Gov. Sule, Ezekwe lead guest @GSSA world convention in Ebonyi - ITREALMS

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The Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule will be a guest speaker at the 2022 Home Coming and World Convention of Government Secondary School Afikpo (GSSA, Ebonyi State, while Ejiofor Ezekwe, retired Bank CEO, and a leading Asset and Leasing Consultant will be the keynote speaker, reports ITREALMS.

Chairman of the 2022 Home Coming and World Convention Planning Committee, Amaechi Ude Nkama, in memo to the school’s alumni members, said that the 4-day event has been scheduled between October 20 to 23, 2022 at Afikpo, Ebonyi State.

Nigeria joins Convention on Cybercrime - ITREALMS

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has joined the Convention of Cybercrime, according to the Head, Cybercrime Division at the Council of Europe, Mr. Alexander Seger, reports ITREALMS.

The Convention on Cybercrime also known as the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, ITREALMS gathered is the first international treaty seeking to address Internet and computer crime (cybercrime) by harmonizing national laws, improving investigative techniques, and increasing cooperation among nations.

CSO leaders: PDP convention is prospects of what democracy could look like – ITREALMS

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Some civil society leaders have commended the conduct of the national convention of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which held on Saturday in Abuja, reports ITREALMS.

The convention elected a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, to fly the party’s flag in the 2023 presidential election.

Climate risks: Pula, ARC seal deal to protect African farmers - ITREALMS

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The Insuretech Pula has sealed deal with the African Risk Capacity Limited (ARC Ltd) to deliver best-in-class agriculture index insurance products to protect African farmers from climatic risks, reports ITREALMS.

Every farming season, African farmers are exposed to a wide range of climate risks including drought, excessive rainfall, pests and diseases, and several other perils that negatively affect their yields.

BAT: APC successful convention, prayer answered in reverse of opposition - ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS:

The National Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that the national convention which concluded at the weekend in Abuja successfully, was a prayer answered in reverse of opposition request, and for the continuation of the Change Agenda they promised Nigerians in 2015, reports ITRealms.

He stated this in his address to the convention on Saturday, entitled “To Continue the workd we started” a copy of which was made available to ITRealms.

He also said the convention has given rest to the doubters who gave APC no chance of existence or of continued survival have gotten their reply in full. “Their envious prayers and complaints have been answered in reverse,” he asserted.

According to him, they (opposition) wanted to see the end of APC and pursuit of good governance for Nigeria.

“You should not forget, as I shall never forget, the strong efforts they made to stop us in the courts.

“There were twelve cases brought trying to stop us from merging, from registering the new party, then attempting to bar our candidate from the election.

“Lacking the courage to face the democratic will of the people, they tried to misuse the courts as a weapon against democracy. We thank the judiciary for following the letter and spirit of the constitution by dismissing this dirty dozen of malicious cases filed against us.

“With their schemes foiled, those who tried to destroy us must bear witness to the destruction of their edifice of corrupt governance and their dreams of unjust domination of our nation.

“While they planned a lifetime of greedy enrichment by looting the people’s resources and the public treasury for 60 years, we moved to reform the economy to bring development and aid to the poor.

“When they called for hate and division, we strove for compassion and unity. When they hoisted the standard of bias, we raised the flag of justice and the chevron of fairness.

“When they sought to make Nigeria a monument to corrupt government, we sought to remake Nigeria into a place of transparency and honest opportunity for all.

“The APC’s formation is the most important political development in our recent history. This is not due to the names of those who founded the party. It is because of the ideals upon which the party was established.

“The APC was not brought into existence to compel the majority to serve the few. For 16 consecutive years, the PDP had already assumed that mean role.

“The APC came into being to reverse this unjust equation.

“Under the PDP, the people were made to let the beast ride them.  The APC came to stop this travesty. By right, it is the people who are to ride the beast not the other way around.

“As we go through today’s deliberations, we must keep in remembrance and put into action the purposes for which this party was formed.

“Yes, human nature is partly composed of personal ambitions. Life would be incomplete without such goals and dreams. Yet, we must be motivated by other things more sublime than our personal benefit.

“As good citizens of Nigeria and members of the party, we must seek to prosper with society more that we seek to prosper from society.

“In the APC, we are many but we are also one. Thus, we must stand together for democratic good governance or stand not at all.

“We have experienced much since our inception. Unexpected events and harsh realities emerged to block our way. Those who detest progress fought severely against us. And they are still fighting.

“Yet, we remain true to our beliefs. In a few short years, we have done more than the other party did in 16 long years,” he said.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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HDP holds national convention today

ITREALMS:

All is now set for the national convention of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) today in Abuja, ITRealms reports.

The national chairman of the party, Chief Ambrose Owuru confirmed this to ITRealms in a public statement, saying that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has accepted the Wednesday, March 21, 2018 as the convention date.

Owuru also said that the meeting would be used to prepare the party and strategize for the forthcoming 2019 elections, as well as elect its national officers.

"The venue of the convention is Hope Dove, Life Camp, Abuja," he declared.

Hope Democratic Party (HDP) was registered on November 10, 2006, later de-registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission in 2011, but was later reinstated by a federal high court judgment in 2015. 

HDP participated in the last 2015 general elections and was one of the 14 political parties that fielded presidential candidates in the last presidential election.

In 2015, Hope Democratic Party (HDP) developed five plan revolution blueprints for its envisioned new Nigeria. The 5 plan revolution blueprints are Agricultural and Industrial Revolution, Health and Educational Revolution, Economic and Political Revolution, Infrastructure and Leadership Revolution and Cultural and Security Revolution.

Owuru, who was also the party’s presidential candidate in the last election, further explained that the party’s five plan revolution blueprints, include “The execution of this well articulated welfarist programme is articulated to reverse in positive light the current or prevalent overtly negatively adopted capitalist tendencies that has over time bred corruption in Nigeria and which also has over time grown into a cankerworm permeating all spheres of the life of our people in the country thereby stalling any sustainable developmental projects such as funds for world class infrastructural development, good roads, steady jobs and general welfare of Nigeria citizenry are channeled to private accounts breeding social injustice in the land, mass poverty and disparities between the poor and the rich and which in turn breeds social misfit and ready hands for crime, terrorist recruitment leading to insecurity in the country.”

Ayo Midele/GEE

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Lagos hosts 2017 editors convention, Emma Agu takes on 'A Nation in Recession'

MediaWatch@ITRealms:

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has concluded arrangements to hold its Biennial Convention in Ikeja, the Lagos State Capital, reports ITRealms.

The Convention, ITRealms gathered has been scheduled to hold April 28-30, 2017, will take place at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State. The theme of the convention is: A Nation in Recession: Whither the Nigerian Media? It will be chaired by Malam Kabiru Yusuf, Chairman, Daily Trust Newspapers limited.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who is the Chief Host is billed to deliver an address and declare the Convention open. A quintessential communication expert and political lobbyist, Mr. Emma Agu, will present a paper on the theme of the Convention.

The Biennial Convention, one of the largest gatherings of Nigerian Editors brings together over 300 editors and other media professionals. The forum will produce a new executive, led by a new President to oversee the affairs of the Guild in the next two years.

The tenure of the current executive, led by Mrs. Funke Egbemode, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph newspapers, began with Mr. Femi Adesina in 2015 and was truncated when he was appointed Special Adviser to President Muhammad Buhari, a few weeks after election. Adesina handed over to Malam Garba Deen Muhammad who was the Deputy President, and his position was ratified during the 11^th ANEC in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

ITRealms reports that a few months after the mantle of leadership changed hands, Malam Muhammad was appointed Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC. Again, power shifted to Mrs. Egbemode who was then the Vice-President (West), and her new position was ratified during the 12^th ANEC in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, in 2016.

A press statement from NGE endorsed by the General Secretary, Victoria Ibanga confirmed that to facilitate the election process, the Guild has appointed a highly respected veteran journalist and author, Mr. Ray Ekpu, as the Chairman of a five-member Electoral Committee to conduct the process. He is to be supported by other top-notch journalists of proven integrity.

Also, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, she said, is expected to address the editors who will converge on Lagos to be part of the historic event.

“As part of activities lined up for the Convention, officials of Trust Fund Pensions Limited will make a 10-minute presentation. The topic is: Pension Fund for Editors: Managing your tomorrow today, during the business session on April 29, 2017,” she said.

Additionally, she said, that a gala night/dinner will hold in the evening of Saturday, April 29 at 7:00pm during which new members of the Guild will be inducted. Delegates are expected to depart on Sunday, April 30, 2017.

Uj. Dominic/GEE

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Mauritius, only African state party to Budapest Convention on Cybercrime

Exclusive@ITRealms:

The East African country of Mauritius is the only nation from the continent that has acceded and is a state party to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, reports ITRealms.

For any country to be a state party to an international convention or treaty, such a country or members state must have completed the laid down accession processes.

Accession, experts told ITRealms, is an act by which a State signifies agreement to be legally bound by the terms of a particular treaty. It has the same legal effect as ratification, but is not preceded by an act of signature. The formal procedure for accession varies according to the national legislative requirements of the State.

The instrument of accession, ITRealms gathered, is a formal sealed letter referring to the decision and signed by the State’s responsible authority, is prepared and deposited with the United Nations Secretary-General in New York or its equivalent of such a convention.

The Convention on Cybercrime, also known as the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, ITRealms gathered, is the first international treaty seeking to address Internet and computer crime by harmonizing national laws, improving investigative techniques, and increasing cooperation among nations.

It was drawn up by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France since 2001 with the active participation of the Council of Europe's observer states Canada, Japan, South Africa and the United States.

The Convention, ITRealms reports, entered enforcement phase on 1 July 2004 and as of March 2016, had 49 states which have ratified the convention, while a further six states had signed the convention but not ratified it.

Head, Cybercrime Division, Council of Europe, Mr. Alexander Seger confirmed this to ITRealms in an exclusive chat, declaring that “Mauritius has acceded and is a Party.”

He also said Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, stands out among equal for this remarkable position on cybercrime.

Mr. Seger, who doubles as the Executive Secretary, Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY) told ITRealms that invitation has been extended to three countries in Africa, including Senegal, Ghana and Morroco to accede to the convention on cybercrime.

“Senegal, Ghana and Morocco have been invited to accede but have not yet completed the accession process and are thus not Parties yet,” he declared.

Mr. Seger acknowledged that South Africa participated in the negotiation of the treaty and has signed the Convention and its Protocol on Xenophobia and Racism but has not yet ratified these. South Africa, hence is not yet a Party.

He disclosed that given the commitment of these States to implement the Budapest Convention they are also priority countries for capacity building.

Remmy Nweke/ED,Ops

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Epileptic power supply worsens Nigerians hardship – ActionAid

ITRealms:

The ActionAid office in Nigeria has lamented the state of the nation as workers celebrate their day based on the United Nations (UN) convention, reports ITRealms.

The secretary of the organisation’s Board who doubles as the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ojobo Ode Atuluku, gave this position in a press statement made available to ITRealms, asserting, “… epileptic and often non-existent electric power supply has combined with the continuing petrol scarcity to introduce a dimension of suffering to the lives of Nigerians that defies easy description.”

This year’s Workers’ Day, she said, comes at a time when Nigerians are grappling with multiple issues that have visited immense hardship on the citizenry.

ActionAid, specifically noted that both the Federal and States levels are being owed arrears of salaries and pensions, and due to the interconnectedness and dependencies of family systems in the country, this has further aggravated poverty across the land.

Ms. Atuluku, further said that the worst of all is the now frequent incidents of attacks by herdsmen that have led to the loss of many souls.

“Without mincing words, it must be said that the country is ailing and many citizens have the impression that the Government of the day has not got its priorities right,” ActionAid said.

Therefore, ActionAid Nigeria called on the Federal Government to take cognisance of Section 14(1) (b) of the Constitution, which states: “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of Government.”

Chuks Egbuna/GEE

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Experts seek leapfrogging on Shackles of Convention

ITRealms:

International experts will at a major education conference of the African Union in Ethopia next month, call for African leaders to leapfrog the shackles of convention, ITRealms reports.


The call ITRealms gathered is to be made at this year’s Africa’s leading conference on technology and learning, eLearning Africa, co-organized by the African Union (AU) and co-hosted by the Government of Ethiopia, in order to ensure that African economic growth is sustained by adequately trained young people.  


A major focus of the conference ITRealms learnt will be on the role technology-assisted learning can play in helping to develop the skills vital for the future of Africa, by equipping young Africans with entrepreneurial expertise, supporting capacity development in key sectors such as health, and assisting a new generation of entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions in the education technology sector.


In a statement as gathered by ITRealms, co-organizer of the event and Chief Executive officer of ICWE GmbH, Rebecca Stromeyer, expressed enthusiasm on the success of the event noting that, she anticipates a challenging, interesting and important eLearning Africa series this year.


Also, an education expert and speaker at the event, Shai Reshef, has argued that, with the numbers of potential students in Africa vastly outpacing currently available facilities, there is a critical need for smarter online resources to empower young people and provide the engine for continuing economic growth, ITRealms reports.


ITRealms gathered that the eLearning Africa is the continent’s largest and most influential conference on technology-assisted learning and training, which brings together over 1,500 people from nearly 100 countries every year, providing a unique forum for dialogue, networking and the exchange of ideas.


This year’s conference as ITRealms learnt would feature world leading experts on education and technology, and keynote speakers as will include Mark Surman, Executive Director of the Mozilla Foundation, makers of Firefox and Shai Reshef, the founder and President of the University of the People.

Daniel Nsolibe/GEE


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