FirstBank: More awards for outstanding contributions - ITREALMS

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After operating for over 128 years with awards and recognitions to show for its commitments and accomplishments in banking, corporate philanthropy, socio-economic development, support to businesses and commercial activities, FirstBank is showing no signs of stopping or slowing down. In the first five months of this year, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has been in the news for all the right reasons and the recognitions and awards have been pouring in, literally.

Among the numerous recognitions and awards that have been received so far in 2022 are 10 awards which highlight FirstBank’s outstanding role in driving national, regional and global economic growth and development through constructive engagements with both public and private sectors in communities and economies across the globe. Top on the list of awards is the recognition and listing of FirstBank as a Superbrand. Superbrand International conferred on FirstBank the Superbrand Award 2022 for “maintaining a formidable brand perception for 128 years”.

For sustainable growth: ISPs need to restrategize says Ajuzie - ITREALMS

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The Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Nigeria have been charged to revamp their businesses and market operations for growth, sustainability and profitability, says the chief operating officer, WTES Projects Limited, Mr Chidi Ajuzie.

He gave this charge at the telecoms sector sustainability forum organised by Business Remarks in Lagos State themed "Examining the Nigerian Internet Service Providers (ISPs) Viability in a Digitized Environment.

SMEDAN partners Google, Facebook on youth empowerment, trains 150 PWD in Lagos - ITREALMS

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The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has entered into partnership with Google and Facebook to train Nigerian youths on small businesses, especially on doing business online, reports ITREALMS.

This is coming as SMEDAN said it has trained some 150 Persons With Disability (PWD) as part of its empowerment for small businesses in Lagos State.

Former Oyo Attorney-General, Bayo Lawal, becomes Makinde's new deputy gov

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The Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Monday, charged the new Deputy Governor of the state, Barrister Abdulraheem Adebayo Adeleke Lawal, to see his position as a responsibility to deliver good governance to the people of Oyo State.

The governor gave this charge shortly after Lawal, a former Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice as well as the immediate past chairman of the state's Housing Corporation, took an oath of office administered by the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Muntar Abimbola.

GOCOP rejects NITDA’s code of practice, says it tramples on media rights, usurps NASS powers – ITREALMS

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The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has rejected in strong voice an attempt by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to trample on media rights in the country and usurp the powers of the National Assembly (NASS) under the guess of ‘Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries,’  reports ITREALMS.

GOCOP also advised NITDA to immediately jettison this code in its entirety or be ready to face legal action.

Why is localisation crucial for breaking into new markets? - ITREALMS

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Nigeria has the largest market in Africa with a GDP standing at $514.05 billion in 2021 and a population of over 200 million people. The business scene in Nigeria is faced with many challenges and the survival of any business in this market is dependent on the adoption of successful strategies.

One successful strategy for businesses entering the Nigerian market is localisation. A strong long-term localisation strategy will help in establishing a presence among locals, earning their trust and eventually building brand loyalty. It is equally critical, however, for businesses to understand that localisation entails more than just providing pricing in local currencies. Instead, it has to be a holistic approach that involves customers, employees, and other relevant stakeholders.

Zamibia, AU partner on Water Investment - ITREALMS

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The Republic of Zambia has partnered with the African Union (AU) Commission on the official  the Zambia Water Investment Programme and stressed that, “Social economic development cannot be achieved without attaining water security on the African Continent.”

The Government of Zambia in collaboration with the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa launched the Zambia Water Investment Programme on the margins of the of the African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Lusaka, which was presided over by Mr Alex Simalabwi, Executive Secretary of the Global Water Partnership, Southern Africa.

Bonny National Grammar School wins NLNG Science Quiz Competition - ITREALMS

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Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) sponsored science quiz competition in Rivers State ended Saturday in a grand finale face-off quiz. Bonny National Grammar School school won the top prize in the senior secondary school category.

This year’s competition comes after the pilot edition in 2021 on Bonny Island. The competition, which is open to secondary schools in Rivers State is in partnership with the Rivers State Ministry of Education and the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN), Rivers State Chapter.

NCC, Zoho, Africa Data Centre, IHS, others warm up for Pan African Digital Summit - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has confirmed participation alongside Zoho, IHS among others in Pan African Digital Initiatives Summit and Exhibition (PADISE) 2022, reports ITREALMS.

NCC, ITREALMS recalls is the regulator of Nigeria’s burgeoning telecommunications sector; Zoho, leading multinational technology and web-based business tools solutions provider and IHS, one of the largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared telecommunications infrastructure in the world are among organisations.

Nnaemeka Ewelukwa replaces Marilyn Amobi @NBET - ITREALMS

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The Minister of Power Engr. Sale Mamman has proclaimed the appointment of Dr. Nnaemeka Ewelukwa as the new Managing Director for the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc, reports ITREALMS.

Until his latest appointment, Dr. Ewelukwa, was NBET’s General-Counsel and Secretary and replaces the controversial Dr. Marilyn Amobi, who has since been directed to handover and proceed on terminal leave with immediate effect.

Obi berates Tinubu’s ‘Labour Party Obidients'll labour till death’ statement - ITREALMS

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The third force champion and presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has berated a statement credited to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, that LP ‘obidients’ and others will labour till death.

Reacting Thursday to the statement in Osogbo, Obi enjoined Nigerians to remain committed to voting for the Labour Party in the forthcoming governorship election in Oyo LP.

The LP presidential candidate, who spoke at WOCDIF Centre in Osogbo during the grand finale campaign rally of the governorship candidate of the LP for Saturday’s election in the state, Lasun Yussuff, said that things had gone wrong in Osun State since APC was voted into power and stressed that Yussuff would restore the lost glory of the state and develop it.
Obi said: “To think that those other parties, which have kept Nigeria in darkness for 22 years, are better. You are the ones suffering all those things they are showing you. It is your mandate they have stolen. It is your food they have stolen and we want to recover your future.”

Also speaking Yussuff, who described Tinubu’s life and record as anonymous, lampooned him for saying the party would labour till death, stressing that the ruling APC had not done anything in Osun State to warrant re-election.

He said: “We are the ones living here and we established companies here. I will tell you they are not humans. They came four years ago and said they are giving us a financial engineer. It’s over three and a half years, yet the financial engineer did not engineer anything.

“As if that is not enough, they said we can go and labour and die. Does a virtuous Yoruba person say such? Their life is anonymous. They just want us to see that they have money.”

In the same vein, the National Chairman of LP, Julius Abure, said Tinubu’s comment lacked compassion for the suffering masses.

He implored Osun people to vote for Yussuff to restore dignity, hard-work and put an end to corruption.

Yemi Lere/Editor with additional report from The Guardian

NUJ felicitates Chief Osoba @83 - ITREALMS

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The Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Lagos State Council celebrates His Excellency and an Elder Statesman, Chief Olusegun Osoba, the Akinrogun of Egbaland, the Aremo Awujale of Ijebuland, on the occasion of his 83rd birthday.

Chief Osoba's contribution to Nigeria's Democracy are evergreen having contributed immensely to the growth of Ogun State where he served as Governor.

Mignontreats CEO says she banks on creativity to stay abreast in cake industry - ITREALMS

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The Chief Executive Officer of Ipaja, Lagos-based Mignontreats, Ogundimu Omolola, spoke to ITREALMS' GBEMI OMOTOSO and says she banks on her creativity.

How did you get your brand name?

"Mignon" is a French word which means good-looking sweet and cute.

Book Review: Nigeria Drivers of Digital Prosperity by Olubayo Abiodun - ITREALMS

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Nigeria Drivers of Digital Prosperity: The Trajectories of the Digital Evolution, Sector Analysis and Players’ Contributions, by Aaron Ukodie as reviewed by Prince Olubayo Abiodun.

Connecting the dots, from analogue to digital and virtual Nigeria

In the emerging world economies, powerful nations classify the following sub-heads such as ‘Information’, ‘Technology’, ‘Telecommunications’, and ‘Computing’ among others as the nucleus of the new power configurations. Whoever wants to be something and anything in the global arena must basically give attention to computing skills, data analysis, robotics, cybersecurity, programming, business development and sales, blockchain, fintech, food value chain, logistics, hospitality and tourism, sporting skills, music, entertainments, creative arts, fashion, and automobile among others because that is where the likes of global in-demand skills are maximising their opportunities. Brands like Netflix, Google, Tesla, Apple, Amazon, Alibaba and other multinationals giants are already plying their trade in those frontiers.  It is the space for the millennial. This is the pedigree that this book authored by Aaron Ukodie has brought to the fore. This is an interesting, very intriguing and lucidly written book, in simple prose, which puts the totality of Nigeria’s Telecommunications, Technology and Computers’ vital details in a single document. 

Shell MD, Okunbor, wins prestigious industry lifetime award - ITREALMS

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The Managing Director of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN), Mr. Osagie Okunbor, has been named the sole recipient of the H. E. Dr Alirio Parra Lifetime Achievement Award in Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry for 2022.

Named in honour of the late Venezuelan Minister of Petroleum and one of the founding fathers of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the award is the most prestigious recognition for an individual or organisation who has made notable contributions to the development of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Twitter ban ruling against FG: ISOC Nigeria applauds ECOWAS court, CSOs - ITREALMS

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The Internet Society (ISOC) Nigeria chapter, has commended the ECOWAS Court of Justice on its ruling over the ban on Twitter and warned the Federal Government never to repeat such action against the citizenry, reports ITREALMS.

President, ISOC Nigeria, Mr. Caleb Ogundale gave this commendation in a reaction to the court judgment on Friday, July 14, 2022,
with ITREALMS.

As IoT beckons, Pantami assures of proactive regulation - ITREALMS

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The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, has assured the nation that Nigeria’s telecom regulatory framework has been designed to address the challenges that may arrive with the advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the country.

Pantami, who spoke at the twin event - Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Regulatory Roadmap for IoT Ecosystem in Nigeria, hosted by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); and presentation of two books authored by the Minister, declared that Nigeria has already exhibited its preparedness to harness the potentials of this new service, as demonstrated in the reduction in incidences of cybercrimes in Nigeria over the past two years.

9mobile counsels secondary schools in Bichi Emirate - ITREALMS

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9mobile has organized a career counselling session for Junior Secondary Students (JSS 3) in Government Secondary School; Government Girls Secondary School, Bichi Education Foundation Community Secondary School all in Bichi Emirate Council, Kano State, reports ITREALMS.

Addressing participants, the Chairman, Board of Directors of EMTS (9mobile), and the Emir of Bichi, His Highness, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero, who was the Special guest of honour stated that the career counselling session was designed as a springboard to set the right path for students to aspire for greatness in any chosen career of their choice.

CV Labs opens in Cape Town - ITREALMS

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A dedicated Swiss blockchain investor Crypto Valley Venture Capital (CV VC) and its ecosystem company CV Labs have opened CV Labs Cape Town, the African region's first in situ blockchain incubation and ecosystem hub. As an initiator of Crypto Valley, Switzerland - the world's most mature blockchain hub, with an admirable regulatory landscape and 14 blockchain Unicorns, the opening of CV Labs Cape Town is a result of CV Labs actioning its renowned expertise to enable blockchain as a transformative tech in Africa. CV Labs already has blockchain hubs in Switzerland (Zug) and Liechtenstein (Vaduz). This new hub in Africa will soon be followed by an opening in Germany (Berlin).

This expanding global footprint is exciting for the global blockchain startup scene and is a testament to CV Lab's growth and the strength of its international team.

ECOWAS court says FG erred in banning Twitter, describes it as unlawful, warns against repetition - ITREALMS

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The court of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has proclaimed the ban on Twitter in Nigeria led by General Muhammadu Buhari, retired, as unlawful, reports ITREALMS.

According to the deputy director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) Kolawole Oluwadare, the court also warned the Nigerian government led by General Buhari not to repeat such a ban.

@40: St. Maria Goretti Old Girls urge Edo govt, return school to catholic mission - ITREALMS

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The Class of 1982 of Saint Maria Goretti Girls Grammar School Benin City have pleaded with the Edo State Government to consider returning the School to the Catholic Mission to enhance the education of the girl child.

The old students, under the auspices of Saint Maria Goretti Old Girls’ Association (SMAGOGA), made the passionate appeal in Lagos recently where they marked their 40 years reunion after leaving school.

Bayelsa seeks more investments by SPDC - ITREALMS

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The  State Government has called for better collaboration with The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) to enable more investments in the state, and to give more value to people of Bayelsa. The state’s Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the call during a business meeting with the management of SPDC in Port Harcourt, recently.

“The relationship between Bayelsa State and SPDC is cordial. Thank you for the investments in our state. Thank you for your contributions to support development efforts in the state. But how do we improve on this and bring dividends to our people? There is still so much more to unearth in our state,” the deputy governor said.