Airtel partners with Google, elevate home entertainment - ITREALMS

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Leading telecommunications service provider Airtel Nigeria has announced an innovative partnership with Google to transform home entertainment across Nigeria.

The partnership, which was unveiled at an agreement signing ceremony at the telecom giant’s Lagos headquarters, integrates YouTube, the world’s largest video platform, into the ground-breaking Airtel Smart Router to deliver seamless internet connection and entertainment experiences for subscribers across the country.

Legit Entertainment Awards 2024 opens, invites voters - ITREALMS

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The management of Legit.ng has opened Legit Entertainment Awards 2024 and invite voters to take the advantage to ensure their choice artists emerge, reports ITREALMS.

A press statement from Legit.ng, endorsed by Prince Nwagboso shared some insight into how people could vote, recalling that on Monday, May 27, 2024, Legit.ng opened its voting lines for its Entertainment Awards 2024 to the public.

Patience, key in handling dissatisfied customers says Lilbel Events boss - ITREALMS

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A mass communications graduate from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and founder of Lagos-based Lilbel Events, Nwaolisa Lilian Oyelere turned event decorator, told ITREALMS’ GBEMI OMOTOSO that patience is key in handling dissatisfied customers.

Excerpts:

Specifically, what are you into?

I'm an event decorator.

Your educational background?

 Lagos City College Sabo, Yaba for my secondary education then I proceeded to Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) where I studied Mass Communication while I majored in advertising.

'Ike Cubana' declares for House of Reps, picks APGA form - ITREALMS

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A socialite and a businessman, Chief Ikenna Obumneme Iyiegbu also known as Ike Cubana has picked form for the House of Representatives for Idemili North and South under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State, reports ITREALMS.

Confirming this development to ITREALMS, the media team of Ike Cubana, revealed Sunday evening, that he believes in political power that could advance community development, transform the lives of constituents, whilst lifting many from unemployment and poverty.

Ebenezer Obey @80: I'm a child of destiny - ITREALMS

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The drums of fame and glory have never stopped beating for music legend and minister of the gospel, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi since he stormed the centre stage of the Nigerian music industry over 60 years ago. From humble beginnings in Idogo town near Ilaro in Ogun State, he rose to become a celebrity musician in the cosmopolitan city of Lagos and his fame spread around the world.

Playing the juju brand of music with creative lyrics and melody, under the stage name Chief Commander, he ruled the entertainment and social circles for decades. His popularity soared with the unique messages in his songs promoting social virtues, God ordained values in the scriptures and life's lessons which greatly endeared him to his fans and lots of people across the social strata.

OELA music drops second single, video ‘It’s My Life’ - ITREALMS

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OELA, a Nigeria’s music brand is challenging the youths to take their rightful place in the present and the future with its new single titled It's My Life, reports ITREALMS.

The song written and composed by Segun Adeleye, the OELA brand promoter featured three amazing talents - Timmy Pumpin, Mirakul and Exceptional Dan.

The song, coming after first single of last year ‘Suffering No More’ was simultaneously dropped with its video which was shot in Lagos, Nigeria.

According to the brand, the idea of the song is to challenge our youth across the world on the need to be at the driver seat of their destiny.

“Things are tough, but it will be a tragedy if we allow the future to remain hopeless when we can in any little way add our voice to rescue the world from mental slavery,” the brand said in a statement.

“So passionate about the project because it was conceived to touch lives, for the youth to stop on their tracks and reflect on who they are, why they are here and to show belief that they can do it!”

Uj. N. Dominic/Editor

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Pix: A scene in It’s My Life video

Animation technology to boost Nigeria’s entertainment industry - Minister

ITRealms:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has declared that embracing animation technology would boost Nigeria’s entertainment industry, reports ITRealms.

He also said this would make a strong pitch for Nigeria to benefit from what has become a $300-billion industry and which represents 25 per cent of the global audiovisual market.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 7th African Digital TV Development Seminar in Beijing, China, on Monday, the Minister said a developed animation industry in Nigeria will be a boost to the country’s already-established entertainment industry and make the country an outsourcing destination for global animation services.

''American animation has developed as America’s sixth largest pillar industry; in Japan, the animation industry has outperformed automobile, iron & steel industries to be the third largest industry; and South Korea has undertaken nearly one third of the global animation production business. Most of the segments in the animation industry are growing at the rate of 10% Year over Year, and some segments are growing at 15% Year on Year.

''The output value of global animation industry has reached over US$300 billion, and animation related derivatives have exceeded US$500 billion. The animation industry has gradually become a pillar of the national economy and a new economic growth engine in some countries,’’ he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said Nigeria, and indeed Africa, must move to grab a share of the pie by tapping into the animation boom, adding that Nigeria, in particular, has all the ingredients for a successful animation industry.

Nigeria, he said, has a ready domestic audience and market. Stressing hat with over 86.2 million people online, and that is, 46.1 per cent of the population, ranking it number one in Africa and number seven in the world, he pointed out that it has 44 million TV viewing homes in the country. Nigeria is expected to switch over to digital broadcasting when all 44 million homes have to invest in purchasing Set-Top Boxes.

''In addition, Nigeria’s telecommunication industry has grown to $25 billion, and active lines are said to be well over 113 million, in comparison with 450,000 people and $500 million investment portfolio in year 2000, again ranking it no. 1 in Africa and 11th in the world.

"Nigeria’s smartphone penetration is estimated at 15.5 million. 70% of the population are below 30 years of age, about 50% are below 20 (approximately 80 million), and over 40% of the total population are children under 14 (over 70 million), while about 20% of the population are teens (approx. 30 million). These demographics amply demonstrate that the uptake of animated content is already guaranteed,’’ he said.

The Minister also said the Nigerian film industry, ranked third in the world; the possession of a treasure trove of literature, brimming with exciting classics such as a Forest of a Thousand Daemons,...The Lion and the Jewel, The Passport of Mallam Illia and Things Fall Apart, and the fact that the country has an English-speaking workforce, provide added advantage.

He said the current administration is committed to developing the animation/creative industry into a new growth sector by promoting Nigeria’s creativity, and creating a highly-skilled workforce for the industry.

''Already, it has created a programme called N-POWER CREATIVE, a job creation and empowerment initiative by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the purpose of training and encouraging the development of creative and technological skills in young Nigerians such as animation, graphic illustration, script writing, storytelling, sequential arts, and post production.

''With such skills, young Nigerians will be able to find employment in the ever-growing creative and animation industry. Its target will be to equip about 15,000 creative industry professionals across story/script writing, graphics/ illustration, animation, post production by 2017, and that figure should rise to 75,000 by 2020 year end,’’ Mohammed said.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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TK boosts in-flight entertainment with designer headphones

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The Turkish Airlines popularly known in the industry as TK has introduced a specially designed headphones to boost its in-flight entertainment services, reports ITRealms.

The state-of-the-art Philips headphones in its business class, ITRealms gathered is part of the efforts aimed to make its passengers' flights into an unequalled experience.

The airline, in a statement, said it offers special headphones in the business class of international flights except intercontinental ones.

“These new high-end headphones, specially designed for long flight hours, will enable the passengers to experience a more comfortable journey along with the award-winning in-flight entertainment systems of the carrier. 

“By the end of May, the headphones, having such special features as breathable ear cushions, adjustable earpieces, compact folding and a powerful sound isolation, will be available on business class of Turkish Airlines’ international flights (except intercontinental routes) with an eco-friendly packaging,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines has restated commitment towards continuing to improve its in-flight offerings, as it strives to provide the world’s best passenger experience.

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Global tech community drum support for universal internet access by 2020

 ITRealms

Prominent leaders from the global development community, technology industry, the arts and entertainment have joined an unprecedented call for world leaders to implement the promise within the newly agreed Global Goals that universal internet access become a reality by 2020, ITRealms reports.

The leaders of 193 nations formally adopted the Global Goals for Sustainable Development at the United Nations, Friday, after years of negotiation. The Goals aim to fight inequality, protect our planet, and end extreme poverty by 2030. The Connectivity Declaration draws attention to target 9.c of the Global Goals demanding internet access for all in the Least-Developed Countries by 2020.

ITRealms gathered that the Global Goals build on the success of the Millennium Development Goals, which helped cut malaria deaths in half, reduced new HIV infections by 40 per cent, saved millions of children’s lives, and contributed to a worldwide decline in extreme poverty of more than 50 per cent.

The co-founder and global executive director of ONE, Jamie Drummond, in a press release said, “Internet access is a catalyst for creating a world of greater freedom, fairness and dignity for all peoples, everywhere. Every country must now agree on urgent plan to implement the Global Goals, and mission-critical within those strategies is connectivity for all. The Pope and Malala have spoken eloquently about the one world and one family we’re all a part of, and the internet, at its best, facilitates that unity. But when three billion are left beyond the internet, they are left behind and left out of that family. That must change and fast.”

The Connectivity Declaration, ITRealms also reports, has already been signed by: the Action/2015 coalition, Charlize Theron for Africa Outreach Project, Judith Owigar for AkiraChix, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Bill and Melinda Gates for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Richard Branson, Erik Hersman for BRCK, Niall Dunne for BT, Danny Sriskandarajah for Civicus, Denis O’Brien for Digicel, Jeff Sachs for Earth Institute.

Others include Hans Vestberg for Ericsson, Mark Zuckerberg for Facebook, Hugh Evans for Global Citizen, Arianna Huffington, Josiah Mugambi for iHub, Ashish Thakkar for Mara Group, Mo Ibrahim for the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Bono for ONE, David Soloff for Premise, Project Everyone, Nik Hartley for Restless Development, Carolyn Miles for Save the Children, Shakira, George Takei, Chris Anderson for TED, Daudi Were for Ushahidi, Jimmy Wales, Omoyele Sowore for Sahara Reporters, Cobus de Swardt for Transparency International, Kathy Calvin for the UN Foundation, and Oluseun Onigbinde for BudgiT.

ONE is a campaigning and advocacy organization of nearly seven million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Not politically partisan, ONE raises public awareness and presses political leaders to combat preventable diseases, increase investments in agriculture and nutrition, and demand greater transparency in poverty-fighting programs, ITRealms learnt.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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Nigerian Malaria Destroyer Game wins @ African Content Awards 2014

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At least three Nigeria-based organisations have emerged among some 25 finalists in the 2014 African Content Awards, with the Malaria Destroyer Game (MDG) topping the entertainment and lifestyle category as the overall winner, ITRealms authoritatively reports.

Confirming this to ITRealms, Mr. Latif Ladid on behalf of the chairman of the board of directors of the World Summit Award in eContent and Creativity, said the African Content Award recognizes innovation and creative products from the African Continent.

He also revealed that eight winners emerged at the conclusion of judging session and were invited to the 2nd Ministerial forum on Science, Technology and Innovation in Africa, organized by the African Development Bank in Morocco, Rabat which commenced yesterday October 14, 2014.

MDG whose product identity for the award was 4004 also have two other Nigerian entities tagging along in the finalist table as runners up, namely the Omomi in them-Environment and Health category and PlirisMobile in the m-Inclusion and Empowerment category.

ITRealms recalls that the award stems from the Ministerial forum on Science, Technology and Innovation in Africa, which aims at engaging African Ministers in charge of Higher Education, Science and Technology as well as industry in a dialogue with the private sector, academia, diaspora, civil society and scientific communities globally on how to promote inclusive and green growth through scientific and technological innovation in Africa.

This forum follows the first ministerial conference on Science, Technology and Innovation, hosted by the Government of Kenya in 2012.

Further, the forum is designed to raise the political awareness of Science and Technology in Africa, it aimed to promote youth employment, human capital development and inclusive growth. It gathered over 40 Ministers of Higher Education, Science and Technology and successfully put STI at the center of policy dialogue in Africa.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)

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