11-yrs after Chibok Girls: Lasisi makes case for remaining captives in his new poetry video - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!


Performance poet and journalist, Akeem Lasisi, has called on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to intensify the search for the remaining Chibok Girls in the captivity of Boko Haram.

The award-winning poet does this in his newly released video of ‘Ẹyẹ Ìgbò: For Chibok Girls’, a track off his 2024 album titled ‘Òrèrè: A Gift of Poems’.

Heirs Holdings unveils technology subsidiary - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!


Leading African investment company dedicated to improving lives and transforming Africa through strategic long-term investments, the Heirs Holdings, has launched its latest subsidiary, Heirs Technologies Limited, reports ITREALMS.

The subsidiary, ITREALMS gathered comes with the ambition to empower Africa’s digital transformation through innovative and locally tailored solutions, with Mr. Obong Ibiong as the Chief Executive Officer.

'Nutritional Journeys with Teens' makes a debut - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Hospitality Alliance of Ghana has launched its maiden innovative program, "Nutritional Journeys With Teens," designed to engage and educate young minds on the importance of nutrition while showcasing the richness of Ghana cocoa, reports ITREALMS.

This exciting initiative will take place on February 20th, 2024, at 10:00 AM, hosted at Achimota Secondary School.

Igbo girl, Mmesoma Ejikeme, makes overall best in 2023 JAMB - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Anambra State born student of the Anglican Girls Secondary School Nnewi (AGSS), Ms Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme has been adjudged the overall best student in the just concluded 2023 Joint Admission Matriculation Board examination (JAMB) for scoring 362 on total aggregate, reports ITREALMS.

Anambra State is one of the core Igbo states in the South Eastern part of Nigeria making the region proud.

GOCOP makes case against irresponsible online publishers @media roundtable - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Ms. Maureen Chigbo, has admonished all genuine operators in the media industry to work together to wipe out charlatans masquerading as online publishers.

She made the appeal in Lagos, Monday, November 14, at the all-important one-day roundtable attended by chieftains of the media, including members of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN; Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria , BON; Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) as well as media-based Non-governmental organisations.

Soludo makes case for women President-General in Anambra communities - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo has made a case for women to becoming President-General of communities in Anambra State, and invariably lead the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), reports ITREALMS.

He made this case while receiving the Executives of ASATU led by Barrister Titus Akpudo (Ichaka) at the office on Tuesday in Awka, capital of Anambra State, asking precisely "Why can't we have women as Presidents General of communities?"

What makes a good website? - ITREALMS

Sponsored@ITREALMS: 

When you are designing a website, there is often a right way to do it, and a wrong way to do it. No matter whether the website is for a personal project or a professional matter, you need to make sure that it is up to a certain standard. Let’s take a closer look at what precisely makes a good website.

Good Design

Every good website has a great design. Web pages that use an older design or font instantly look outdated compared to the others. You need to ensure that you are always using a design that feels modern and fresh so visitors will want to stick around and see what you have to offer.

Good design is also informative. Any text on the website needs to be clear and easy to read. Take a look at a site like the NetBet online casino. You can easily find and read the information they have on offer here.

Safe and Secure

Security should be a No.1 priority for you as a website owner, especially if you are going to be building ecommerce into your site. If you are not, you still need to make sure you include the right checks. However, you also need to ensure that you are still placing stringent protections in place.

Mobile Compatible

It is thought that approximately three quarters of the world will access the internet exclusively via a smartphone by 2025. Mobile traffic is huge and you need to make sure that your site is optimised for these users.

A key indicator is often in the buttons. Optimised buttons will be slightly larger as they tend to be pushed with a finger and not a precise clicker like a mouse. Optimised websites will also snap and resize to the screen of the device they are viewed on.

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Pix: Pixabay

ETELM makes shortlist @ICCA 2018

ITREALMS:

Manufacturer of advanced Mission Critical communications systems, ETELM, has been shortlisted for the Best Evolution to Future Broadband at the International Critical Communications Awards (ICCAs) for its 4GLinked solution, reports ITRealms.

ETELM’s 4GLinked solution connects TETRA with LTE directly without any gateway. It offers outstanding performance and operability as demanded by all mission critical users now and in the future. 4GLinked overcomes traditional issues associated with legacy systems and their evolution to LTE, by bringing to market a fully interoperable and harmonized mission critical communications solution based on industry standards.

The ICCAs are held annually in association with The Critical Communications Association (TCCA) to celebrate the success and innovation of organisations and individuals who push the boundaries of technological capabilities. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at Palais am Funkturm at the Messe, Berlin on 15 May 2018.

“Our 4GLinked solution is based on 3GPP telecommunications standards using an LTE Core network and provides a single platform for both legacy infrastructure and new and emerging technologies,” said Nicolas Hauswald, Sales and Marketing Director at ETELM. “This kind of interoperability reduces the long-term cost for users, as there is no need for upgrades each time a new standard, or product, comes to market. We believe we have a winning, future-proof solution and look forward to the judges’ final decision in May.”

ETELM is a pioneer in the critical communications sector and in early 2017, 4GLinked was the first Hybrid TETRA/LTE solution deployed with fully standardized MCPTT services, via its partnership with Nemergent. 4GLinked also successfully interfaced TETRA with several LTE vendors at the Plugtests organised by ETSI and The Critical Communications Association in June 2017.

Hauswald continued: “ETELM is a visionary company with a strong commitment to developing fully standardized solutions. We noticed a gap in the market for a product that allows a balance between cost, service, and coverage for mission critical users and therefore we developed 4GLinked. We are continuously investing in innovative solutions to meet the needs of mission critical users and are proud that 4GLinked is being recognised for its major advances in providing a single network solution for all communications technologies.”

ETELM’s 4GLinked solution is the most advanced Hybrid Integrated Network, providing the ideal platform for users to benefit from the best features of different technologies. 4GLinked is the only system in the world that allows TETRA (and other PMR technologies) to connect directly to the LTE Core, without any gateway interface – allowing direct connectivity between subscribers of different technologies over a single network, ensuring fast call-setup and seamless roaming between technologies.

4GLinked has now successfully been deployed and tested on the field for several customers in the defence and transport sectors.

Ayo Midele/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Dell EMC makes data center modernization simpler

ITREALMS:

Dell EMC has expanded its market-leading converged infrastructure (CI) system with the addition of the next generation Dell EMC VxBlock System 1000, reports ITRealms.

The new system breaks the physical boundaries of traditional CI and offers enterprises even greater simplicity and flexibility to help accelerate their IT and digital transformation efforts.

The latest addition of the next generation Dell EMC VxBlock System 1000 designed to further simplifies data center operations and offers new options of storage and data protection from Dell EMC and compute and networking from Cisco–in one pre-integrated, turnkey system.

The cutting-edge VxBlock 1000 is designed to support workloads of all types and includes a substantially broader choice of world class storage arrays, data protection and compute than previous-generation VxBlock Systems. This new system’s all-in-one, multiple-technology design expands upon CI’s promise by further simplifying IT infrastructure lifecycle management through extensive pre-validation. This enables IT staff to be freed from time-consuming administrative tasks, so they can focus on higher-value, business innovation projects.

According to Jeff Boudreau, President, Dell EMC Storage Division, “Our role is to deliver CI innovation that has the right mix and capacity of IT resources and data services that evolving applications require, but with pooled resources, so the data center is more efficient even as workload requirements change. We offer this with a focus on reducing administrative burden for IT teams under constant pressure to deliver more with less.” He stated further that “When customers deploy CI, what they are really looking to do is invest in technology that removes data center cost while, ultimately, improving outcomes.”

The VxBlock 1000 builds on Dell EMC’s industry leadership in CI with a host of new capabilities. These help enterprises reap greater benefits than ever before from a wider breadth of technologies than previously supported. These are in addition to traditional CI advantages such as lower operating expenses and a five-year return on investment of up to 640%.3 Compared to previous generation Dell EMC VxBlock Systems, the VxBlock 1000 offers improved Business agility, Data center efficiency and Operational simplicity.

Nonye Dom/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

What makes GOCOP thick!

Tribute@ITRealms:

It is my pleasure to welcome everyone to this historic event. Today is a major milestone for our Guild, which was formed about four years ago to check all forms of professional misconduct by new media proprietors and their journalists. Be it blackmail, fake news, rumour mongering, or copyright infringement.

GOCOP has grown in leaps, and so has been its influence. At our inaugural meeting on October 9, 2013, we had only nine members in attendance. Last night when we had our congress and elected new leaders, the room overflowed with members. We now have at least 55 members, with many more members queuing up to join, indicating a dramatic ballooning of the nation’s online media space.

Yet, becoming a member of GOCOP does not come easy.

Our constitution demands that to be admitted:

a. You must have practised journalism for at least 10 years.

b. Non journalist who establishes an online news publication must appoint an editor who has practised for at least 10 years.

c. Your company must be registered as a media entity with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

d. Members must have verifiable and functional office in Nigeria.

e. You must have a minimum of two reporters and other layers of staff.

f. Your online publication must have been in existence for a minimum of one year.

g. You must be recommended by at least two financial members of the association.

h. To be admitted to the Association, the Screening Committee must certify that you have met the requirements (a to g) above.

You may lose membership:

a. If you fail to keep your financial obligations to the Association for at least three years.

b. If you are proven to have engaged in any form of unethical conduct.

We have an Ethics/Disciplinary Committee, and membership of GOCOP is usually revoked once it is proven that a member engaged in any form of misconduct.

Over the years, we have peer-reviewed each other, and ensured that members remained on the path of professionalism. At one of our meetings we agreed to name and shame members who indulge in any form of professional misconduct. We have engaged authorities and private sector entities in our country on how to enhance professionalism in our country and deepen trust in the media.

Since the inception of this Guild, the online media space in Nigeria has ballooned. A number of online news platforms have sprung. This exponential growth has, understandably, come along with a lot of positives and not a few negative developments.

     

While this expansion in the space signify healthy increase in access to information by Nigerian citizens, as well as democratization of the space to give way for diversity of voices, it at the same time portends series of problems.

Chief among these is the unhealthy dose of fake news and hate speech being dished out through some of these websites and blogs. Indeed, some of the platforms appear to have been set up solely for propaganda, smear campaigns or for the spreading of hate.

Just like security agencies and those in authority, we are equally worried about the proliferation of fake news sites that trade in fake news, and those who exist to spread hate. 

We are concerned beyond our standing as patriotic citizens but also as online publishers because of how the activities of some unscrupulous elements are giving us all a bad name.

While we will continue to advocate for widening of the space for citizens to express themselves, GOCOP is ready to support authorities concerned in a bid to sanitize this industry. 

We however demand that all stakeholders, including this guild and all other identified Nigerian media stakeholders join hands to find solution to this problem. We are for sanity but we do not want a regulatory environment that gags or muscle the nation’s media space.

Now GOCOP is ready for any another phase in its history. That is why I am glad that we are passing on the baton today to an outstanding team of members elected yesterday. I am optimistic that this Guild will only grow stronger.

*Speech by immediate past acting president of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Musikilu Mojeed.

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

PIN makes FOI request on INEC over release of citizens data to third party

ITRealms:

A Lagos-based non-profit social enterprise, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has made a Freedom of Information (FOI) request on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the unauthorized release of citizens data to a third party known as voters.ng, reports ITRealms.

Investigations by ITRealms confirmed this release, just as PIN said its core objective as a stakeholder and practitioner in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in Nigeria, is at the centre of advocacy efforts to ensure that not only do technologies and innovations improve the lives of every Nigerian citizen but that they are also done while conforming to fundamental rights of every Nigerian.

According to the Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, among these rights are Freedom to Expression online, Right to Opinion, Transparency in Surveillance and most importantly, at the heart of this call, Right to Privacy.

“Not only are these rights protected, by extension by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) they are currently amplified in the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill (HB. 490) which seeks to exhaustively engage issues of positive rights like these,” he said.

Sesan pointed out that statutorily, on the 19th of September, 2016, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria through its ICT Policy engagements has relied on the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act of 2011 to request information from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the true state of fact on the data of private citizens currently on the www.voters.ng platform.

This call, the Program Assistant  o ICT Policy, at PIN Tomiwa Ilori, said, was made to ensure that the rights of every Nigerian citizen are adequately protected especially in the age where technologies are capable of being used against individual safety.

He highlighted the importance, noting that not only does it smack of distrust and lack of due diligence by a public institution in performing its duties to find data of private citizens handed to them in trust in the hand of a third party without any evidence of consent of these citizens sought, it portends great danger to the digital survival of the nation’s social, political and economic environment.

In addition, Mr. Sesan, urged INEC to heed the call and comply with the request in the interest of all Nigerians.

“Also, we call on all stakeholders interested in ensuring that our social capital as a society is preserved to weigh in on this issue, join hands with us and see it to a logical conclusion,” Sesan enjoined.

Remmy Nweke/ED, Ops 

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!
Pix: ED, PIN, Gbenga Sesan and INEC chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu