commission’s flagship State of Broadband Report 2021, released during the meeting, outlines the impact of pandemic policies and calls for a concerted, people-centred push to close the world’s persistent divide. In the world’s least developed countries (LDCs), no more than a quarter of the population is online.

“Digital cooperation needs to go beyond access to broadband,” said H.E. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Co-Chair of the Commission. “We also need to close the gap in the adoption and use of affordable devices and services, in accessible content, and in digital literacy.”

TD Africa, Dell EMC talk up PowerStore solution - ITREALMS

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Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading tech, solutions and lifestyle distribution giant, TD Africa and multinational technology company Dell EMC Technologies have stressed the benefits of leveraging cutting-edge technology in gaining significant advantage in the 21st Century business environment.

They made this known while addressing channel partners and other key stakeholders from the technology ecosystem at an event co-hosted by TD Africa and Dell EMC on Thursday, September 16, 2021, where the latter’s award-winning PowerStore storage solution was unveiled to participants.

20th Anniversary: N100m up for grabs by Airtel customers - ITREALMS

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As part of activities commemorating its 20th anniversary in Nigeria, leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has announced the commencement of Recharge and Blow promo, a new offer that empowers customers to earn cash reward of up to N100m when they increase their weekly recharge.

Airtel is also rewarding all its customers with a gift of 250mb of data and 20 SMS as part of the anniversary celebrations.

Southern Governors: On open grazing ban we stand, demands VAT - ITREALMS

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The Southern Governors Forum met last weekend, Thursday, in Enugu and took a number of decisions including to collect the Value Added Tax (VAT) for their states, despite efforts by the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS), reports ITREALMS.

The governors also reaffirmed stand on an open-grazing ban, and urged member states who have not yet enacted a law soonest.

ANA condemns Maiwada's visit to Australlian Embassy, warns others - ITREALMS

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The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has condemned the recent visit of Ahmed Maiwada who personally imposed himself as President of ANA and using the name of ANA to engage in all sort of unauthorized and illegal activities that has dragged the beautiful name of ANA in the mud.

This was contained in a statement issued by ANA National Publicity Secretary (South), Wole Adedoyin in Ilesa on Friday.

Danbatta, Juliet, others charge Nigerian women 'Be bold, take up ICT-related roles' - ITREALMS

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Nigerian women have been charged to equip themselves and take up roles and responsibilities in the country’s Information and Communications Technology both in government and private sector, reports ITREALMS.

Olatokunbo Oyeleye

The experts, who gave the charge yesterday at the maiden edition of the Women Entrepreneurs & Executives in Tech Summit’ with the Theme: Future Tech Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs, also argued that women can only take up roles by participating in ICT skill training and retraining.