NaijaAgroNet: Nigerian farmer on death row for defending himself - ITREALMS

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A shocking case has sparked widespread outrage in Nigeria, with many calling for justice and mercy, reports ITREALMS.

Sunday Jackson, a farmer, has been on death row since 2015 after being attacked by a herdsman on his farm in Adamawa State.

Eseme Eyiboh's mum, Deaconess Grace for burial Nov 9 - ITREALMS

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The remains of Deaconess Grace Sunday Eyiboh, mother of the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity and Spokesman to the Senate President, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh will be interred on November 9, 2024.

A press statement from his eldest son, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh and signed by the Head of Media, The Triumph of Mmaette, Philip Nyam, quoted as saying, Mama's burial shall be conducted by Qua Iboe Church at Community Secondary School, Akpautong village in Esit Eket LGA, Akwa Ibom State on the 9th November 2024 at 10am.

Konga Mega computing sales ends Sunday - ITREALMS

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A huge surge has been recorded among bargain-hungry shoppers as Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce giant, prepares to draw the curtains on its widely popular Mega Computing Sales.

The promotion, a two-week-long sales fiesta offering best deals and unmatched discounts on a variety of computing products, has generated significant excitement among shoppers, including students and their parents, as well as educational institutions, especially with the commencement of a new academic session across Nigeria. 

Multiple income stream is purposeful says Naomi Sunday - ITREALMS

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Mrs Naomi Sunday is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nana's Events & Rental Services, Ajah, Lagos State, told ITREALMS' GBEMI OMOTOSO that aside efficient services as key word for success, multiple income stream is purposeful.

Excerpts:

How would you describe your journey into the Industry?

My journey into the events industry has been amazing, mostly tough but because of my passion and drive to make an impact, it has been worthwhile.

Sunday Sermon: Forget not, the reasons for the season

Sunday Sermon@ITRealms:

            Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday marks the beginning of the season of Advent, the time of preparation before the coming of Christmas, when we will celebrate together the birth or Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Today as the First Sunday of Advent, we also begin a new liturgical year, as a new cycle of the liturgical celebrations begin anew. 

This Advent season is a time for us to prepare ourselves for Jesus’ coming.  It is easy to get distracted with all the Christmas excitement, but we need to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.  In order for us to prepare ourselves for this Holy Mass, let us pause for a moment, remembering those sins we have committed against God and neighbor, and be truly sorry for them.

            Good morning brothers and sisters in Christ!  Welcome to a new liturgical year and also the season of Advent.  Today we heard the passages from the Scriptures speaking to us from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, reminding us as God’s people that we have fallen from the grace of God when we sinned against Him, disobeying His laws and commandments. Yet, God is ever forgiving and merciful, and He is willing to forgive us our sins, as long as we open ourselves to His mercy and allow His grace and love to transform us from a being filled with sin into a being of light.

            As we embark through this season of Advent, preparing ourselves for the coming of Christmas, it is important that we take note, that this season is not about preparing our homes with decorations, or the time for us to do our pre-Christmas shopping and preparation for our lavish Christmas parties and celebrations. Instead, this time of Advent is designed for us that we may stop from whatever we have been doing throughout this year, and reflect on them, so as to prepare ourselves spiritually and mentally to celebrate Christmas properly.

            Many of us do not understand what Christmas is truly about, and we ended up being drawn into the secular way of celebrating Christmas. In fact, if you look around Lagos, many people are already raising their prices everywhere on food items, planning perhaps their trip to the East to spend Christmas with family and friends, and looking for ways to get money.

            Yet, if we look deeper, except for some noteworthy exceptions we surely have encountered, there is something very important missing from all these Christmas planning. And what is that, brothers and sisters in Christ? It is Christ! Christ has been missing from Christmas, and the celebration which is primarily and indeed solely about Christ Our Lord, has lost its true meaning and purpose, hidden beneath layers of excess fun and what one is expecting to receive on Christmas.

            Many of us worry about what we are to wear during the celebrations, or what to cook or provide in our feasts, but for what purpose? Indeed, it will be good to wear something new and good looking for the festive seasons, but are we doing these for the right purpose? Are we celebrating the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, or are we being vain, trying to look good and beautiful in front of our guests and relatives?

            Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are living in a world awash with many material excesses as well as materialistic attitudes. We are surrounded by all these things that distract us from the true focus of Christmas. Imagine if in a birthday party, everyone is busy enjoying themselves, talking among themselves and be occupied by various activities, and yet, the person who is having the birthday is forgotten. Is that right? Surely it is not.

            The Gospel passage today serves as a reminder for all of us the importance of this season of Advent, as a time of reflection and recollection, for us to think deep in our hearts what it truly means for us to celebrate Christmas, and indeed, what it means to be Christians. For we believe in the Lord Jesus, Our God, Who has descended to us assuming the flesh of Man, and died for us on the cross.

            This is the fundamental tenet of our faith which we have to follow and understand if we are truly willing to understand the true spirit and intention of our Christmas celebrations. For Christmas is not just like any other earthly celebrations. The very reason we rejoice is because Christmas itself is intimately and inseparably tied with another great event in our faith – that is of the Passion of Our Lord that we celebrate during Good Friday, and His resurrection in Easter.

            Without the crucifixion, death and resurrection in Easter, Christmas has no meaning, as then it will be just the birth anniversary of yet another human being, no different from any one of us. Instead, it is because of Easter that Christmas has its meaning, because we believe that God Himself has become Man and entered into the world at the moment of His birth, celebrated as Christmas. And the very purpose of His coming into this world, which makes Easter also inseparable from Christmas, is so that He may lay down His life on the cross, as a perfect sacrificial victim, for the sake of our redemption.

            Brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to spend time to reflect on this, and see if we have done what we are expected to do, in preparation for the worthy celebration of Christmas. Otherwise, this time of Advent and eventually this upcoming Christmas season will just pass and go without meaning or purpose for us, year after year, again and again. Instead, all of us as Christians should become role models in our faith, and do our best to worthily welcome Christmas, celebrating the very important moment of the birth of Our Lord, God Who have willingly made Himself a Man, for our sake.

            Let us all do our best to prepare ourselves this season of Advent, by going for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, doing confession for our sins and conducting penance through our good works and charity, giving up our bad habits, and prepare ourselves, heart, mind, soul and body to be ready to celebrate Christmas in full faith, no longer focused on ourselves, but instead, returning to our true focus in Our Lord Jesus Christ, the birthday Boy, Whose birth we rejoice at.

            May the Lord bless us always, and may He empower each and every one of us, so that we may live faithfully and walk in His ways, all the days of our life, persevering through the challenges of life and all the temptations of this world. May He guide us in this season of Advent, that day after day, we may come ever closer to God and His grace. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

*Courtesy: Rev. Fr. Patrick Morrison, Order of Preachers (OP), St. Jude’s Catholic

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Chibuzo Okeereke wins triple awards @YALI West Africa

ITRealms:

Renowned Nigerian youth leader, Sunday-Chibuzo Okereke has emerged the winner of triple awards at the just concluded President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Regional Leadership Center-Accra, reports ITRealms.

Okereke, ITRealms gathered is the Regional Representative (West Africa), African Union Chapter (AUC) a continental youth body that is focused on implementing the African Union Agenda 2063, is also the founder/Executive Director ProjectHopeAlive: A youth initiative that have been leading change in the areas of inclusive quality education, youth & leadership and wise governance/electoral integrity in Nigeria.  Covener-GreenThumbAfrica.

Okereke whose quality of representation, participation, excellence, and delivery skills was described as excellent, resourceful and great show of quality leadership by the organisers; received the award of "The YALI Spirit of Leadership; Most Interactive Participant and was conferred with the highest honour of "YALI Ambassador."

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) was launched by President of the United States Barack Obama as a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders; which began in 2014, with the mandate to empower young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. The need to invest in grooming strong, results-oriented leaders comes out of the statistics: nearly 1 in 3 Africans are between the ages of 10 and 24, and approximately 60% of Africa’s total population is below the age of 35. Who will empower and lead these young Africans? Who will shape the future of business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public policy management? In order to answer these questions, YALI promotes three models designed to identify and empower young leaders: the YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship, YALI Network and now the establishment of Regional Leadership Centers across Africa.

Supporting this progress, the Accra Regional Leadership Centre (RLC), a part of President Obama’s Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI),  offers an innovative and game changing leadership training program in Africa. The program is hosted by Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), and with Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) as Nigeria's Campus.

The five weeks long  programme featured trainings in: Visioning & Motive for Leadership; effective communication; emotional intelligence; leadership & resilience; personal statement; culture & leadership; leading change & dynamics; corruption, leadership & followership; Ethical Leadership; Ethics, morality and legality; Public Finance, resource mobilization and management; Public policy cycle and stakeholders management; urbanization and sustainable cities; health and policy; Gender and diversity; Technology and urbanization; Business Model Canvas; Innovation and Managing Change and new venture creation. 

Participants were grouped along key tracks such as: Public Policy Management; Civic Leadership and Entrepreneurship and animal energy groups which include the Elephants; Lions and Eagles for effective participation and learning. Here, the participants solved leadership case studies that highlight the importance of teamwork, collaboration, tolerance, reasoning, courage, respect and time management. The young change makers treated the case study of Corruption in La paz-city of Bolivia from the J F Kennedy School of government and leadership simulation exercise to climb to the summit of mount Everest from the Harvard Management school.

The YALI Nigeria Cohort one recorded 150 change makers/young African leaders drawn from seven West African countries of: Nigeria(host), Ghana, The Gambia, Cote d' Viore, Cameroon, Liberia and Sierra Leone who have demonstrated leadership, innovation and community impact in their respective countries. Amongst which are over 100 Nigerians.

The YALI Nigeria Cohort one was organized by YALI Regional Leadership Centre-Accra in partnership with USAID, GIMPA, The MasterCard Foundation, Africa 2.0, University of Notre Dame, Presidential Precinct, Howard University,  Lagos Business School, Microsoft, Atlasmara, IBM and ASCON.

Emily Otuk/GEE

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What Buhari told Nigerian workers

For the Records@ITRealms:

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER – IN - CHIEF, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2016 NATIONAL MAY DAY CELEBRATION HELD AT THE EAGLE SQUARE, ABUJA ON SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2016

Great Nigerian Workers!

Great Nigerian Workers!
I bring you greetings.

It is with great pleasure that I honour the invitation by the two Federations of Trade Unions, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to attend the 2016 National May Day celebrations. As you all know, this is my first outing in this forum which has a long and historical tradition that are noble and progressive.

The efforts of all the heroes past who had fought for the workers of all nations to have a ‘voice’ in determining the course and direction of both national and international issues affecting the state of their being, are commemorated today, the first day of May all over the world. Labour remains unarguably an important element in any policy, programme and project propagated for national development.

This year’s celebration is significant in a number of ways. First, it marks the first May Day celebration under the All Progressive Congress (APC) Administration which brought an end to the sixteen (16) years of national squander, bad governance, unbridled corruption and economic woes by the previous administration. Second, it is coming at a time when the whole world is experiencing some form of economic crisis or the other.

For us whose main foreign exchange comes from oil, the global decline in the price of oil has further exacerbated our economic crisis. The resultant effects of this are noticeable in government dwindling resources, reduction in operational capacities of most companies especially in the Oil and Gas Sector, threats of workforce reduction by multinationals and the escalations of volatility amongst others. These developments no doubts, have socio-economic implications for the economy as well as the working class. I therefore appreciate the theme you have chosen for this year’s National May Day celebration – The Working Class and the Quest for Socio – Economic Revival. A quest it is, and the realization of the revival is not farfetched. It only requires reasonable time to remedy the maladministration and put forth a change so desired by all of us.

I make no excuses as this Government of the APC is determined to tackle headlong all socio – economic ills that have troubled our nation and we shall evolve solutions to emerging threats to our well being and the realization of sustainable development as well as growth anchored on equity and social justice.

Development must be sustainable for it to benefit society in general. It is therefore the responsibility of those in the citadels of power to align themselves with the working class who make development possible by generating and sustaining the momentum of positive change. That is why the present Administration has sought and will continue to seek the hands of Labour so that together we can attain the enviable heights of progress in our beloved country.

It is for this very reason that I aspired to become President which the Nigerian people have now made a reality. This Administration shall effect positive Change in the lives of average Nigerians, to ensure that the downtrodden are elevated and most importantly to fight the intense pain of corruption which has enriched the very few to the detriment of the majority of Nigerians who groan under the overwhelming weight of poverty and all the superstructural and infrastructural maladies resulting from corruption.

In this fight against corruption, I need you all to be very willing partners. Fighting corruption in the Public Service in particular, requires the workers to play major roles by cooperating with the Government.

I have listened to the speeches made by both the Presidents of the TUC and NLC. By the speeches, you have without any equivocation affirmed your faith in the greatness of Nigeria as a nation. The challenges facing Nigeria have been highlighted and I assure you that they shall be accorded due consideration. It is worthy to note that solution to some of those issues and requests are already being considered and would be made public in the near future. The times may be tough, but we Nigerians are by nature resilient and strong and it is that nature that propels us to overcome adversities and still thrive as a nation.

Let us use this National May Day to celebrate the workers and Nigeria as a Nation. There will always be challenges in the life of a man and what defines greatness is the way and manner such challenges are tackled and overcome. I assure you, great Nigerian workers that this Administration is able and willing to constructively handle the challenges.

In so doing, I request your cooperation and understanding, as partners in progress. The need to ensure a conducive atmosphere devoid of incessant industrial actions becomes paramount to ensure no loss of man – days and accordingly promote high productivity which is perquisite for sustainable development based on increased investments, creation of jobs as well as protection of jobs. I further assure you that working together, this Administration protect workers rights and shall promote incentives for great productivity and hence greater prosperity.

Thank you and I wish you all happy May Day celebrations.
God Bless.

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DALA 2016 attracts galaxy of arts, Klint da Drunk, De Don, Elder O, D’Lectura, others on queue

ITRealms:

The forthcoming Daylight Annual Leadership Awards (#DALA) 2016, is attracting a galaxy of tested and trusted comedians as they queue up to perform at the historic event, holding on Sunday, May 22, Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, reports ITRealms.

The chief host and publisher of Day Light Newspaper, Mr. Azuh Amatus, confirmed that multi-talented entertainer, Klink da Drunk would be leading the team of top-notch comedians waiting to entertain audience with their rich repertoire of jokes and exhilarating performances.

He also disclosed that hilarious quartet of De Don, Elder O, D’Lectura, Baba de Baba and a few others, would also be teaming up with Klint da Drunk on the stage to further literally electrify guests with their acts.

Amatus, who also is the Chairman and Founder of the awards scheme, said the star-studded list of comedians expected to crack ribs at the ceremony is tight and carefully selected to add fun and undiluted entertainment at the high-net-worth event.

‘’DALA is a glamorous awards ceremony and we are bringing the very best on board to make the event memorable and fun-filled,’’ he said.

Reacting to the news of his participation, Klint da Drunk assured fans, he will be a DALA 2016.

“I’ll be at DALA 2016 live to thrill my fans, see you there,” he assured.

+ITRealms DSA  #DALA

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Breaking News: Obama breaks Presidential jinx, visits Havana after 88 years

ITRealms:

The President of the United States of America (USA), Barack Obama on Sunday broke a 88-year presidential jinx by visiting Havana in Cuba on a state visit, reports ITRealms.

Also, ITRealms gathered that this came after the last president of US visited Havana in 1928.

The Presidential jet, AirForce One arrived at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport at about 4pm local time, with President Obama, accompanied by his wife, Michelle and two daughters, Malia Ann and Natasha.

ITRealms gathered that the plan to reconnect with Cuba came soon after Obama came to power in 2008 and by 2009, Obama loosened travel restrictions on Cuban Americans visiting their homeland.

Also ITRealms recalls that under the President Bush’s administration, Cuban Americans could travel to the island once every three years. 

It was reported that if any Cuban had visited a sick mother in Havana and returned home to the U.S. only to find out she died days later, the Bush policy then, bars such a person from attending the funeral.

However, Obama changed that policy seven years ago, in 2009, thereby permitting Cuban Americans to go back and forth as they pleased. 

Further reports by Reuters showed that the visit by President Obama heralds a new vista of relationship between the U.S. engagement with the island's Communist government after decades of animosity between the former Cold War foes. 

Obama landed at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport aboard Air Force One, the presidential jet with "United States of America" emblazoned across its fuselage, a sight almost unimaginable not long ago.

Stepping down onto the red carpet in a light drizzle, Obama and his family, smiling broadly and with umbrellas in hand, were greeted by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez. They then boarded a black armored limousine, with U.S. and Cuban flags fluttering from the hood, and headed out in their motorcade.

The three-day trip, the first by a U.S. president to Cuba in 88 years, is the culmination of a diplomatic opening announced by Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro in December 2014, ending a Cold War-era estrangement that began when the Cuban revolution ousted a pro-American government in 1959.

Obama, who abandoned a longtime U.S. policy of trying to isolate Cuba, wants to make his shift irreversible. But major obstacles remain to full normalization of ties, and the Democratic president's critics at home say the visit is premature.

Traveling with first lady Michelle Obama, her mother and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, the president was to visit the newly reopened U.S. Embassy and then play tourist on his first night on the Caribbean island, taking in the sights of Old Havana.

He will hold talks with Raul Castro – but not his brother Fidel, the revolutionary leader - and speak to entrepreneurs on Monday. He meets privately with dissidents, addresses Cubans live on state-run media and attends an exhibition baseball game on Tuesday.
 

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Breaking News: eCommerce Tech Alliance launches VoixBox App on Android

BreakingNews@ITRealms:

The management of San Ramon-based eCommerce Technology Alliance in California, United States, has launched its first Mobile Application on the Android platform known as VoixBox on Sunday, reports ITRealms. 

The app, ITRealms gathered could now be downloaded as a voice mail app from the Google Store.

Also, ITRealms reports that in potential users could search on Google Play for the name Voixbox.

“Once you download and register, your caller will automatically be provided with the option to leave a message for you using our Cloud voice mail box if you can't answer your call,” company sources confided in ITRealms.

Even as customers could get more information about the Voicemail Application at App website.

 

According to our source, “Our VoixBox application is a unique mobile app that enables anyone to have a cloud based voicemail box regardless of carriers, on any phone, anywhere in the world.”

Further, ITRealms reports that Voixbox provides functionalities to record, store and forward unlimited voice recordings from any phone for unlimited time for a fee.

ITRealms equally gathered that the iOS version will be launched next week and will be available on Apple Store.

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Guild of Editors appeal for release of Donu Kogbara

ITRealms:

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has appealed for the immediate release of one of its own, Ms Donu Kogbara, a columnist with the Vanguard Newspaper, who was abducted on Sunday, August 30, 2015 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, reports ITRealms.

President, NGE, Garba Deen Muhammad, in a press statement made available to ITRealms on behalf of NGE passionately appealed to the kidnappers of “our friend Ms. Donu Kogbara who was abducted on Sunday, 30/8/2015, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Donu Kogbara is a 

columnist with the Vanguard newspaper.”

He also urged those holding Donu to remember that they have mothers, sisters, wives and daughters whom they cherish and protect intensely. Stressing that Donu is also a mother, wife and sister to other people who care deeply about her. 

“They must not hurt her and should please release her to return to her family immediately,” NGE President said.

As a columnist, Garba noted that Donu always stood for the truth, the poor and the downtrodden in her approach to national and local issues, and wondered why anybody could kidnap her.

“It is therefore a big disservice to her that she should be subjected to the traumatic experience of being a victim of kidnapping. We implore her abductors to be humane and to release her unconditionally to continue with her crusade for a better country for all Nigerians,” he lamented.

Garba also charged the police and other security agencies to take every step necessary to ensure the safe release of Donu Kogbara; and to put in place measures that will guarantee the safety and security of all Nigerians, especially those exposed to higher risks such as journalists.

To the family of Donu, NGE said, they want them to know that the Guild feel their pain at this very trying period.

“We shall continue to work and pray for the safe return of our dear colleague,” Guild President said.

  +ITRealms DSA +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)

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Pix: Donu