Experts: Gaps in financial inclusion may jeopardise CBN targets - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Experts in the financial sector have identified gaps in the set objectives by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), capable of jeopardizing significantly the number of Nigerians who may be excluded from the formal financial System of the country, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking at the inaugural conference of Oriental News Nigeria with theme “Engaging with critical groups to develop effective financial inclusion initiative" held on Thursday at the Sheraton hotel Ikeja Lagos, Dr Uju Ogubunka, CEO Bank Customers Association of Nigeria, stated that the financial inclusion policy of the federal government which commenced in 2012 is geared towards ensuring that no Nigerian is short changed in its financial intermediations policies and economic development plans.

Buttercream queen, Temitayo Ajayi advises 'determination, commitment are ways to excel' - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Buttercream Queen and Director of TYlicious Cakes and Events, Lagos, Temitayo Ajayi  told GBEMI OMOTOSO that with determination and commitment, exceling is assured.

Excerpts:

How did you coined your brand name?

I just picked ideas from around and added my initial "Ty".

Yorubaland: Lawson advises South-West Governors to unite against insecurity - ITREALMS

Sponsored@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Iyalode of Yorubaland, Iyalode Alaba Lawson has passionately called on South-West Governors on need to proactively rise up to security challenges confronting the region, noting that the recent attack on congregants at church in Owo, Ondo State, was an insult to God and a slap on the entire Yoruba race.

Lawson made the appeal in reaction to the recent killing of worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church in the town, stressing that the sad incident should be seen as a wake up to all Odua sons and daughters, irrespective of their religions to be united.

Fr Mbaka takes humble pie, blesses Peter Obi, supporters, apologies - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Controversial Catholic priest and acclaimed spiritual director of Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), Reverend Father Ejike Camillus Anthony Ebenezer Mbaka, took a humble pie on Friday as he took back his curses, offering an apology to the former Governor of Anambra State and Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and his supporters over his ‘stingy’ sermon on Wednesday, reports ITREALMS.

This followed barrage of responses from Nigerians and query he may have received from Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Rt. Rev. Canilus Onaga; former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Iyom Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu and Rev. Fr. John Chinenye Oluoma to name a few over what the diocese described as ‘Inflammatory Political Utterances.’

Catholic Church disclaims Fr Mbaka, may sanction him over political utterances - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Enugu State has disclaimed Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka over his recent inflammatory political utterances and may sanction him in line with the Canon law, reports ITREALMS.

Mbaka, who is the director of Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy, Enugu had on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, during adoration programme used his preaching to attack the good reputation of Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential candidate.

Catalina Aguilar joins Ford's board - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland, Catalina Devandas Aguilar, has joined the board of Ford Foundation, reports ITREALMS.

Confirming this to ITREALMS, the President, Ford Foundation, Darren Walker, said "I am delighted to announce the election of our newest board member."

ITREALMS gathered that Devandas Aguilar has a long, distinguished history advocating for disability rights and inclusive development around the world. She served as the first UN special rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities from 2014-2020, before which she was a program officer for strategic partnerships at the Disability Rights Advocacy Fund.


Prior to that, she worked as the fund’s program officer for Latin America, the Middle East, and North Africa and was associate officer for social affairs at the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs in New York. She has also worked at the International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights and the World Bank.

Devandas Aguilar has been a powerful leader in the disability community for over 20 years. Born with spina bifida, she has drawn from her personal experience to tackle the injustices facing the one billion people around the world who live with disabilities. Her advocacy has created real, meaningful strides toward equality, and we are thrilled for her to join the board. The Ford Foundation will benefit tremendously from her commitment to human rights and social justice.

Setting Records Straight about first republic purported Igbo dominance by Osita Chidoka - ITREALMS

ForTheRecords@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

A scripted deception has been circulating all over social media, including WhatsApp groups, suggesting that Igbos, despite being dominant in Tafawa Balewa's government, went ahead to kill him. Nothing can be farther from the truth. This script has turned history on its head. The narrative is designed to present Igbos as disloyal power grabbers and confuse gullible readers, obfuscate the past and promote national discord.

Let us set the records straight; Igbos played no dominant role in Balewa's cabinet. The outline below will help demonstrate this.

No apologies over PO’s alleged stinginess say Fr Oluoma, Iyom Bianca Ojukwu - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

In an apparent reply to the ‘curse over stinginess’ by Fr. Ejike Mbaka of Adoration ground, Enugu State, the duo of Rev Fr John Chinenye Oluoma and former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Iyom Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu have declared their no apology stand on alleged Peter Obi’s purported stinginess for insisting on using of public fund to better lives of the poor than mere donation, reports ITREALMS.

The motivational priest, Rev Fr Oluoma of Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja in response said he loves a stingy man who gives money only to the right people.

Obi didn't reply Fr. Mbaka - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the forthcoming 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi did not issue any reply to Fr. Ejike Mbaka, reports ITREALMS.

According to the, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, Media Adviser to the former Governor of Anambra State, "their attention have been drawn to a statement credited to Mr. Peter Obi as his reply to Fr. Ejike Mbaka.

"We wish to state for the record that Mr. Peter Obi did not and is not planning to issue any reply,” he said.

They, therefore, advised that any medium trying to publish such an unsigned letter should clarify its authenticity from Mr. Obi’s Media Office.

Austin's Fireside Chat: Foundations of Entrepreneurship by Professor Murray Low - ITREALMS

ForTheRecords@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Austin's Fireside Chat was enlightening. We discussed his company, CWG Plc, of which he is the Founder and Executive Vice Chairman. CWG Plc is Sub-Saharan Africa's largest systems integration company. CWG is a provider of information and communication technology (ICT) solutions and cloud solutions for SMEs to use for commerce and management. Austin demonstrated the entrepreneur's creed diagram and the transformation five-force model, which are critical to a company's success. He also talked about his missionary work, which was moving and provided us an inside look at who he is. Austin's chat was genuine and passionate, and I could relate to him on several levels.

Austin Okere is a boss. We understood that from the case and he certainly proved to be a noble and distinguished individual. That said, his talk did come across as very corporate. I think it is important to always bring in someone at a later stage in their successful career, but it would be nice to see that person moving on to the next venture. If anything, I would maybe have Austin come in in person since he is such a charismatic personality.

Pantami: Nigeria’s ICT industry growing in leaps, bounds – ITREALMS

PressRelease@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has told the global digital community that Nigeria has been witnessing phenomenal growth in its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry, thus enabling socio-economic development in Nigeria and across the African continent.

Pantami stated this at a tea break hosted by Nigeria on the sideline of the 2022 International Telecommunication Union’s World Telecommunications Development Conference (ITU-WTDC) which started in Kigali Rwanda on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. The tea break was attended by senior officials of the ITU, including the Secretary General, Houlin Zhao, as well as representatives and heads of delegations from different countries attending the annual conference.

Honour late Engr Ige, name NCC Hqtrs after him says Nweke - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

A call has been made to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy for the naming of the corporate headquarters of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) after the former Minister of Communications, late Engr. Olawale Adeniji Ige.

This call was contained in an address presented at the public unveiling of the latest industry book: Sagacity of a digital revolution by Remmy Nweke by the author, while welcoming guests to the event co-hosted with the 2022 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance Forum at the Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.

Nweke, who is also the Lead Consulting Strategist at DigitalSENSE Africa and Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media group, the role of late Engr. Olawale Ige cannot be over-emphasised.

According to him, late Engr. Olawale Ige died on May 9, 2022 at the age of 83 years, and has since been buried on May 20 in Ogbomosho; deserved to be honoured even posthumously considering all his pioneering efforts within the telecommunications sector as indigenous engineer.
He recalled that late Engr. Ige as the former Director-General, Ministry of Communications who later became a Minister of Communications in 1990 and was reappointed a Minister to coordinate the Ministry of Transport, Aviation, and Communications in 1992; having earlier prompted the Military authorities to create the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) which was established under Decree no. 75 in November 1992.

Stakeholders reject NITDA Code of Practice, it seeks backdoor to clamp digital civic space - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Stakeholders have kicked against the recent code of practice by the federal government through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) which claimed collaboration with the with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) , reports ITREALMS.

They also described it as clamping down on the digital civic space through the backdoor.

Nigeria'll not attain SDGs by 2030, except … says Dr. Winjobi - ITREALMS

Interviews@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The National Coordinator, Civil Society Coalition on Sustainable Development (CSCSD), Dr. Tola Winjobi, in this chat with a cross section of media, lamented the seemingly inability of Nigeria to attain the SDGs, especially Goal 16+ by 2030.

Excerpts:

Tell us about the coalition established and its mission?

Established in 2010 as Campaign2015+ and in 2016 formally re-registered as Civil Society Coalition on Sustainable Development (CAC/IT/No 87678), CSCSD is a network of close to 2000 non-governmental orgnisations (NGOs), Community-Based Organisation (CBOs), Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs), professional associations based in Nigeria, and a staunch partner of TAP Network and Action for Sustainable Development.

Voters Registration: Calls for INEC deadline extension gains momentum - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Nzuko Umunna has joined in the calls for the extension of deadline for the voters registration across the federation, reports ITREALMS.

The group noted that it has keenly observed in the past one week the unprecedented turn out of Nigerians, especially the youths, in various states for voter registration.

Minister inaugurates UNWTO confab planning committee, lists benefits - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said Nigeria's hosting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) Global Conference on Tourism, Culture and Creative Industries in November will provide an opportunity for the country to showcase its tourism, culture and creative assets, reports ITREALMS.

The Minister made this known at the inauguration of the 24-member Planning Committee for the event, tagged the 'First UNWTO Global Conference on Linking Tourism, Culture and the Creative Industries:
Pathways to Recovery and Inclusive Development’, which will take place at the National Theatre Complex, Lagos, 14-16 Nov. 2022.

Oriental News Confab'22: SEC DG, Yuguda, Garba Kurfi, others to examine Nigeria's financial inclusion initiative - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Director General (D-G) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Lamido Yuguda, would lead key financial sector experts in a robust roundtable discussion on governments key policy which centers around inclusive financial system that will cover all strata of the society.

The experts drawn from key private sector organisations and regulatory agencies would gather at the inaugural conference on 'Financial Inclusion' being hosted by STANMEG Communications, publishers of Oriental News Nigeria.

Prof. Stevenson: Techpreneurs must avoid Jumia, Konga strategies to survive - ITREALMS

Sponsored@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

E-commerce in Nigeria has often been touted as a difficult terrain and not for the faint-hearted.

This position is backed up by concrete facts and verifiable evidence, especially when one considers the well-documented struggles of several players in the sector. Despite the allure and glitter that the segment holds, one requires deep pockets and a strong dose of guts and bloody-mindedness to survive in e-commerce, especially in a very challenging market such as Nigeria.

Makinde commissions renal dialysis, treatment centre in Oyo hospitals - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!


Oyo State Governor, ’Seyi Makinde, on Friday, commissioned the Renal Dialysis Unit, High Dependency Unit and the Diabetes Screening and Treatment Centre built inside the Adeoyo State Hospital, Ring Road, Ibadan.

The projects were built and equipped with the support from Global Fund, the Afolabi Family of Kaderu Compound, Ibadan and the Lions Clubs International, District 404 B1, Nigeria.

FG issues code of practice for computer-related platforms in Nigeria - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) through the collaboration of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued a code of practice for computer-related platforms in the country, reports ITREALMS.

This, NITDA said, is in line with its mandated as contained in the Section 6 of NITDA Act 2007; to standardize, coordinate and develop regulatory frameworks for all Information Technology (IT) practices in Nigeria. 

Applause as IXPN engages member organizations on Border Gateway Protocol - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Participants at a recent capacity building on Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) organized by the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) for its member organizations have applauded the event, reports ITREALMS.

They described it as an eye-opener in terms of localizing traffic and growing the Internet ecosystem in Nigeria.

NGSTQB invites stakeholders @software testing workshop - ITREALMS

Sponsored@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Nigerian Software Testing Qualifications Board (NGSTQB), a member board of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB), has announced the date and theme for its first Webinar.

NGSTQB invites stakeholders in the Nigerian software ecosystem to a one-day Webinar under the theme: ‘The Role of Software Testing in Nigeria’s Digital Economy.

Mid-year shopping festival: Konga commits to best prices, free delivery - ITREALMS

Sponsored@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The management of Konga, Nigeria’s leading e-commerce giant, has assured customers of best prices across product categories and free Delivery for Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt as activities enter halfway stage for the inaugural edition of its Mid-Year Shopping Festival.

Feelers from within Konga indicate that prices have been further discounted to celebrate Nigeria’s Democracy Day – a development that is bound to generate more excitement for shoppers who have been treated to a deluge of mouthwatering discounts and deals since the promotion kicked off.

Inibehe Effiong: In 2023 Nigerians will determine fate of ‘third force’ – ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Lawyer and human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, has expressed reservation about the viability of a “third force” to confront the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections.

The activist spoke Sunday when he appeared on 90MinutesAfrica, the online interview programme hosted by Rudolf Okonkwo and Chido Onumah.

NDSF2022: Nigeria made significant steps towards digital economy says NCC - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Nigeria has made some significant success in the drive towards enthroning national digital economy for the country.

This was disclosed by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta in his keynote address at the 2022 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum series on ‘5G: Enthroning Internet Governance for Digital Economy’ held at Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos and powered by DigitalSENSE Africa, a project of ITREALMS Media group at the weekend.

5G: NCC, NBC task stakeholders on synergy to optimize potentials - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Telecommunications services providers and other stakeholders in the country have been charged to exchange ideas that will foster growth and innovation in the industry especially as the nation ushers in the era of proper high speed access to the internet through 5G deployment, reports ITREALMS.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta made this call while delivering the keynote address at the 2022 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum series on ‘5G: Enthroning Internet Governance for Digital Economy’ held at Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.