AfriCANDO 2026: Governor Otti approves hosting of 27th annual Trade & Investment Expo in Umuahia - ITREALMS

In positioning the state as a premier hub for sub-national diplomacy and international trade, the Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, has approved the hosting of the 27th annual AfriCANDO 2026, reports ITREALMS.

The prestigious U.S.–Africa Trade and Investment Conference, Exhibition, and Medal of Glory Awards Dinner is scheduled to take place from November 12 to 19, 2026, at the state-of-the-art International Conference Centre in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

FEC approves 4,000 new telecom towers to deepen digital access, inclusion across Nigeria - ITREALMS

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… Targets 23 million underserved citizens, boosts rural commerce, security and connectivity

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), Nigeria’s highest policy-making body, has approved the rollout of 4,000 additional telecoms towers to expand digital access and accelerate inclusion in underserved communities nationwide, reports ITREALMS.

The approval was issued at Wednesday’s FEC meeting in Abuja, presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Tinubu approves N16.7bn for Mokwa bridge reconstruction - ITREALMS

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President Bola Tinubu has approved the release of N16.7 billion for the immediate reconstruction of the Mokwa Bridge in Niger State, which was destroyed by flooding in May.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced this in Abakaliki after a meeting with Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi.

NCC approves mobile operators' disconnection of debtor banks over USSD - ITREALMS

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The reasons for the latest approval by the nation’s telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to telecommunications companies, especially the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to disconnect some nine indebted financial institutions have emerged, reports ITREALMS.

NCC had on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 issued a public notice of the approval to telcos to withdraw Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Codes assigned by the Commission to financial institutions over unreconciled over N200 billion indebtedness.

Teachers: Osun exco approves interview dates for applicants - ITREALMS

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Towards the conclusion of the teachers’ recruitment exercise, the Osun State Executive Council has directed the Ministry of Education to conduct interviews for applicants within the cut off range adopted after the recruitment test.

The Council presided over by Governor Ademola Adeleke gave the directive after receiving updated reports from the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Adedipo Eluwole, who briefed the council on the activities leading to this final stage of the exercise.

Makinde approves appointment of Olakunleyin as 43rd Olubadan - ITREALMS

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Finally, the Oyo State governor, Engr. 'Seyi Makinde, has approved the appointment of Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakuleyin as the 43rd Olubadan of lbadanland, reports ITREALMS

The governor gave the approval in a memo signed on June 14, 2024, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 19 (Cap 28) Law of Oyo State 2000 as amended.

Gov. Adeleke approves construction of Hajj Camp for Osun State - ITREALMS

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The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has approved the construction of Osun State Hajj Camp with immediate effect, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking at Nasfat Ramadan lecture on Sunday at Osogbo, Governor Adeleke bemoaned a situation whereby Osun state is the only state in the South West without a hajj camp, vowing to lay the foundation for Hajj Camp before the commencement of the next holy pilgrimage exercise.

Ghana approves second malaria vaccine - ITREALMS

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Ghana – one of the first countries to vaccinate against malaria through the pilot malaria vaccine implementation programme (MVIP), supported by Gavi – has granted full national licensure to the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford and manufactured and scaled up by the Serum Institute of India (SII). 

This second vaccine comes alongside the RTS,S vaccine, which was prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022 following a recommendation for its wider use in 2021. According to the WHO’s 2022 world malaria report, the disease killed 619,000 people in 2021 – with 96% of those deaths in the WHO African region, making malaria one of Africa’s biggest killers. Alongside existing interventions, this vaccine will help save more lives.

FGN approves N24.2bn for Internet @airports, schools, markets - ITREALMS

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Arising from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of Wednesday, March 29, 2023, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) approved the sum of N24.20bn for the provision of broadband internet connection in at least 20 airports, 43 schools and six marketplaces nationwide.

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, disclosed this to State House correspondents after this week’s FEC session
chaired by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

NCC directs mobile operators to implement harmonized short codes - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed mobile network operators (MNOs) to commence implementation of approved harmonised short codes (HSC) for providing certain services to telecom consumers in Nigeria.

The Commission has already set a deadline of May 17, 2023, for all mobile networks to fully migrate from hitherto diverse short codes to the harmonised codes.

ICANN board approves implementation of Registration Data Request Service - ITREALMS

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The board of directors of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has approved the implement of Registration Data Request Service (RDRS), reports ITREALMS.

This, ITREALMS gathered would enable ICANN organization (org) to develop and launch a new ticketing system to handle requests for access to nonpublic registration data related to generic top-level domains (gTLDs), also known as WHOIS.

ICANN board approves recommendations on new gTLD auction proceeds - ITREALMS

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The board of directors of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has approved recommendations of the Cross-Community Working Group on the new Generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) Auction proceeds, reports ITREALMS. 

Confirming this to ITREALMS in his latest blog, the ICANN board chair, Maarten Botterman, noted that through this action, the Board accepted the ICANN community’s recommendations and looks to the ICANN organization (org) to start a new phase of work: design, planning, and implementing an ICANN grant-giving programme.

NUC approves all ACETEL post graduate programmes - ITREALMS

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The National Universities Commission (NUC) has given approval to all six post-graduate programmes offered by the Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL) National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), reports ITREALMS.

The six approved accredited postgraduate programmes by the NUC offered at ACETEL include, M.Sc. PhD. Artificial Intelligence, M.Sc. PhD. Cyber Security and M.Sc., PhD. Management Information System.

In a letter of approval signed by the Director Academic planning, Dr. N.B Saliu on behalf of the Executive Secretary NUC said “After due consideration of the exercise, the result of the Resource verification and Accreditation of ACE’s (ACETEL) postgraduate degree programmes of your university are as follows: M.Sc. PhD. Artificial Intelligence, approved and accredited, M.Sc. PhD. Cyber Security, Approved and Accredited, M.Sc., PhD Management Information System, Approved and Accredited”.

The statement added the commission has the statutory mandate to resource verify and accredit programmes in all Nigerian Universities.

“Pursuant to this mandate and in consonance with Government approved guidelines, the NUC organized in March,2022 the resource verification/Accreditation of Post Graduate Academic Programmes of Africa Centre of Excellence (ACE’s) at the National Open University of Nigeria NOUN)”.

The statement enjoyed the university to ensure all programmes bear only the approved titles and nomenclature and to provide human and material resources for the development and growth of the approved programmes.

The accreditation status is for a period of five years.

With this development, ACETEL has met Nigerias legal requirements of running a post graduate programme in the courses offered at the Centre. Efforts are underway according to Centre Director Prof. Grace Jokthan to equally subject “our academic programmes to international accreditation bodies”.

*Uju N. Dominic/Editor

Shake up in FRSC: Oyeyemi approves strategic redeployment of 5 ACM, 41 CC - ITREALMS

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The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has approved the redeployment of 46 Senior Officers, in the capacity of Assistant Corps Marshals and Corps Commanders who are all expected to resume at their new Commands on or before Monday, 2 May, 2022, reports ITREALMS.

According to Bisi Kazeem, the FRSC spokesperson, the redeployed senior Officers are; Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Chidi B Nkwonta, former Zonal commanding officer RS6HQ Port Harcourt to take over as the Commandant Federal Road Safety Corps Command and Staff College (FCSC), Udi, Enugu State, ACM Chukwuma N. Njoku, formally Corps Commander Personnel under Admin and Human Resource Department at the national headquarters, to now head Manpower Development unit under Training Department, National Headquarters, Ocheja I Ameh, former Sector Commander Ekiti, now posted to become the Zonal Commanding Officer Enugu, ACM UI Ojeamiren, former Deputy Commandant FRSC Academy Udi, now Zonal Commanding Officer Osogbo, while ACM Jonathan Aderole Owoade, the erstwhile Sector Commander Kwara, now heads Port Harcourt Zonal Command.

Confirmed! NCAA approves opening of Anambra airport - ITREALMS

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It is now confirmed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has finally issued authority for the opening of the Anambra International Cargo And Passenger Airport for commercial operations with effect from Thursday, December 2, 2021, reports ITREALMS.

The approval letter dated 1st December, 2021 sighted by ITREALMS was addressed to the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano and signed by the Director-General of NCAA, Captain Musa S. Nuhu and copied to the Honourable Minister of Aviation, the aviation authority said that it has received security clearance from relevant security agencies for the opening.

FG approves 5G deployment nationwide - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Federal Government (FG) has approved the deployment of the Fifth Generation Network, otherwise called 5G in nationwide,  reports ITREALMS.

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim-Pantami, was quoted by the Director of Public Affairs a the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr Ikechukwu Adinde in a press statement available to ITREALMS as saying that the approval was given after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, September 8, 2021.

Fayemi approves monthly N100m to clear workers' arrears - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Demonstrating commitment to the welfare of workers and pensioners in Ekiti State, the Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has approved monthly release of N100 million naira to clear accumulated gratuities of retired workers in the state, reports ITREALMS.

The Governor, ITREALMS gathered, had last month approved a hundred per cent increase in monthly gratuity payment from N10 million to N20 million.

However, taking into consideration the current plight of many retired workers, who could not access their gratuity several years after their retirement owing to the paltry amount for gratuity payment, Governor Fayemi has directed the Ministry of Finance to further increase the monthly gratuity payment to N100 million per month. This was the amount paid per month during his first term.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, the directive takes immediate effect, pending the time the state government would be able to find a creative approach to resolve the huge outstanding gratuity obligations of the state.

The Governor believes the increment will go a long way in ameliorating the plight of the state’s pensioners.

In a related development, Governor Fayemi has also approved the payment of severance allowance and outstanding salaries of 19 former members of the Ekiti State House of Assemblies and their aides who were denied their entitlement by the immediate past administration of Mr Ayodele Fayose.

Governor Fayemi believes it is unjust to deny workers their wages, saying that his administration will ensure that workers and pensioners get their entitlements as and when due.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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AfDB approves €17.96m ring-road project in Cameroon - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a €17.96 million loan to the Republic of Cameroon to finance the construction of a Ring-Road Project in the North-West Province of the country, reports ITREALMS.

The Ring Road project, ITREALMS gathered, falls under phase three of the country’s Transport Sector Support Programme, aims to improve the movement of goods and people. It will also strengthen the foundations for strong and sustainable growth by promoting domestic and regional trade.

The loan for the 365 km Ring Road is the Bank’s third intervention in the implementation of this important road network rehabilitation and upgrading project. The loop road crosses five of Cameroon’s seven divisions of the North West Region and includes several links to the Nigerian border.

The project will also include institutional support for the transport sector and related works such as the development of rural roads, the rehabilitation of socio-economic infrastructure for improving women and youth living conditions.

The road project is line with the government’s Growth and Employment Strategy Paper (GESP) 2010-2020, to build an integrated and efficient transport network at low-cost that covers the entire country opening the country to neighbouring countries to effectively enhance economic growth and reduce poverty.

The Transport Sector Support programme under which the project falls is also consistent with Pillar I of the Country Strategy Paper (CSP) 2016-2020 for Cameroon, which focuses on strengthening infrastructure to support agricultural value chains for inclusive growth and aligns with the Bank’s High 5 priorities.

Cameroon’s northwestern region has enormous economic potential, particularly in agriculture, which stands to benefit from the road. Other lucrative sectors include livestock and fisheries; tourism, particularly the spectacular natural landscapes such as the Menchum Falls, Lakes Awing, Oku and Nyos, the Mbengwi Caves.

The project is also expected to have a positive impact on transportation - greatly reducing travel time ; increase in traffic of passenger and goods; foster job creation for women and lead to work for 30,000 youths. The road will result in savings on vehicle operating costs; increase in household income and reduction in post-harvest losses.

The total cost of phase one of the Transport Sector Support Programme is estimated at €255 million (XAF 167.270 billion). It will be implemented from December 2018 to June 2024, with the Bank’s co-financing loan of €179.60 million, an Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF) loan of €42 million and the Government’s counterpart funding of €32.84 million.

At the end of August 2018, the Bank’s portfolio in Cameroon comprised 24 operations (18 national and five multinational operations) for total net commitments of €1,369.02 million. The public sector accounts for €1,218.03 million for 19 operations, while the private sector accounts for four projects valued at €150.99 million. (Transport and ICT sectors account for 63% of the portfolio).

Since 1972, when the Bank started operations in Cameroon, it has participated in financing 28 transport sector operations.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Infraco: NCC approves Zinox for South-East, BRINKS for North east

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The duo of Zinox Technology Limited and BRINKS Integrated Solutions Limited, have received approved from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to operate Infrastructure Company (Infracos) in South-East and North-East respectively, reports ITRealms.

Confirming this to ITRealms, the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said the approval has the nod of the board of the commission.

He also said that with this approval, the number of Infracos licenced so far is now four.

ITRealms recalls that over a year ago, MainOne Cable Company Limited, was licensed to provide services in Lagos, while IHS got its licence to cover the North Central geopolitical zone including Abuja.

The Infraco licenses, Ojobo further said were based on the NCC’s Open Access Model (OAM) in line with the National Broadband Plan (NBP) of (2013 – 2018).

According to him, by the provisions of the NBP, Nigeria is expected to attain 30 per cent broadband penetration by the end of 2018.

As part of the initiative to achieve this, NCC, as the driver of this process, has so far licensed a number of companies to stimulate broadband penetration.

“These include Bitflux Communications Limited (Bitflux) for 2.3 Ghz and MTN Nigeria for the 2.6 Ghz licences,” he said, noting that as at December, 2017, Nigeria has attained 22 per cent broadband penetration.

He emphasized that with the licensing of four Infracos; MainOne Cable, IHS, Zinox Technology and Brinks Solutions, there are three more licencees waiting for approval to bring total number to seven.

“These are for South South, North West and South West,” Ojobo assured.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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FG approves Digital Literacy Council

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The Federal Government (FG) has approved the establishment of a Digital Literacy Council of Nigeria (DLCN), reports ITRealms.

Disclosing this to ITRealms, the Minister of Communications, Alhaji Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu said the Council is to develop a National Policy on Digital Literacy through which appropriate digital literacy guidelines and standards in Nigeria would be promoted.

The Council, he also said, is expected to develop a Strategic Action Plan for the implementation of this initiative as well as identify and harness opportunities for partnerships.

Speaking Tuesday in Lagos while delivering a keynote address at the 2017 Digital Citizenship Summit Nigeria held at the University of Lagos, said this is in order to provide digital literacy services to Nigerian citizens irrespective of their geographical location within the country.

He added that its decisions will be implemented by the Digital Literacy Management Committee under the leadership of the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). The Council is already deliberating on its operational methods.

Shittu stressed that digital literacy is beneficial because; it is a requirement for an individual to be competitive and be best prepared for today’s business world of advanced technology; it makes learning faster, allows everyone to study at his own pace, lookup words, data, facts, figures etc; saves hours per month for tasks that could only be done offline; and a means to employment because most jobs today require some form of computer literacy.

The minister informed the gathering that the National Economic Council (NEC) has approved a policy to harmonise right of way charges payable by telecom companies and related public utility infrastructure on Local Governments, States and Federal Highways.

This policy, he said, will minimize the spaces occupied, burden on the roads and reduce taxes payable by the telecom operators. On our part, we are ready to liaise with States and relevant stakeholders for the smooth implementation of the Right of Way project.

He further brought to the knowledge of Nigerians, various efforts of the Federal Government in prioritizing ICT, such as the plan to establish a specialized ICT Development Bank for the development of the ICT industry to cater for the needs of operators in the ICT industry which the regular banks cannot provide because of the time it takes to develop ICT products and services.

‘In present day's high-tech world, digital literacy is a requirement for an individual to be competitive and be best prepared for today’s business world of advanced technology. It is the ability to understand and use information in multiple formats from a wide range of sources when it is presented via computers. It came to the fore in the last decade with the advent of platforms and apps that have changed the way our world works.

“There are numerous digital applications that we cannot do without them today such as, Mobile Money transactions, e-verification apps that allow people to verify the authenticity of drugs and other products, e-learning, online transactions, Health, Education, Banking, workforce, bills payments, etc,” he said.

He said the Ministry has done so much to ensure the development of the Information and Communications Technology industry in the country and has remain committed in its doggedness to address relevant issues despite various challenges facing the sector by working with all stakeholders to provide guidance and direction for the sector.

Alhaji Shittu was happy to inform to say that the Information and Communication Technology Roadmap has been approved by the Federal Executive Council and that the ICT roadmap is a fundamental component of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP 2017 to 2020) of the Federal Government.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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