Local content: NASENI beckons on Lithium batteries producers, receives Chinese delegation - ITREALMS

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The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is seeking investors that would collaborate with the agency in local production and domestication of Lithium batteries among other renewable energy solutions, reports ITREALMS.

The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI Dr, Bashir Gwandu speaking in Abuja said the agency was ready to partner with international companies that are willing to set up their industries in Nigeria and start local production of renewable energy solutions, electric vehicles parts and other capital goods that could create jobs and reduce Nigeria dependence on foreign goods that exert pressure on our foreign exchange for the country.

COVID-19: Why NMA, NUJ rejected FG’s invitation to Chinese doctors - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have adduced reasons why they rejected in totality the invitation of Chinese doctors by the Federal Government (FG) in the bid to curb ChineseVirus-19 also known as Coronavirus or COVID-19, reports ITREALMS.

NMA said its vehemently rejecting the invitation to Chinese Doctors into the country at this time in the case of COVID-19-related assistance in whatever colour which is suspicious.

“We are therefore profoundly dismayed to learn that the Federal Government ls instead is inviting the Chinese who from available accounts are not out of the woods themselves,” NMA president, Dr. Francis A. Fadnyile, said in a press statement available to ITREALMS.

The Association also noted with grate concern that the Government did not take into consideration the extant laws regulating the practice of medicine in Nigeria as enshrined in the Medical and Dental Council Act.

“This is one such circumstance were the Medica1 and Dental Council of Nigerian should be consulted to grant necessary approvals to foreigners to interact with Nigerian patients,” NMA insisted.

In a related development, the leadership of NUJ in a press statement endorsed by the National President, Chief Chris Isiguzo and Secretary General, Shuaibu Usman Leman, said the National Secretariat is alarmed by the decision of the Federal Government to bring Chinese Medical doctors to Nigeria to fight Covid 19, despite the fact that Nigerian doctors are doing exceptionally well in fighting the outbreak.

“We caution that it will be counterproductive to bring in Chinese doctors,” NUJ officials warned.

They pointed out while some have applauded the way and manner China contained the virus in Wuhan- the only Chinese city to be so affected, we hasten to note that there is more to this charade than is being let out by the Chinese authorities, and we reject a situation where Nigeria will be used as a Guinea pig for any experiment.

“It is pertinent to plead with the Federal Government to stop this Medical team from coming to Nigeria because of the Italian example where there was an inexplicable spike in Covid 19 related deaths when the Chinese doctors arrived the country,” they said.

The FG, NUJ leadership urged to be more proactive in dealing with emerging issues because any mistake made will be catastrophic.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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Chinese involvement in Africa bigger than anticipated

ITRealms:

A latest study on Africa-China economic partnership has thrown up a set of challenges of the general beliefs, reports ITRealms.

The new study released by McKinsey Africa finds that its involvement is bigger and more multifaceted than previous studies suggest.

ITRealms reports that though China is Africa’s largest economic partner, it has been a challenge to understand the full extent of the partnership due to a dearth of data.

According to the study conducted across eight countries, together made up about two-thirds of Sub-Saharan Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), stressing that there are already over 10,000 Chinese firms operating in Africa; four times the previous estimate.

“About 90 per cent of these are private firms, of all sizes and operating in diverse sectors, with about a third in manufacturing. These firms are bringing capital investment, 

management know-how and entrepreneurial energy to the continent, and in so doing, are helping to accelerate the progress of Africa’s economies,” part of the summary stated.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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Trump sabotaging US for Chinese exploit

ITRealms:

The Greenpeace International has accused the President of United States, Mr. Donald Trump of sabotage, and paving the way for China to reap America the anticipated economic benefits from green revolution, reports ITRealms.

The organization, in its reaction to the June 1^st withdrawal by America from the Paris Climate Change deal, follows President Trump’s pronouncement, saying it will only put US in jeopardy and provide China the lee way to exploit the economic benefits from America.

The Senior Global Policy Officer, at Greenpeace East Asia, Li Shuo told ITRealms that it will only put United States at an ugly edge.

“It will only corner the US and present China with an opportunity to reap the economic benefits of America’s withdrawal,” Shuo said.

The Global Policy Officer, also alleged that President Trump has taken his administration in the opposite direction against the rest of the world.

Stressing that this is coming on the recent Chinese cancellation of coal power plants and decried that Trump canceled climate action.

“Trump’s attempt to sabotage the global transition to a safer clean energy future would not succeed,” Shuo lamented.

For the Greenpeace Africa Executive Director, Njeri Kabeberi said, “Thursday, June 1st 2017 will be written in history as the day the US, under the administration of President Trump, turned its back on those who needed its leadership, ambition and compassion.

“The millions of people living on the African continent are on the frontlines of climate change, and it is critical that polluters are held accountable for the suffering and injustice global warming is already inflicting. Climate change impacts are already a daily reality, and action to stop catastrophic climate change cannot be delayed. Our global community will take action, and is already taking action, with or without the US government, and it is critical that major emitters like South Africa step up and take a leadership role.”

Equally, for the Greenpeace International Executive Director, Jennifer Morgan, “Withdrawing from the Paris Agreement will turn America from a global climate leader into a flat earth society of one. It is a morally-bankrupt decision that Trump will come to regret. Global climate action is not a legal or political debate; it is an inescapable obligation to protect people and the planet.

“Trump is surrendering US global leadership to real world leaders who are seizing the momentum to protect their country and the climate by transforming their economies to clean energy. We are witnessing a seismic shift in the global order as Europe, China and others lead the way forward.

“Almost 200 countries committed to climate action in Paris and only one has decided to withdraw. This is how far out of step Trump is with the rest of the world. It is the changing of the global guard - as the US bows out, world leaders, CEOs and people across the world can and are moving forward into the future.”

Isaac Oyimah/GEE

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Alibaba founder, Jack Ma joins GIGA council

ITRealms:

Founder of Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba, Jack Ma, has been elected co-chairman of the Global Internet Governance Alliance (GIGA) at the first general meeting of GIGA council held in Sa Paulo, reports ITRealms.

Coordinator, Global Internet Governance Alliance (GIGA), Lorena Jaume-Palasí ,in a press statement quoted Ma as saying "This election signifies trust in China's Internet, and how China governs its Internet."

The Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in her address, urged for a just and equitable global Internet environment.

For Fadi Chehade, president, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) this is "key factor to the success of global Internet governance."

According to Chehade, in order to establish a multistakeholder platform, dialogues across different partners should be improved, the platform should be transparent and just, and all stakeholders should be able to equally participate in global Internet governance.

ITRealms recalls that GIGA is co-sponsored by ICANN, the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee and the World Economic Forum to provide a platform for the discussion of Internet governance solutions. 

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 
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Pix: Jack Ma

Houlin Zhao emerges new ITU Secretary-General with 152 votes

… ICANN extends hand of fellowship

Breaking News@ITRealms:

Chinese Houlin Zhao has emerged the newly elected Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), ITRealms authoritatively reports.

Mr. Zhao would take over from Dr. Hamadoun Toure who would be completing his eight-year term in office by January 2015.

ITRealms sources confirmed that Mr. Zhao garnered 152 votes out of the 156 countries accredited for the election.

This came as the leadership of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) under Mr. Fade Chehade as the president and chief executive officer has extended congratulation message to Mr. Zhao on his emergence.

ITRealms gathered that Mr. Zhao was hitherto elected ITU Deputy Secretary General at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey, in 2006, and re-elected for a second four-year term at the Plenipotentiary Conference in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2010.

Before becoming Deputy Secretary General, ITRealms learnt, he served as Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) from 1999 to 2006, first elected at the Plenipotentiary Conference in Minneapolis, United States, in 1998, and re-elected at the Plenipotentiary Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco, in 2002.

From 1986 to 1992, Mr Zhao was a senior staff member in what was then the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (known under its French acronym CCITT), and from 1993 to 1998 in TSB.

Prior to joining ITU, Mr Zhao served as an engineer in the Design Institute of China’s Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. He contributed seminal articles to a number of prestigious Chinese technical publications, and in 1985 was awarded a prize for his achievements in science and technology within the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

Born in 1950 in Jiangsu, China, Mr Zhao graduated from Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and holds a Master of Science degree in Telematics from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, ICANN President has congratulated Mr. Zhao for his election as new Secretary-General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Houlin Zhao on his election as the ITU Secretary-General,” Chehadé declared on getting the news of Zhao election.

Also, Chehadé underscored the contributions of Dr. Toure’s towards enhancing lines of communication between ITU and ICANN, which he hope the new Secretary General would sustain.

“We are grateful to Dr. Toure for the bridges he helped build between the ITU and ICANN,” said Chehadé. 

He further described Toure’s effort as interactions built on a foundation of mutual respect and a shared belief that the Internet has an increasingly important role in global socioeconomic development. 

“We are enthused at the prospect of continuing those efforts with Houlin Zhao,” he assured.

 +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) @NGRCommTech @NgComCommission @ITU

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Pix: Top: Mr. Zhao, new ITU scribe and below is ICANN president.