Vice President Kashim Shettima commends Shell investments at Nigeria Economic Summit - ITREALMS

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has commended the investments of Shell in Nigeria as he visited the company’s exhibition stand at the opening of the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja, reports ITREALMS.

The exhibition complements the participation of Shell in the summit and features the operations of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo), Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), All On and Daystar Power.

Cisco names David Meads, VP, MEA

ITRealms:

Cisco has named Mr. David Meads its Vice President for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) operations, reports ITRealms.

Cisco noted that in the current era of digital disruption, Meads, in this newly created role, would oversee the execution of company’s strategy in these two regions, ensuring the technology leader maintains its momentum at the forefront of digital transformation efforts.

The President, Cisco Europe, Middle East & Africa Region (EMEAR) Mr. Edwin Paalvast, pointed out that as digital adoption gathers pace in the Middle East and Africa, the new geographical set up under Meads would allow for greater synergies, relevancy and sharing of best practices across the two regions.

“David Meads’ appointment to lead Cisco’s business in the Middle East and Africa comes at a time of tremendous potential for the region to reap the benefits of digital transformation, supported by the prioritization of digitization in both government and business agendas,” he said.

Meads, ITRealms gathered has over 30 years’ experience in the Information Technology (IT) industry, having joined Cisco in 1996 and was most recently Cisco’s Vice President for Africa, where he was responsible for partnering with organizations across the continent to help them implement strategies to unlock the full potential of the digital era.

Over the years, ITRealms reports, he developed a reputation as a trusted advisor to enterprises and governments, partnering with them to deliver competitive advantages and efficiencies gained by adopting digital technologies and would be based in Dubai, Cisco’s hub for the Middle East.

“As we deepen the commitment to the region, we’re excited to have someone of David’s caliber at the helm to spearhead our strategy and support customers along their digitization journey. One of David’s priorities will be helping Cisco’s customers and partners create value in a highly connected, digital world, while enabling greater responsiveness to emerging market and customer needs,” Paalvast said.

Cisco also named Cathy Smith, who is currently the Managing Director for Cisco Southern Africa to now look after the whole of the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region reporting to David Meads. 

While, Olakunle Oloruntimehin retained his role as General Manager: Nigeria and English speaking West Africa as well as David Bunei who is the General Manager: East Africa and Indian Ocean Islands, remain in their roles but now report to Smith in her expanded role.

Nonye Dom/GEE 

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Remmy Nweke emerges Vice President, African information society group

ITRealms:

Over 175-member continental organization, the African Civil Society on the Information Society (ACSIS) has elected the Lead Strategist, DigitalSENSE Africa Media group, Mr. Remmy Nweke, as its Vice President for the next four years, reports ITRealms.

This is coming as another Nigerian, Mr. Akinremi Peter Taiwo emerged the West Africa sub-regional coordinator for ACSIS, alongside eight others to be led by Senegalese, Dr. Cisse Kane as President till 2020.

ICANN hires security expert, Mark Jardina as Vice President

ITRealms:

An expert in global security and health and safety, Mr. Mark Jardina, has joined the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) as Vice President of Security Operations, reports ITRealms.

ICANN chief executive officer cum president, Mr. Goran Marby disclosed this to ITRealms, saying that safety and security of the ICANN stakeholders, board and the organization are the top priority, he said, stressing "Mark brings over 15 years of global security experience gained within the public, private, NGO and diplomatic sectors. We are very pleased to have this in-house expertise."

He also said that building on existing plans developed in partnership with Control Risks and International SOS, Jardina will be responsible for physical security operations.

Within his purview, he said, are travel advisories for ICANN meetings, board meetings and other business-related travels, onsite security at ICANN Public Meetings and events, and security for ICANN offices around the world.

“Jardina has an extensive background in global security gained in the international development community, global media development and private sector corporate security, as well as the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Marine Corps. He has international experience in South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East,” Marby said.

In addition, he said, Jardina is fluent in English, Italian and Spanish, and is conversational in Turkish. Jardina is a graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps cum Army Military Police Academy, SPAWAR Physical Security School with MDI Systems, and University of Maryland graduate of Business Administration and Homeland Security and resides in Washington, D.C.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Go beyond PC assembling plants, Imoukhuede urges local investors

ITRealms:

The Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the Vice President on Job Creation and Employment, Mr. Afolabi Imoukhuede, has called on the increasing number of locally Personal Computer (PC) assembling plants to go fully into manufacturing, reports ITRealms.

Imoukhuede made this call while addressing participants at the PC Adoption initiative put together by Intel and partners, namely Dell, Microsoft, RLG, Lenovo, Zinox, Airtel, Asus and Diamond Bank among others.

According to him, going into full manufacturing by the existing assembling plants would definitely create more jobs for Nigerians, especially the youths.

He also said, those who are out of jobs are not out of jobs because there is no job, but the employable skills is lacking and it’s key.

As a country, he said, if Nigerians must be globally competitive they must be globally competent to balance the equation of employability.

Technology, he said, plays that enabling role in this scheme, stressing that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is seen as a sector but not that it will create all the jobs that Nigeria needs, but facilitates the job creation.

"We must deepen and increase our internet penetration. You cannot have internet revolution without deepening the internet access," he said.

Imoukhuede further said that Nigerians need to get computers very affordable, therefore, a commodity.

It is not all about growing the profit of the market but partners he said must go beyond that, promising that the Federal Government intends to strengthen the policies to encourage local investor.

He asserted that as a country, Nigeria must go beyond assembling to manufacturing and extending the reach of ICT to other sectors of the economy like agriculture and construction.

 
+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +Intel
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Buhari on 5-day vacation, hands over to Osibajo

ITRealms:

The President, Muhammadu Buhari has commenced a five-day short vacation from Friday, February 5 to February 10, 2016, just as he handed over the mantle of leadership to his vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, reports ITRealms.

The presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, confirmed this to ITRealms, saying that while President Buhari is on vacation, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will perform the functions of the President.
 
This, he said, was in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, even as President Buhari has dispatched a formal notice of his vacation to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in that order.

Meanwhile on Friday met with the members of the Nigerian Community in London.

Buhari was accompanied by the National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno, Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama, Acting High Commissioner to London Amb. Simon Ogah and Special Adviser on Media & Publicity Mr Femi Adesina.

  

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My Digital Journey by Intel provides opportunity for women, girls - Hudnell

ITRealms:

The Vice President at Intel Corporation and Director of Corporate Affairs, cum President Intel Foundation Ms. Rosalind Hudnell has said My Digital Journey initiative by the firm provides an opportunity for women and girls, reports ITRealms.

She made this known during the launch of the programme in Nairobi, saying that as part of the first phase of the programme, it would create opportunities for women and girls in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa to learn about the internet and benefit from the wealth of information available that will contribute towards achieving their goals and provide access to opportunities

Learners on My Digital Journey, she said, will receive a digital completion certificate after successfully completing three quests.

“Each quest comprises 3-6 missions.  The first mission may take a learner 15-45 minutes depending on reading speed and the thought put into responding to challenges,” she said.

According to her, this learning platform provides women and girls with a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and access additional resources that support learning in a safe environment.

Gaining access to the Internet, Hudnell said, enables women and girls to improve their self-esteem and expression, expand their social and political participation, gain new skills that enable them to obtain formal education, become entrepreneurs, or secure employment, and in addition get access to information and new connections within their communities and beyond.

Intel believes that educating girls and closing the Internet gender gap has an important multiplier effect—expanding opportunities for families, communities, and nations.

 “Through the Intel Global Girls and Women Initiative, we are working to empower millions of girls and women around the world by closing the gender gap in access to education, inspiring more girls and women to become creators of technology and connecting them to opportunity,” she noted.

Also speaking, UN Women Deputy Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Simone ellis Oluoch-Olunya, noted that Unlocking gender equality will unlock the growth potential of the continent.

“Grounded in the vision of equality, UN Women believes that technology can be a game-changer for women and girls. Enhancing women’s economic empowerment is one of the five priority areas of UN Women’s work, therefore this initiative is one of many UN Women is undertaking to advance women’s economic empowerment and support women, particularly from a technology perspective,’’ Ms. Oluoch-Olunya said.

 
Uj N. Dominic/GEE 
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SGF Lawal, VP Osinbajo to lead FG delegation to Pa Ngige’s burial

ITRealms:

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal are expected to lead the Federal Government delegation on behalf of President Mohammadu Buhari to pay last respect to Pa Pius Okonkwo Ngige, the late father of the current Labour and Productivity Minister, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, reports ITRealms.
Also, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, are among government dignitaries confirmed to honour the funeral of late Ozo Akunnia Pius Okonkwo Ngige.
The funeral billed for Saturday, January 23, 2016 is expected to commence on Friday, January 22 and governors of the South East, political class, traditional rulers, religious, traditional leaders, and captains of industry are equally to grace the occasion.
Throwing more lights on the plans at his country-home Alor, Idemili South local government area at the weekend, Senator Ngige said that the federal government delegation would be led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir David Lawal, while governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano would be the major host.
Senator Ngige while reflecting on the life and times of his late father noted that though his deceased father was not a politician, he supported good governance and did everything possible to encourage those who served the society well.
Late Pa Ngige was former head of Umu Ngige clan of Alor town and died last September 4th at the age of 105 at home.
 

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Pix: SGF Babachir David Lawal