Connect with Speed: Konga offers 50% off Starlink kits and free delivery - ITREALMS

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... Kicks off 30-day promo!

To enhance internet accessibility and quality across Nigeria, Konga, the country's leading composite e-commerce group and authorized Starlink retail partner, is offering an exclusive 30-day promotion on Starlink kits. 

For a limited time, customers can purchase the Starlink Gen 2 kit at an unprecedented price of ₦467,995, representing a significant 21% discount from the standard price of ₦590,000.

Digital education: Airtel, UNICEF to connect 100,000 children in Nigeria - ITREALMS

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Leading telecommunications provider and mobile money services with a presence in 14 countries in Africa, Airtel, is set to roll out a digital learning initiative in Nigeria, in partnership with UNICEF that will connect 100,000 children to the Learning Passport, an online resource, over the next five years. With over 50 million subscribers, Nigeria is Airtel Africa’s biggest market.

Airtel Africa’s Group CEO, Segun Ogunsanya said that 100 schools will be connected annually in the country as part of the five-year, US$57 million partnership with UNICEF signed in October 2021.

Sophos accelerates growth of MSP Connect - ITREALMS

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Global leader in next-generation cybersecurity, Sophos has accelerated worldwide growth of Managed Service Providers MSP Connect, the firm's award-winning programme to help MSPs increase customer management efficiencies, unlock new business opportunities and boost revenue, reports ITREALMS.

Scott Barlow, Sophos' VP global MSP and cloud alliances

The growth, ITREALMS gathered was fueled by the increased demand for Sophos’ next-generation cybersecurity solutions and services that protect against ransomware and other cyberthreats.

NCC in tripartite launch of SVP, compendium, Global Connect - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has held a tripartite launch including that of a new Strategic Vision (Implementation) Plan (SVP) 2021-2025, an official compendium and Global Connect, reports ITREALMS.

Prof. Danbatta of NCC

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, disclosed this in Abuja, Tuesday, saying they encapsulated the vision, mission and drive of the NCC.

ICT skills wanted to connect people everywhere - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

More people may have access to and are using the Internet but how skillful are they in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to connect people everywhere, asks the ITU’s Measuring the Information Society Report 2018, reports ITREALMS.

At the same time, ICT prices have dropped globally in the last decade. Improved ICT regulation and policy-making have played a pivotal role in creating the conditions for the reduction of prices, ensuring that part of the efficiency gains of higher ICT adoption are passed on to consumers.

“This year’s report shows how increased investment in broadband technologies is driving the global digital transformation and enabling more people to access a myriad of services at the click of a button,” says ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. “At the just concluded Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-18) held in Dubai, ITU Member States approved the four-year Strategic and Financial Plan, which includes a strong commitment to ITU’s statistical work. We will work together to build the ICT infrastructure and develop ICT skills necessary to foster inclusive economic growth, drive innovation and bridge the digital divide.”

“Now in its tenth year, ITU’s annual flagship report is widely recognized as a source of the world's most reliable and impartial data and analysis on the state of global telecommunication/ICT sector,” says Brahima Sanou, Director of ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau. “Our analysis shows that digital technologies are fundamentally transforming the way we live and offering important opportunities for boosting economic growth, enhancing communications, improving energy efficiency, safeguarding the planet and improving people’s lives.”
ITREALMS gathered that the report finded out that there continues to be a general upward trend in the access to and use of ICTs. Most importantly, the world has crossed the halfway line in terms of Internet use, with 51.2 per cent of the world population using the Internet by the end of 2018.

Equally, ITREALMS reports that lack of or inadequate ICT skills are a major impediment for people to access the Internet. ITUdata and other cross-nationally comparative data sources show that there are considerable gaps across the board in the skills needed. A third of individuals lack basic digital skills, such as copying files or folders or using copy and paste tools; a mere 41 per cent have standard skills, such as installing or configuring software or using basic formulas on spreadsheets; and only 4 per cent are using specialist language to write computer programmes.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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IQVIA to launch digital platform to connect healthcare professionals

ITREALMS:

Leading provider of information, innovative technology solutions and human data science, IQVIA, has advanced plans to launch a digital HealthCare Platform (HCP) space, reports ITRealms.

IQVIA, formerly known as Quintiles IMS, ITRealms gathered is using the digital healthcare platform to deepen networking and collaboration among health care providers and helps stem the ugly trend of inter-professional rivalry in Nigeria's health industry

ITRealms further gathered that IQVIA HCPSpace is a platform designed to bring together all specialties and sub specialties of Doctors - Pharmacists, Nurses, Medical Laboratory Scientists, and all other Healthcare Professionals, where they can connect to peers, follow Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), discuss medical cases, establish public/private groups, view videos for increased knowledge, earn Continuing Professional Development, CPD points from content provided by approved bodies and KOLs, find jobs and career opportunities across multiple regions in Africa and the Middle East.

The platform is device-independent, mobile-responsive and optimized, and available for free download as native IOS and Android apps in the relevant app stores. As a social tool that leverages technology and human insight, IQVIA HCPSpace will radically alter Nigeria’s health landscape for good, according to experts.

Speaking on the impending launch, Country Manager, IQVIA West Africa, Pharm. Remi Adeseun said, "we believe in collaboration and networking in an environment that can be trusted and one which is dedicated to verified healthcare professionals across Nigeria, Africa as a whole and the Middle East. The IQVIA HCPSpace will help improve the Healthcare Professionals' practice, patient experience and produce desired healthcare outcomes."

It would be recalled that a Communiqué was issued at the end of the Inter-Professional Collaboration Symposium organized by the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN. The event which held on May 11 2017 at the University of Lagos encapsulated an 8-points resolution, and identified the concept of universal communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals that is yielding documented benefits and gains in the healthcare sector across the world. 

Uj. N. Dominic/ED, Ops

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PayU intensifies strategies to connect Nigeria’s online market

ITRealms:

The online shopping and merchant secure platform, PayU, has rolled out strategies to intensify efforts to connect businesses to Nigeria’s online payment market, reports ITRealms.

Annual online payments in Nigeria, ITRealms gathered, is estimated to surpass N200 billion this year from N167 billion in 2016.

Giving these insight in Lagos, Country Manager of PayU Nigeria, Ms Juliet Nwanguma, told ITRealms that in order to pursue PayU’s aggressive expansion in the online payment market in Nigeria, “we have identified businesses that can benefit from our  global expertise across 16 markets where we offer over 250 payment options.”

She also said that with over 2.3 billion users world-wide, PayU is confident it could help businesses grow their market share and help them to achieve their business objectives.

ITRealms reports that data recently released by the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) showed that 5.5 million transactions worth N46.7 billion were generated through online sales in the first quarter of 2017.

“This is an increase in the quarterly average of 3.5 million transactions worth N33 billion in 2016. This 58 per cent growth is a clear indication of the increased confidence and preference for online sales amongst Nigerians,” Nwanguma declared.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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US embassy launches Stop, Think and Connect in Lagos

ITRealms:

The United States embassy in Nigeria has marked the 2016 National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) with the launch of the Stop, Think and Connect in Lagos, the commercial centre of the nation, reports ITRealms.

Declaring the event open, the Consul General, Mr. F. John Bray, said that cyber awareness should be everyone’s responsibility, noting that globally, there have been rise in number of individuals, companies, and governments falling victims of cyberattacks.

The concern to protect the populace encouraged in 2009 President Barack Obama’s call for an increase in education and dialogue about cybersecurity in the Cyberspace Security Review.

“As part of this policy review, the Department of Homeland Security created an ongoing Cybersecurity awareness campaign  - StopThinkConnect,” he said.

According to Mr. John Bray, ‘Stop Think Connect’ is a national public awareness campaign designed to raise awareness of cybersecurity and to be more vigilant about practicing safe online habits.”

He urged Nigerians to join the StopThinkConnect campaign so as to have connections to partners and subject matter experts who are committed to increasing online safety; cybersecurity tips, messaging, articles, and presentations; monthly discussions highlighting current cyber issues and trends.

He pointed that people are now spending more time online at home and at work than ever before, stressing that growing dependence on technology, coupled with the increasing threat of cyber-attacks and risks to people’s privacy, demands greater security in the online world.

ITRealms gathered that every year, billions of dollars are lost through cybercrimes globally, just as Mr. John Bray said that cybersecurity ventures predicts that the global community will lose over $6 trillion annually by year 2021.

Other speakers at the event included the President, Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), Mr. Remi Afon and country manager of Google Nigeria, Mrs Juliet Chiazor and Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who was ably represented by the Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo, while Dr. David Isiavwe moderated the panel.

Remmy Nweke/ED,Ops

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Pix: Consul General, Mr. F. John Bray

NDSF 2016: CSEAN, DigitalSENSE Africa unveil Stop, Think, Connect campaign

ITRealms:

The Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN) has partnered DigitalSENSE Africa Media on the national cybersecurity awareness campaign tagged Stop, Think, Connect (STC) with the unveiling at the 2016 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) series, last Friday, reports ITRealms.

The unveiling was part of the two-day NDSF 2016 was graced by the National President of CSEAN, Mr. Remi Afon, who led dignitaries at the forum to the unveiling told participants that CSEAN is a non-profit organisation made up of information security professionals championing awareness on best practices, and acting as an agent of change to address cybercrime phenomena through engaging intellectual minds, business and political leaders.

Afon also told participants at the Day-2 of NDSF 2016 which was used to host the Nigeria Internet Protocol version Six (IPv6) Roundtable, noted that with the kind of fast internet expected with IPv6 evolution, the unveiling of Stop, Think, Connect, is very apt.

He explained that the Stop-Think-Connect campaign’s overarching goal is to help internet users understand not only the risks that come with using the Internet, but also the importance of practicing safe online behavior.

Pointing out that CSEAN is a global partner of Stop-Think-Connect and aims to roll out the campaign in all nook and corners of Nigeria, stressing that his team have started rolling out the campaign in tertiary institutions and secondary schools.

Commending the management of DigitalSENSE Africa, the organisers of the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) and Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable for partnering CSEAN on this campaign, Mr. Afon outlined some of the key concerns to include issues affecting every Internet users, cyberbullying.

“Cyberbullying is bullying that happens online. It can happen in an email, a text message, an online game, or on a social networking site. It might involve rumors or images posted on someone’s profile or passed around for other people to see,” he said.

CSEAN president also advised participants to be weary of bullying, asserting “Don’t stand for bullying—online or off. Treat others the way you want to be treated—whether you’re interacting with them online, on your phone or in person.

Further, he urged participants made up youths and students to always speak up, mostly when they see something inappropriate on a social networking site or in a game or chat room, let the website know and tell an adult “you trust” by using ‘Report Abuse’ links which could help keep sites fun for everyone.

On his part, the Lead Strategist, DigitalSENSE Africa, Mr. Remmy Nweke said that the partnership is meant to further stimulate the vision of DigitalSENSE group to stimulate consciousness on the public, especially in Nigeria and among the youths and students on positive use of the Internet rather than the notorious yahoo, yahoo syndrome.

This, he said, would in addition help in discovering future ethical information security professionals by catching them young for a better Internet eco-system from this part of the world.

Okoli Vincent/GEE

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Pix: L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, Mr. Muhammed Rudman; General Manager, Information Security, National Identity Management Commission, Mr. Emmanuel Ogungbe; President, cyber Security Expert Association of Nigeria, Mr. Remi Afon;  Executive Director, Operations DigitalSENSE Africa, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke; Chairman of the Occasion, President, Nigeria Computer Society,  Prof. Adesola Aderounmu; Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Social Media, AnambraState, Mr. Ifeanyi  Aniagoh;  Broadband and Converged Solution Phas3Telecom, Mr. Remi Adedoyin; during the unveiling the Stop Think Connect at Closing Ceremony of 2 day 2016DigitalSENSE Africa Forum in Lagos.

Palmchat enters Nigeria app market

ITRealms:

Palmchat, a multi-media messenger that enables friends to connect across all platforms, and make new friends in diverse fun-filled and exciting ways, has entered Nigerian application (app) market, reports ITRealms.

Head, Public Relations, Transision Holdings, Mounir Boukali, told ITRealms that Palmchat, which is an app currently trending in the social application space is expected to transform and create a major swept in the history of instant messaging technology. 

It is also predicted that all outdated Instant Messenger (IM) will be clearly phased out by social media apps that are more engaging, personal and comes with interesting features.

“Having used all the social application platforms we can find around, one can only ask for more and this is what Palmchat offers everyone; a cool new face of social instant messaging, personal and group chatting,” Boukali said.

The Head PR stressed that Palmchat offers really different features from those already in use. Pointing out that users’ could join any chat room of their choice, discussing a range of issues, from sports to romance, and even get discounts from online stores. 

“It enables you to share your cool pictures, music and recordings with your friends, getting in touch with them in private messaging” Boukali said.

Using location based services, Boukali said, Palmchat helps users link-up with friends within their neighbourhoods. 

He further told ITRealms in a press statement, “The ‘shake-shake’ feature gives you that instant experience. One new person pops up every time you shake your phone, and with this cute sound, a new contact is added” he explained.

ITRealms recalls that Palmchat is the IM app everyone should connect to experience instant messaging in a new way. The sign-ups have increased in thousands in recent times with millions of people coming unto the platform.   

 +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 

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