Homeownership within reach: Five game-changing facts about FirstBank’s MREIF loan - ITREALMS

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For many Nigerians, homeownership has long felt like a distant dream parked somewhere between someday and maybe. However, the MREIF (Management of Real Estate Investment Fund) Mortgage Loan by FirstBank of Nigeria is quietly dismantling that narrative.

By offering a structured path to property ownership, FirstBank is proving that the transition from tenant to landlord is no longer reserved for the ultra-wealthy.

Qualcomm shortlists startups for Make in Africa 2024, awards 2023 Wireless fund - ITREALMS

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Qualcomm Incorporated has shortlisted startups for its Make in Africa 2024, as well as the winner of the 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund, reports ITREALMS.

The Qualcomm Africa Innovation Platform, now in its second year, aims to work with and support the development of Africa's emerging technology ecosystem by providing mentorship, education, and training programs with a focus on 5G, Edge-AI/ML, Compute, and IoT. 

Huawei rolls out new enterprise products for SMEs, banks on TD Africa’s reach - ITREALMS

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Leading multinational technology company, Huawei has partnered with TD Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest tech, solutions and lifestyle distributor to unveil a range of state-of-the-art products targeting the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) market in Nigeria and beyond, reports ITREALMS.

They include the Intelligent Collaboration IdeaHub series products, next-generation networking devices and smart storage products.

Smart energy meter shipments reach 31.3m units - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The new report from the Internet of Things (IoT) analyst firm, Berg Insight, has indicated that yearly shipments of smart energy meters in Europe will reach a record level of 31.3 million units in 2018, reports ITREALMS.

Smart electricity meter shipments grew 16 per cent compared to the previous year to 22.2 million units.

ITREALMS gathered that at the same time smart gas meter shipments increased 9 percent to 9.1 million units.

Growth in both segments, ITREALMS gathered will be sustained into 2019 and 2020, driven by ongoing large-scale roll-outs in multiple countries.

According to the Principal Analyst, Berg Insight, Mr. Tobias Ryberg, “The past year was another positive one for the adoption of smart meters in Europe. Deployments of smart electricity and gas meters ramped up to volume in France. Italy continued with the installation of smart gas meters in parallel to the rollout of second-generation smart electricity meters. Spain and Norway completed their nationwide rollouts, while Lithuania became the latest country to announce one”.

ITREALMS also gathered that United Kingdom (UK) and Benelux were other regions with significant developments.

Further, ITREALMS reports that while still behind the official timetable, the UK smart meter rollout continued in 2018, with the last pieces of technical framework finally coming into place at the end of the year.

Belgium followed the Netherlands in adopting smart meters, with the launch of a large-scale project in Flanders. Germany however only made little progress with the partial rollout to larger customers.

ITREALMS equally reported that adoption is still held back by the lack of certified smart meter data gateways. In the first wave, Germany is looking to equip approximately 5.5 million customers using more than 6,000 kWh per year or feeding solar power into the grid with smart meters.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Installed base to reach 15.6m in fleet management - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The installed base of fleet management systems in Europe will reach 15.6 million by 2022 says analysts from Berg Insight, reports ITREALMS.

According to them, the number of active fleet management systems deployed in commercial vehicle fleets in Europe was 7.7 million in Q4-2017, according to a new research report from the IoT analyst firm Berg Insight.

Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.2 percent, this number is expected to reach 15.6 million by 2022. The top-15 vendors have today more than 100,000 active units in Europe.

TomTom’s subscriber base has grown both organically and by acquisitions during the past years and the company is the clear market leader on the European market and reached an installed base of about 708,000 units at year-end 2017.

Masternaut is still in second place and had achieved an installed base of an estimated 250,000 units. Berg Insight ranks Verizon Connect as the third largest player in terms of active installed base with around 235,000 units. ABAX, Microlise, Gurtam, Viasat, Bornemann, Teletrac Navman, Trimble, Transics and OCEAN (Orange) also have more than 100,000 active devices in the field.

The HCV manufacturers are now growing their subscriber bases considerably in Europe thanks to standard line fitment of fleet management solutions. Dynafleet by Volvo, FleetBoard by Daimler and Scania Fleet Management are the most successful with active subscriber bases of 117,000 units, 108,000 units and 219,000 units respectively as of Q4-2017.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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iSON extends African reach with call center revolution

ITRealms:

African emerging Information Technology (IT) leader, iSON Group is extending its reach with build out of call centers across Africa countries, ITRealms reports.

Currently, iSON boost of presence in 29 countries spanning 4 continents including Africa, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Middle East, iSON Group is inarguably a market leader in its niche.

ITRealms gathered that iSON Group consists of three operating companies, namely the iSON BPO which provides outsourcing services specifically in customer service experience management, iSON Technologies the systems integrator arm and iSON Innovation and Investment (i3), which is a recent initiative launched by the Group to drive consumer internet business in Africa.

The Chairman of iSON Group, Mr Ramesh Awtaney, was quoted in a press statement made available to ITRealms by Ope Alebiosu, as saying that in Africa alone, iSON operates in 25 countries with over 10,000 employees operating in its call centers including Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, South Sudan, Liberia, Uganda and Tanzania, with plans to build more facilities in the coming years.

“With the global awakening to more cost effective solutions, Business Process Outsourcing, with specific regard to call center management has become a cost effective solution to most customer centric organizations with the twin benefit of this being a ready-made platform for employment generation for the rising number of employable youths, with basic IT training to steer them onto a gainful career path.  

“We are responding simply to the law of demand and supply but in such a way that ‘supply’  in turn organically grows macro economies rapidly in all our host communities,” Chairman and Founder of iSON groups asserts.

“This of course has a ripple effect on not just providing a much needed service to our clients and engendering youth development and capacity but also building and sustaining our communities while encouraging urban to semi urban job shift,” he concludes.

As of 2016, Nigeria accounts for over half the call center staff working for iSON across Africa. Due to the rigorous training the company offers its staff, they are highly valuable in other verticals they migrate to, thus reinforcing iSON as a strong platform for capacity engagement and building.

iSON Group services a growing list of market leaders in their various niches i.e. Banking, Insurance Financial Services (BFSI), Telecom, Hospitality, Retail, Government, Health care, FMCG and DTH, Media and Entertainment.

  

The company offers its teeming customers all over the world various services such as analytics, customer experience management, voice process solution and CRM process solution.

Since its inception, iSON Group has amassed numerous awards for its BPO efforts some of which include the 2016 Great Place to Work award for ‘Best Practices’ and ‘CSR’, CIO top 100 Companies, Champions of Governance award, World Class Cup Team award from Standard Chartered Kenya, Distinguished Achievement in IT & ITES, Best Technology Vendor Top 100 Organizations Supplier Award – Zimbabwe Customer Service Week and the Global Business Excellence Awards - Outstanding IT Team.

The company continues to expand its services around Africa with new call center facilities recently launched in Ilorin and Abeokuta in Nigeria.

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NCC, MTN reach truce with staggered payment, fine reduced to N330bn

ITRealms:

 ... MTN must list on Nigeria Stock Exchange

The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and MTN Communication Nigeria have reached a truce to stagger its fine usage of non-registered Subscribers Identification Module (SIM) cards on MTN into five installments, reports ITRealms.

This is coming as the fine which was N1.04trillion has also been reduced to N330Billion, which must be paid-up with the next three years and enlist as soon as possible on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE).

ITRealms gathered that after almost six months of negotiation and re-negotiation over the N1.04Trillion fine imposed on MTN, Nigeria by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) a truce was agreed yesterday reducing the fine to N330Billion.

Confirming this, the Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo told ITRealms that this amount includes the “goodwill” payment of N50Billion earlier made by MTN to the government.

He said, the balance of N280Billion will be made in six tranches in the following order. By the terms of agreement, MTN will pay N30Billion into NCC’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) 30 days from the date of the agreement dated June 10, 2016.

Other dates of payments include:

·  March 31, 2017          -       N30Billion;

·  March 31, 2018          -       N55Billion;

·  December 31, 2018  -       N55Billion;

·  March 31, 2019          -       N55Billion and the balance will be in

·  May 31, 2019              -       N55Billion

He explained that the agreement and resolutions were signed by Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar G. Danbatta, NCC Commission Secretary, Mr. Felix Adeoye, Chief Executive of MTN, Fredinand (Fredi) Moolman and MTN’s Company Secretary, Mrs. Uto Ukpanah, and witnessed by Mr. Tony Ojobo, NCC, Director, Public Affairs; Mr. Usman Malah, Chief of Staff to the EVC, NCC; Ms Helen Obi, Assistant Director, Legal, NCC and Ms. Amina Oyagbola, Corporate Executive, MTN.

It was also agreed that MTN shall undertake the followings:

·  Tender an apology in line with the apology previously tendered in correspondences relating to this matter to the Government of Nigeria and Nigerians within the one month of the execution of this Agreement;

·  Subscribe to the voluntary observance of the Code of Corporate Governance for the Telecoms Industry and would ensure compulsory compliance when the said Code is made mandatory for the telecommunications industry; and

·  Undertake to take immediate steps to ensure the listing of its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as soon as commercially and legally possible after the date of execution of this Settlement Agreement.

Both parties agreed that these terms of settlement cannot be altered, varied, annulled or modified in any respect, except by writing duly executed by both parties; and the terms of settlement constitute all the terms and conditions of the settlement and supersede and replace any previous offers, representations and terms.

ITRealms recalled that the NCC on October 20, 2015, imposed a fine of N1.04Trillion on MTN for infraction of the provisions of the Nigerian Communication Commission (Registration of the telephone subscribers) Regulations, 2011; for failure to disconnect 5.1million improperly registered lines within the prescribed deadline.

However, ITRealms reports that in arriving at the agreement, the EVC said the decision was taken based on professionalism and global best practices, and in line with the NCC core value “to be fair, firm and forthright.”

The EVC was further quoted as saying that the Commission has always carried industry and stakeholders along in taking transparent regulatory actions, adding that at no point will the regulator do anything to jeopardise the business health of the entire sector.

“We were careful not to take decisions that were likely to cripple the business interest of the operators we regulate.  Besides, the downturn of the global economy is biting hard on everybody and every sector, so we must therefore be sensitive and flexible in our decisions”

This perhaps is one of the attractions of the global communities to the activities of the Commission through multiple awards recently.

A week ago, the NCC got the European Award for Best Practices by the European Society for Quality Research (ESQR) based in Switzerland.  The award ceremony involved over 63 Countries and global business giants like United Air-lines, Cathay Pacific airlines amongst others took place in Brussels, Belgium.

+Remmy 

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Loyalty to Skye Bank paid off says Daniel Edem, winner of 11th Skye Millionaire reward

ITRealms:

The latest winner of the 11th edition of the ‘Reach for the Skye Millionaire’ reward scheme, Mr. Daniel Edem has declared that his loyalty to the bank has paid off, reports ITRealms.

Edem who is of Adeniran Ogunsanya Branch in Lagos emerged a millionaire at the bank’s Reach for the Skye Millionaire promo held on Thurdsay, May 19, 2016 at the popular Oba Main Market in the historical city of Akure, Ondo State.

ITRealms gathered that Edem who was contacted via phone call was full of praises for Skye Bank and its Management.

“I am happy that eventually my loyalty to Skye Bank paid off handsomely. This is because I have been faithful to Skye Bank for over 20 years , I keep all my accounts with them and in no time have they disappointed me and to crown it , they are rewarding me with  the sum of N1 million, common, it can only be Skye Bank!” Edem asserted.

For the bank’s Group Head, Retail Banking, Nkolika Okoli “There is still a chance for our people in Akure to win this ‘awoof’ because another set of millionaires will soon emerge  next month at the 12th edition.”

She explained that to join the lucky millionaire club, “all you need to do is open a Skye Save plus or Skye Ease savings Account and make a minimum deposit of two thousand naira into the account. If you already have a Skye Save Plus or Skye Ease account, with additional deposit of N2, 000 minimum you stand a chance of becoming our next millionaire.”

Okoli also said that the more deposits in multiples of N2,000 a customer make, “the more your chances to be one of the three customers to be rewarded with one million naira each on a monthly basis. We have made it very easy for every Nigerian to open a savings account either by SMS code using their phones (no data connection is needed, just dial *833*1#), on-line through the bank's web site or by walking into any of the bank's 400 branches nationwide."

She pointed out that if a customer is not lucky to get ‘Millionaire’ added to their sobriquet, they may still be rewarded with some other available consolation prizes that include N250, 000 for four customers and N100, 000 to 10 customers each.

“Lots of instant prizes which include Refrigerators, electricity generating sets, table top gas cookers, mobile phones, blenders, recharge cards and other gift items await those who open accounts at the promo draw venue. The millionaire reward programme goes on throughout the year and beyond, because the Skye is Big Enough!” Nkolika Okoli said.

Stressing that the three millionaires produced today to the earlier winners means that Skye Bank has so far made 33 Millionaires – three lucky Nigerians have won three million naira every month in the past 11 months while the N250, 000 category has produced 43 winners and 110 winners from the N100, 000 category.

Chuks Egbuna/GEE

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Pix: Group Head, Retail Banking, Skye Bank, Nkolika Okoli, Babaloja of Akure Kingdom, Chief Olowu Ige, Iyaloja of Akure Kingdom, Erelu Chief (Mrs.) M. Adekanye and Regional Manager , Ondo/Ekiti Region , Skye Bank Plc. Rasheed Yusuf at the Bank’s  11th “Reach For The Skye Millionaire” reward Scheme  held in Oba Market, Akure , Ondo  State on Thursday, 19th May , 2016.

Skye Bank millionaire scheme: Civil servant emerges winner

ITRealms

A civil servant with Lagos State Government, Kazeem Adewale has been declared winner of the N1million star prize of “The Reach for the Skye" Millionaire Scheme, ITRealms reports.

The draw was held in Lagos amid fanfare, even as ITRealms gathered thatsince its introduction, Skye Bank Millionaire Scheme has changed the lives of many for the better. The scheme, which is a product feature for its flagship savings product, is meant to encourage savings culture amongst the mass market segment.

Kazeem Adewale inappreciation of the life-changing prize said, “I thank Skye Bank for this encouragement, and for putting us—customers—on their mind. This money would be put into something that would also help me to save even more.”

Speaking on the occasion, the Head, Retail Banking, Skye Bank Plc. Nkolika Okoli, said,“the scheme provides a unique opportunity for the bank to stay in touch and reward its SavePlus account holders, who have a unique role to play in the country’s future economy expansion,” she stated.

ITRealms reports that the monthly draw would afford three customers; both old and new, to emerge millionaires, while 10 and 4 others will be rewarded with N100, 000 and N250, 000 respectively as consolation prizes for having at least a minimum of N2,000 with the bank within that month.

The next Millionaire Scheme is set to hold in Anambra State next week. This announcement was made in a press statement issued by the bank, where it was stated that the September draw would hold as activation in Onitsha main market, Onitsha, ITRealms learnt.

The ‘Skye Reach for Millionaire’ reward scheme will see Skye Bank give away the sum of 60 million naira during the course of the scheme to customers who operate the Skye SavePlus account and maintain minimum credit balances of N2,000 on an incremental basis.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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