PIN gets Microsoft, Stanbic IBTC support for Tent Gathering

ITRealms:

 

Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has said Microsoft, the technology giant and Africa innovative bank, Stanbic IBTC, are solidly behind its 2015 Tent Gathering, ITRealms reports.

The event which will take place at the main Auditorium of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka will feature Tent @ OAU Student Panel Session and Clash of the Campus on November 24 to 26.

Keynote speakers include Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem; Adeniran Oluwaranti; Entrepreneurial speaker, Chude Chideonwu; Techie speaker, Emeka Okoye; Gbenga Sesan; Panel speakes, Boye Adegoke, Sola Amusan and Longe Odunoluwa.

Trainers at the event, ITRealms gathered,  are: Kalu Dimgba, Omotunde James, Kendra Nnachi and Okoye Nzubechukwu.

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PIN writes NCC, demands Freedom of Information on private data

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The Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has written a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), demanding information on its alleged self-confessed monitoring and handling of private citizens data to security agencies, reports ITRealms.

PIN in an official press statement made available to ITRealms noted that NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta was quoted by ThisDay Newspaper on October 16, 2015 to have said at an International Trade Fair in Abuja that “the commission in collaboration with telecommunication operators monitor call data of suspected kidnappers and insurgents and forward same to appropriate security operatives, as soon as they are available ….” 

The FOI request, according to the Executive Director, PIN, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, sought to understand the processes, judicial oversight involved in handing over call data of private citizens to security agencies.

The NCC, PIN also said, has never hidden its intention to monitor citizens and violate privacy rights of citizens as could be seen in its controversial draft Lawful Interception of Communication Regulation which it seeks to use to legalize the already ongoing violation of constitutionally guaranteed rights to privacy of private citizen. 

ITRealms recalls that PIN already challenged the legality of using administrative procedure to limit constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens through that regulation of the NCC. 

“It is to this end that we wrote the NCC on identified red flags and subsequently made a submission at NCC’s public inquiry into its draft Lawful Interception of Communication Regulation. Our Policy Brief no. 6 addressed this with greater details,” Sesan said.

He emphasised that the initial FOI request which was sent on October 19 was acknowledged as PIN got a response from NCC on October 23, 2015, in which NCC sought further details of their request. 

“We have responded and provided all the details requested by NCC as at Monday October 26, 2015 and now hope to get an official response from the NCC within seven (7) days as stipulated by the FOI act,” PIN boss said.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 
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PIN holds #DigitalJobs project 1st anniversary

ITRealms:

The Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has said it would mark first year anniversary of its project, #DigitalJobs with a brief ceremony, ITRealms reports.

Over the last one year, PIN has reached well over 14 million Nigerians with  #DigitalJobs project, a multi-media campaign informing high-potential young Nigerians of an online work platform; where people who have the required skills can provide their services to virtual employers and be paid.

ITRealms gathered that recently, the popular online work platform, bit.ly/elancedja, was upgraded to www.upwork.com to help online workers access more opportunities.

The campaign has employed various means to raise awareness, engage and deliver its activities over the last one year, and PIN will be unveiling what tremendous milestones this project has recorded as it marks.

 As one of the vital stakeholders on this project,PIN would be honoured to have you to grace this occasion, ITRealms learnt.

We would also be using the opportunity of this brief meeting to listen to your feedback and suggestions as we look towards taking the project to its next level.

In a statement by Adebola Agbaje, #DigitalJobs Project Manager, ITRealms reports, the event will hold on October 2^nd, 2015, time, 4pm – 6pm, while venue is 385, Herbert 

Macaulay way, Yaba-Lagos.

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PIN writes Buhari, accuses Dickson, Amaechi, others of hacking

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Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has written a letter to the President Muhammadu Buhari, over what it called violation of human rights of private citizens as well as abuse of power by some Governors in Nigeria, ITRealms reports.

The Governors fingered in the letter, according to PIN Executive Director, Mr. Gbenga Sesan includes the incumbent Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, ex-Governor Godwin Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State who is also the current Minority leader in the Nigeria’s Senate, and ex-Governor  Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State.

PIN, ITRealms learnt, said that these national figures were engaging in illegal surveillance and hacking activities which involves them breaking into target computers and phones to monitor citizen’s private and confidential conversations on communication devices.

The letter was to demand that President Buhari use his good offices to protect the rights of citizens by Investigating and bringing to Justice every one found culpable in these illegal activities.

Copied in the said letter, ITRealms gathered, were; the Vice President, Senate President, Speaker house of representative, Chief Justice of the Federation, Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Justice,  National Security Adviser,  National Human Rights Commission,  Femi Falana Chambers, Nigeria Bar Association, United Nations Human Rights Commission, Freedom House International, Department of State Security Services, United Nations Secretary General, and Amnesty International.

 

According to the Premium Times report which quoted sources from the National Security Adviser’s office and some of the governments under investigation, the illegal practice of intercepted calls and hacked phones and computers gave these public servants backdoor access  to many people’s private lives, at the expense of taxpayers they swore to serve. Right to privacy is a constitutionally guaranteed right of every Nigerian citizen.

As part of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria’s Internet Freedom Advocacy efforts, ITRealms reports, PIN raised an alarm when it was reported in the media that the Nigerian government under President Goodluck Jonathan invested massively in surveillance equipment as reflected in 2013 and 2014 National Budget. PIN published two Policy Briefs on May 29, 2013 and November 29, 2013, to identify the underlying issues and raise public awareness on the implications of these activities.

In addition to this, a Freedom of Information request was made to demand contract details of purchased surveillance equipment as listed in the country’s national budget for 2013 and 2014. The request was denied, following which PIN approached the Court in order to pursue justice.

The constitution is the supreme law in Nigeria and it does provide for freedom of speech, association, rights to privacy, etc. of every citizen. National Security has become a ready excuse for Government to acquire sophisticated technology with capability to monitor and spy private citizens’ online activities or conversations such as email, phone calls and all forms of text/chat messages. 

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NDSF 2015: PIN, DSA present prizes to three students

ITRealms

The Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) and DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA) Friday in Lagos jointly presented three Etisalat Cliqlite e-learning tablets to three students, reports ITRealms.

The presentation was in fulfillment of the promise made by the Executive Director, PIN and Nigeria’s first IT Youth Ambassador, Mr. Gbenga Sesan at the Nigeria DigitalSENSE 2015 Forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) and Internet Protocol Version Six (IPV6) Roundtable in Lagos, recently.

Presenting the award at a brief ceremony that took place at Mafoluku-Lagos, ITRealms reports, the Executive Director, Operations, DigitalSENSE Africa, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke said the essence of the DigitalSENSE Forum has been to empower, enlighten and build the capacity of Nigerian youths and women by way of exposing them to the opportunities available on the internet. 

She stated that the essence of this presentation ceremony is to give these tablets out in the presence of the parents and the teachers of the students and also to show that the companies; PIN and DigitalSENSE are for real and that they deliver on their promises. 

Mrs. Nweke also said that the Etisalat Cliqlite is designed to restrict the students to what they need on the internet for now which is basically academics, fortunately this year these children won the tablets. 

She emphasized that the tablet is for empowerment and to enable the children move to another level in life, stressing that Etisalat CIiqlite is a unique tablet to grow the students skills which must be regulated by the parents.

ITRealms reports the three lucky students include Sotayo-Aro Oluwakimilokan, Igweonu Chiamaka Sandra: the two are from Muritala Mohammed Airport Secondary School, Ikeja and Koleola Anuoluwapo from Mafoluku Senior Grammar School. 

PIN Executive Director, Mr. Sesan represented by Adebanbo Gbenga, while presenting one of the awards noted that PIN is reputed for youth empowerment and it was an honour to also collaborate with DigitalSENSE.

Hon. Obafemi Lekan, uncle to Koleola, in an interview with ITRealms expressed happiness that DSA and PIN were able to fulfill their promise. Other witnesses at the prize giving ceremony, ITRealms gathered included Mr. Agba Kingsley, the ICT teacher with Murtala Muhammed Airport Secondary School, Mr. Osuntubo, a teacher from Mafoluku Senior Grammar School. 

They poured encomium on PIN and DSA for delivering on their promise bearing in mind that many companies make promises these days which they scarcely fulfill.

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Pix L-R: Student Chiamaka Sandra and Sotayo-Aro Oluwakimilokan, Igweonu both of Muritala Mohammed Airport Secondary School, Ikeja and Koleola Anuoluwapo(middle) from Mafoluku Senior Grammar School flanked by PIN representative, Mr. Gbenga and Executive Director, Operations at DSA, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke during the presentation of prizes.