Aliko Dangote Foundation promote fermented foods for nutrition and food security - ITREALMS

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The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), in partnership with Sight and Life Foundation (SAL), has launched a nationwide initiative titled “Promotion of Production & Consumption of Fermented Foods for Food & Nutrition Security in Nigeria,” reports ITREALMS.

The programme, unveiled at a workshop in Lagos, aims to combat malnutrition and improve food security by promoting the production and consumption of locally fermented foods.

NLNG, LCCI promote sustainable food security in Nigeria - ITREALMS

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Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), in partnership with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), on Wednesday presented the joint-winning works of The Nigeria Prize for Science (2022) to industry players in an effort to push agricultural innovations that can positively impact food security in the country.

The presentation of the winning works, Gains in Grain Yield of Released Maize (Zea Mays L.) Cultivars under Drought and Well-Watered Conditions by Dr Muhydideen Oyekunle and Professor Shehu Ado; and Development of Process Plant for Plantain Flour by Professor Sesan Peter Ayodeji and Dr Emmanuel Olatunji Olutomilola was made at an interactive business forum.

Female-owned SMEs: FirstBank partners Eloy Foundation to promote sustainability - ITREALMS

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In furtherance of the need to empower female business owners across the country, The ELOY Foundation, in partnership with FirstBank presents the ELOY Foundation Business Shower, created to support female entrepreneurs on their journey to building sustainable businesses. The support from FirstBank will be carried out through the FirstGem loan scheme designed for female-owned or partnered MSMEs and its SMEConnect initiative.

A press statement by the Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Folake Ani-Mumuney and made available to ITREALMS, noted that the partnership focuses on key sectors of the economy and designed to have female entrepreneurs exposed to essential business skills like training, networking and the ELOY Foundation Business Toolkit, a compilation of business survival skills nuggets.

EU urges CSOs to curb money laundering, promote governance - ITREALMS

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The European Union (EU) is strengthening the capacity of over 200 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) across Nigeria, in a bid to curtail the trend of money laundering and promote corporate governance in the country.

The EU-funded initiative under the Agents for Citizens-driven Transformation (ACT) programme is targeted at enhancing the capacity of CSOs on regulatory framework relating to their corporate activities.

Ikengaonline debuts to promote accountability, good governance in South-East - ITREALMS

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A new online newspaper, Ikengaonline, will debut on Thursday, March 31, 2022. Ikengaonline is the media arm of the African Center for Transparency (ACT), an organization dedicated to the promotion of accountability and good governance, reports ITREALMS.

A press statement available to 
ITREALMS and endorsed by the duo of Dr. Osmund Agbo and Dr. Chido Onumah, on behalf of the management, underscored the fact Ikengaonline will focus on the five southeastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.

Centre LSD host strategic town hall to promote peaceful elections - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) in partnership with ChristianAid Nigeria and financial support from the START Network is organizing a Strategic Town-Hall Meeting in Kaduna aimed at mitigating violence and promoting peaceful conduct during the electoral process in Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.

This activity is part of activities lined up under the Project “Promoting Peaceful Elections in Nigeria’ funded by the START Network, according to the Programme Coordinator of the Centre, Mr. Uchenna Arisukwu.

A press statement made available to ITREALMS, Arisukwu stated that the Project is being implemented in 3 communities in Kaduna ( Sabon Tasha in Chikun LGA), Mando in Kaduna North LGA and Kachia in Kachia LGA) and another 3 communities in Benue State ( Gboko in Gboko LGA, Oju in Oju LGA and Otukpo in Otukpo LGA). He also stated that the project targets 255, 000 beneficiaries and 36,000 Households with a social media target reach of 2 million persons adding that the project will work closely with traditional and religious actors, community leaders, women and youth groups in these communities as well as relevant government agencies and actors who will sensitize the electorates and create awareness about the need to eschew violence and ensure peaceful conduct during the elections.

The Statement further added that other activities in the Project include rapid assessments at community levels to identify possible causes of electoral violence with a bid to mitigating them; community outreaches and sensitization; Gender-Based Violence discourse as well as response to persons affected by violence through the distribution of Non-Food Items.

Mr. Arisukwu concluded by stating the objectives of the project which is the reduction of recurrent violent inter-communal, inter-religious and political conflicts for peaceful co-existence in the long run as well as the entrenchment of positive behavioural attitude and conduct by citizens and agencies alike.

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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Nigeria: O-Mobile gets $10m grant to promote digital economy

ITREALMS:

A Nigerian firm that specializes in technology-based financial and agricultural services development, O-Mobile Multimedia Limited, has obtained a grant of $10m, about N3,605,000,000 billion, from So.Sui.Ben Foundation, a Swiss-based non-governmental organization that promotes development in Africa, reports ITRealms.

The grant, ITRealms gathered, is to promote digital economy on African continent, was facilitated by AfriCunia Limited, trading as AfriCunia Bank, an innovative banking technology firm headquartered in United Kingdom.

A press statement made available to ITRealms quoted the Chief Executive Officer, O-Mobile Multimedia Limited, Mr. Benjamin Aduli, as saying, the focus of the pact is to promote and deepen knowledge of the practice of digital-based services among Africans and thereby reduce poverty.  

“We are excited about this ground-breaking pact which involves the creation of awareness about digital banking opportunities, educating governments and the general public about digital banking opportunities. We will be developing applications that will help Africans utilize digital banking technology and reduce poverty on the continent,” he said.

Aduli also said that the company would offer its multimedia business academy and provide free, digital and multimedia training to all interested micro, medium, small and small enterprises in Nigeria through a network of 1,200 O-Mobile academy centres that are currently being set up across the country.

President, AfriCunia Bank, Don Chancellor, was also quoted saying that the time had come to tackle poverty in Africa using every available means adding that technology will help do this.

“Development needs to be fast-tracked in Africa and we are committed to the continent’s growth through digital banking products and services.  We are very elated about this opportunity to develop MSMEs across Nigeria and Africa and make them globally competitive in this era of technology. We have already started the hardwork. Working with O-mobile and So.Sui.Ben affords us the opportunity to quickly reach the unbanked and unconnected and give them access to first-world banking infrastructure and services. We believe that our partnership with a firm that already understands technology and has wide presence in Nigeria will help us quickly accomplish our goal,’’ Chancellor commented.

Aduli stated further that the company had already commenced work and hoped to sign-up at least 500,000 digital banking customers for AFRICUNIA BANK within 90 days globally. 

He said O-mobile had already commenced rolling out the first agency group network in Africa that will take financial, telecoms, insurance, educational, agricultural extension services and data mining services to the unbanked and unconnected in the continent.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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Cisco Connected Women, intent to promote diversity inclusion in technology, business

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Worldwide leader in technology solutions, Cisco Systems Incorporated, has continued to recognize the need diversity and female participation in the traditionally male high-technology industry, under the aegis of Cisco Connected Women (CCW), reports ITRealms.

This, ITRealms gathered from the company has lead it to deliberately promote diversity inclusion in technology and business, especially as it affects the female gender.

Speaking recently on female participating in the technology industry, the Country Manager Cisco Nigeria, Olakunle Oloruntimehin, noted that “In the context of a male-dominated industry, Cisco is making intent-based decisions to promote inclusiveness, diversity and overall female participation in the industry.”

According to the Manager, the technology giant has programmes and resources to help women develop their skills as individual contributors, managers, and executives, including an internal employee resource group dedicated to the development of women.

Over the last ten years, he pointed out that CCW at Cisco, has grown to over 38 chapters, offering more than 4000 global members opportunities for development, networking and generating new business.

CCW, he said, has contributed to a strategic effort to enhance Cisco's success in attracting, developing and retaining talented female employees. Cisco Systems Nigeria also participates in the CCW, allowing female Cisco employees to meet and discuss their involvement in the ICT industry and how the participation of women is on the positive rise.

“In the context of a male-dominated industry, Cisco is making intent-based decisions to promote inclusiveness, diversity and overall female participation in the industry,” he declared.

The manager emphasized that CCW Nigeria has over 15 employees as its members, which accounts for 50 per cent of employees in Cisco’s Nigeria office. The CCW Nigeria activities are strategically executed by core team of volunteers lead by the CCW leads, with the guidance of executive sponsors and thought leaders. The volunteers develop programmes in line with the Cisco’s business guidelines, employee network directions and needs as per the local culture.

As a high technology company which believes in the power of the ‘human network’, Cisco recognises the importance of a very diverse work force and the value of employee mobility. In addition, in line with its inclusive organisational culture, Cisco has a number of employee networks to support the development, and growth opportunities of staff. The Cisco Sales Associates Program (CSAP) is one of such opportunities. 

In addition, he said, CSAP is the most highly coveted early-in-career development programs designed specifically for top university graduates from around the world who aspire to become the next generation of sales leaders at Cisco. This year long program provides world class, hands-on educational and experiential training that will prepare Associate Sales Representatives (ASR) and Associate Systems Engineers (ASE) to become successful Account Managers and System Engineers in the Cisco Sales Organisation.

The CSAP allows Cisco employees the chance to travel to work in various Cisco offices across the world allowing them the opportunity to garner knowledge and different perspectives. In Nigeria, Cisco CSAP aims to empower men and women alike helping them realise their dreams of being ICT leaders.

Tolulope Ogundipe a female Cisco employee expressed her views on the CSAP program stating that it provided her with tremendous growth experience that stretched her skills and abilities over the elastic limit.

She said: “The entire experience for me has been exhilarating. Having and working with colleagues from over 12 different nationalities and forming life time friendships is priceless and I am grateful for the opportunity. Aside this, during my time with the Cisco Amsterdam office, Cisco employees participated in trainings and workshops and Nigerian Cisco female employees got a chance to be a part of the Cisco Connected Women’s Amsterdam and the girls in ICT programmes, which train and educate girls on the roles and potential career paths present in Cisco Systems and the ICT industry as a whole.

Cisco’s commitment to championing women in their own organisation makes Cisco Connected Women’s program the perfect opportunity to demonstrate diversity and inclusion in technology and business. By developing a network that specifically enrolls and mentors girls and women, Cisco redefines the technology space.

Ogo Nebenanya/Ed, Ops

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NMEC canvasses NCC intervention to promote mass literacy

ITRealms:

The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non formal Education (NMEC) has canvassed the intervention of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to spread mass literacy and non-formal adult education in the country, reports ITRealms.

Executive Secretary of the NMEC, Prof Abba Abubakar Haladu dropped this hint during a courtesy visit to the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta recently. They were received by Engr. Ubale Maska, Executive Commissioner (Technical Services) at NCC on behalf of the EVC.

For Prof Haladu, “literacy education is the bedrock of development because it assists in the improvement of the lives of the people through the provision of relevant skills, competences and knowledge which enable beneficiaries to take appropriate decision about their lives and families”.

He said that if quality education is provided to the citizenry, the impact will be obvious and society would benefit, it will fuel modernity, knowledge based economy and development.

He listed dangers of illiteracy to include but not limited to ill-health, population explosion, rural-urban drift, gang influence, ignorance, poverty and the culture of silence over sensitive matters among others.

He acknowledged however, that progress has been made in literacy education in the country but there is more to be done.

Prof. Haladu gave figures of mass literacy with a disturbing accuracy. “there are estimated over 60million adult and youth illiterates and 11.5million out of school children and this is a major challenge to the country”.

In this connection, Prof. Haladu enlisted the collaboration of NCC to correct the imbalance. Some of the areas the NCC could assist include:

·         Strengthening of NMEC Headquarters (HQ) with the necessary ICT facilities such as unlimited internet access, Desktop Computers, Inverter, Solar panels and batteries for uninterrupted power supply for the ICT facilities.

·         Equip 13 community learning centres constructed by NMEC with Solar panels, inverter, unlimited internet access, Desktop Computers, including tables and chairs.  The community learning centres are located in the following states: Edo, Rivers, Plateau, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, Taraba, Imo, Anambra, Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara and FCT.

·         Equip Kano Training and Documentation Centre and the Minna Resource Centre with Desktop Computers, unlimited internet access, Solar Panels, inverters, batteries and tables/chairs.  This gesture will facilitate the effective take off of the ICT units in the centres.

·         Provision of internet and ICT facilities for the smooth take off of NFE Education Management Information units in the 36 states and FCT Agencies for Adult and Non-Formal Education.

·         Capacity building of relevant staff on ICTs at the NMEC headquarters, zonal offices, states agencies and at the community learning centres established by the Commission.

·         Support the airing of jingles and Literacy campaigns through Radio Programme in select radio and television stations as means of sensitization, mobilization and advocacy in favour of mass literacy and non-formal education.

·         Any other area of support not listed above that would assist NMEC in the task of eradicating illiteracy and the enhancement of lifelong learning amongst Nigerians.

In his response, Mr. Maska who stood in for Prof. Danbatta said “it is heart-warming to note that your organisation and NCC share a common education growth objective”.

The NCC, he explained, is involved in promoting a knowledge-based economy through its intervention in both Secondary and Tertiary Institutions across the country.

Maska listed NCC’s intervention to include the Advanced Digital Awareness for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI) and Digital Awareness Program (DAP) among others.

He said himself and the EVC come from the academic background and so will be prone to the suggestions of the NMEC boss, “even though it is a big basket of demands, we will pass the information to the EVC and get back to you”, Maska added.

NCC’s Directors present at the reception for the NMEC delegation included: Mr. Tony Ojobo (Public Affairs), Mrs. Iyabo Sholanke (Research & Development), Mr. Ayuba Shuaibu (Universal Service Provision Fund) and Mr. Kehinde Oladipo (Administration).

ministration and General Services, Dr. Musa Gusau, Director of Literacy & Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Victoria King, Director Monitoring and Evaluation, and Dr. Matthew Onu (Director of Planning, Research and Statistics) among others.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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VAS regulatory framework to promote local ICT innovations - Danbatta

ITRealms:

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has stressed the essence of the proposed regulatory framework for the provision of Value Added Services in Nigeria, saying that it will promote Information and Communication Technology (ICT) innovations locally, reports ITRealms.

Danbatta in his opening remarks at the commission's Consultative form on the Draft Regulatory Framework for the Provision of Value Added Services in Nigeria at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, Wednesday, he spoke on the the Commission's goals towards creating a level playing field for all stakeholders to ensure that they each gets equal value for their role in ICT, which will also in turn promote ICT innovation locally.

Th EVC also said that it would increase investment in youth, promote Small & Medium Enterprises (SME's), as well as providing access to optimized and affordable broadband services in the country.


He noted that it is important to develop and encourage quality local content in Nigeria by rewarding content developers who are major players in the Value Added Services (VAS) segment of the industry.

"That when finished, the regulatory framework will compliment the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003) and respective licences issued by the Commission in providing guiding principles, standards and protocols for Value Added Services operating in the industry," he said.

Danbatta equally said that the forum is part of the Commission's rule-making process and its guiding principle of carrying out representative and wide consultations in the development of regulatory instruments as stipulated by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003).

Efficiency, key factor to drive outsourcing

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The Association of Outsourcing Professionals of Nigeria (AOPN) has said that efficiency is the major factor that could effectively promote the goals of outsourcing in Nigeria, reports ITRealms.

This was also the position of stakeholders at the just concluded AOPN 2015 Outsourcing Expo,Wednesday, at Muson Centre, Lagos.

The President of the Association, Dr. Austin Nweze, in an exclusive chat with ITRealms, spoke glowingly about the benefits of outsourcing which he described as having a bright future in Nigeria.  He explained that outsourcing is a situation where a person from one company takes up a particular job description in another company so that the service buyer could concentrate on his core competence, saying that the worker is treated as a staff where he is sent to work.

He disclosed that there is a remarkable difference between outsourcing and casualization, saying that this clarification has become germane in order to allay the fears in the public domain that outsourcing is synonymous with casualization.

Stressing that if eventually he is relieved of his work he goes back to his parent company and is posted to another place with all his salaries and entitlements intact, adding that in casualization the employee’s salary stops once he is relieved  of his job. He stated that the idea of the Expo is to galvanize ideas aimed at making Nigeria the hub of outsourcing in Africa.

The Expo, ITRealms gathered, involved exhibitions by member companies of the association where they had the opportunity to showcase what their companies are doing to the general public.  Stakeholders concurred on the modality to realize the goal of outsourcing,  emphasising it should be placed on efficiency and not profit maximization and cost reduction whether as a buyer or as a service provider,because that is the only thing that could drive value.

Though at infancy stage, panelists on the occasion said there is need for the industry players to step up their game in value proposition, process articulation and standardization for people to take the industry very serious and wrest the market from foreigners who Nigerian companies most times prefer to patronize, while at the same time agreeing that technology is what will drive the outsourcing initiative in the long run.

ITRealms reports that participant expressed the fear that computer may eventually take up human performance tasks which may rock the aim of outsourcing; however,this fear was allayed as there was a consensus of opinion that computer has rather enhanced job creation and better performance. The success achieved in call centres, for instance, in Nigeria was used as an example.

Mr. Sunday Folayan, President, Nigeria Internet Registry Administrators(NIRA), Member Governing Board of NITDAand representative of Mr. Peter Jack, Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said that outsourcing is already here with us, adding that NITDA is playing a key role in showing the road map.

The Managing Director, Business School Netherland, Lary Bale at the Expo which had the theme: “The Value of Outsourcing” advocated that members of the association should find their ways into politics to be able to lobby through some of the objectives of the association into law, ITRealms reports.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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Signal Alliance, Microsoft partner NIA on cloud adoption

ITRealms:

Signal Alliance and Microsoft Nigeria are collaborating with the Nigerian Insurance Association (NIA) to promote cloud technology adoption and information Technology (IT)-driven insurance solutions for the robust development, with limited free usage offer, reports ITRealms.

In a recent joint workshop with NIA, ITRealms gathered the parties agreed to develop technology solutions that will enhance the practice of Insurance in the country as it was attended by some big players including participants from NEM Insurance, IEI, FBN Insurance, and Cornerstone Insurance among others.

Speaking on the workshop, Signal Alliance (SA) Enterprise Solutions Development Lead, Mr Anthony Nwankwo said their  vast knowledge in deploying technology in the Nigeria financial services sector and global experience of SA partner Microsoft have been made available to enable this sector operate more efficiently.

“Thereby giving workers and customers a whole new experience,” he said.

Nwankwo also said the fact that Cloud is the way to go for the insurance companies because it will enable them to achieve economies of scale – increase volume output or productivity with fewer people; Reduce spending on technology infrastructure through pay-as-you-go model (weekly, quarterly or yearly).

In addition, he said cloud offers insurance companies options to streamline  their processes and enable them to get more work done in less time with less people; Capital cost reduction. They don’t need to spend additional money on hardware, software or licensing fees; Mobility and Improve accessibility. It will enable their workers to have access anytime, anywhere; Keep to budget and monitor projects more effectively; and Minimize licensing new software. Stretch and grow without the need to buy expensive software licenses or programs.

For Audu Dunni Oladokun, NIA Chairman Education Sub-Committee, “The knowledge shared at this roundtable has shown us how trending technologies can transform insurance businesses in Nigeria.”

The forum noted that there was need to automate the process of design and approval by incorporating secured digital signatures in a holistic manner that will ensure speed, convenience and mobile access.

 Ola Williams of Microsoft expressed Microsoft readiness through Signal Alliance to see to the success of the effort of any insurance company that wants to fast track cloud technology adoption in a bid to be more productive and efficient in their operations.

At the roundtable, various technologies and solutions for insurance business were discussed. It includes; Customer Relationship Management, Business Intelligence, Data Analysis, Cloud Computing, Mobility, Software development and Unified Communications.

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Pix: Mrs Adanma Onuegbu, CEO of Signal Alliance

African Union of Broadcasting urged to collaborate on digital migration

ITRealms:

African Union Broadcasting (AUB)  have been urged to collaborate more closely to promote experience sharing in view of the digital migration currently taking place in Africa, reports ITRealms.

Senegalese secretary of state for communications, Yakham Mbaye, reminded delegates attending the 8th Ordinary session of the General Assembly of the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) which took place recently in Dakar, Senegal, that they must collaborate.

ITRealms gathered that of the 40 member countries of AU, 23 organisations participated in the Assembly.

ITRealms also reports that Vatican Radio is a partner-organisation to the AUB and was represented by Mgr. Joseph Ballong, formerly Head of the French Africa department at Vatican Radio.

Other AUB partners include the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Radio France International (RFI) and European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Among matters discussed include the AUB General Assembly recommendation on the programme production project by the end of this year.

President of the AUB, Algerian Tewfik Kelladi’s term of office was extended until the next ordinary General Assembly.

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