ActivEdge Group President George Agu Supports Calls for Africa’s Digital Independence - ITREALMS

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The Group President of ActivEdge Technologies, Mr. George Agu, has called on the African continent to seize control of its technological future by owning its data, algorithms, and digital infrastructure, and highlighted the urgent need for African nations to shift from being consumers of imported technology to creators of context-relevant solutions powered by local data and infrastructure.

Presenting a keynote address titled “Building Africa’s Digital Independence: AI & Sovereign Technology, ”at the 5th African Tech Alliance (AfriTECH) Forum held in Lagos on Thursday, Agu said sovereignty in the 21st century is no longer determined by political borders but by “servers owned, data governed, and algorithms controlled.”

Owu in Diaspora supports Olumide Ogunleye for next Oba of Akinale - ITREALMS

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Owu in Diaspora drum support for Olumide Ogunleye as next traditional ruler of Akinale the Obaship ambition of Prince Olumide Ogunleye to become next traditional ruler of Akinale town of Ewekoro local government area of Ogun State under Owu kingdom of Egbaland has received positive boost, as a group consisting of Owu indigenes in the Diaspora endorsed his candidature.

The group under the aegis of Omo Olowu Oduru in Diaspora gave the endorsement in a communique issued by the coordinator Engr Oluyemi Ogundele from Vienna, Austria.

SGF supports Tax Reforms Bills - ITREALMS

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The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has expressed unwavering support for the Tax Reforms Bills, describing it as visionary legislation designed to revamp Nigeria’s economy.

Speaking on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, Senator Akume emphasized that the current tax system is over 50 years in operation and fails to provide maximum benefits to Nigerians. He urged that comments on the bills should be assessed based on its intent, purpose, and credibility, rather than sectional or primordial feelings, citing its nationalistic and pro-poor in nature.

TECNO partners UNICEF, supports digital learning - ITREALMS

TECNO, a leading innovative technology brand, has partnered with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Nigeria to support the implementation of the Nigeria Learning Passport, a digital learning platform.

Too many children remain out of school today, and many more are not learning. In Nigeria, the challenges in the field of education are particularly acute. To improve the quality of education for children and adolescents, the Federal Ministry of Education and UNICEF launched the innovative Nigeria Learning Passport programme in 2022. This initiative forms part of UNICEF's broader global educational strategy, the Learning Passport, established in 2018. 

Rivers council boss supports SMEs in Andoni, disburses N5m to boost business - ITREALMS

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The Chairman, Andoni Local Government Area, Rivers state, Mr Erastus Awortu has disbursed N5 million to 20 small business operators to boost their business and cushion inflation currently affecting them.

Awortu, our correspondent reports, made the disbursement in Ngo, Headquarters of the council on Thursday, during a meeting with youth leaders and security agencies in the area.

ID4Inclusion: Trinidad and Tobago to benefit from UNCTAD supports - ITREALMS

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Trinidad and Tobago, a Caribbean country with over 1.5 million people, is about to launch its national digital identity system, reports ITREALMS.

The government-owned system, known as e-ID, will provide Trinidadians and Tobagonians with unique digital identifiers to enable digital signing and expand access to financial, education, health and private-sector services.

PRI supports Tinubu, commends fuel subsidy removal - ITREALMS

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A nongovernmental organisation, Patriotism Renaissance Initiative (PRI), has pledged support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration as well as lauded the removal of fuel subsidies, reports ITREALMS.

National Coordinator, PRI, Sulayman Dawodu, in a press statement, commended the suspension of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele as well as the  assent to Electricity, Student Loan and Data Protection Bills, deregulation of forex, prompt appointment of Chief of Staff, Secretary to Government of Nigeria and Special Advisers among other decisions.

PPC supports local production of smart meters, electricity access - ITREALMS

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The PPC Limited, Nigeria’s leading engineering and infrastructure development company, is supporting the local production of smart meters through the supply of accessories in the drive to ensure widespread access to electricity in Nigeria.

PPC through its partnership with prepaid meter producers in the country, has facilitated the installation of about 3,000 smart meters to households and electricity consumers.

Civil registration: Nigeria ID4D supports population commission - ITREALMS

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The Nigeria's Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project has concluded plans to support the National Population Commission (NPC) towards digitizing its civil registration processes, reports ITREALMS.

ID4D’s Project Coordinator, Musa Odole Solomon disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the National population Commission, Alhaji Isa Kwarra at the Commission’s headquarters, Abuja.

NCC supports 2022 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has backed the 2022 edition of the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Africa Forum (NDSF) on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D), scheduled for Thursday, June 9, at the prestigious Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos, with the theme: ‘5G: Enthroning Internet Governance for Digital Economy.’

Affirming this development, the organisers of NDSF 2022 through its Lead Consulting Strategist and Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media inc, Mr. Remmy Nweke, said that NCC made this known via the office of the Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, noted that the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has been scheduled to address stakeholders on “5G Enthronement in Nigeria’s Telecom Sector.”

Airtel supports LSSTF, donates SIMs, fund – ITREALMS

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Leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has donated funds and telecommunications equipment towards ensuring a safer and well-secured centre of excellence’s Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), reports ITREALMS.

This also has attracted commendation from the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while speaking during a courtesy visit of the Airtel Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Segun Ogunsanya, to his Alausa Office, said Airtel had taken a fine step in fulfilling a pledge it made recently to support the efforts and activities of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.

“I thank Airtel for redeeming its pledge to the State Government. About two months ago, the company committed to donate cash, handsets, SIM Cards and airtime to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund. And today, without being nudged, it has come to fulfill its promise.

“Indeed, Airtel has demonstrated that it is a very responsible and responsive corporate citizen and we urge other corporate organizations to emulate the telco as we work collaboratively to ensure a safe and well-secured state where businesses and other activities can continue to thrive,” he said.

In his earlier remarks, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, expressed the company’s commitment to collaborating with the Lagos State Government in areas that will further bring development to the state as well as create prosperity opportunities for its inhabitants.

“Our visit today is to fulfill our pledge to donate cash, phones (1,000 handsets), SIM cards and airtime to support our security agencies in Lagos State through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund. We are also donating some money today. In the past, we have supported the government in security and other areas and we are committed to supporting Lagos into the future.

“We are a good company. We don’t publicize most of the good things we do because we believe if you are helping someone and expecting something in return, you are doing business and not kindness. We are here for good. We believe the rich have an obligation to support the poor and that poverty should not be a permanent feature of our society.

“Through our CSR pillars: Airtel Touching Lives initiative, Adopt-a-School Program and Employee Volunteer Scheme, we have implemented multi-million naira CSR interventions ranging from school adoption to refurbishing cancer centers as well as offering reliefs to hundreds of Lagosians and Nigerians in General,” he said.

The Airtel CEO had in his delegation the company’s Corporate communications and CSR Director, Emeka Oparah and the Customer Service Director, Veronica Onoja.





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U.S. Consulate supports robotics workshop for 303 teachers, 187 students - ITREALMS

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The office of the United States Consulate General in collaboration with RoboRave International, a U.S.-based tech academy, has just concluded a week-long robotics workshop for some 303 teachers and 187 students, reports ITREALMS.

The participating students and teachers were from 29 public and private schools across Lagos, Ogun, and Edo states as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

RoboRAVE International Director of Global Programs Russ Fisher-Ives and RoboRAVE North America Director Brian Montoya facilitated the series of workshops in Benin, Lagos, and Abuja from October 21-27. 

Throughout the training, students were taught the basics of programming a robot to perform various tasks while teachers learned various aspects of implementing an integrated approach to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.

Speaking at the grand finale of the workshop held at the Zone Tech Park in Gbagada, Lagos, U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Russell Brooks, explained that the workshop was designed to stimulate the interest of the participating students in math and science, as well as careers in the STEM fields.

Mr. Brooks discussed the importance of STEM education to Nigeria’s future prosperity and economic competitiveness. According to him, developing robotics skills can place students on a track to future careers in computer science and artificial intelligence.

“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria is committed to supporting programs that provide youth with access to quality technological learning opportunities. We are also passionate about building teacher confidence and capabilities in the areas of robotics and STEM,” Brooks said.

The robotics workshop supports the U.S. Mission’s goal of promoting STEM education in Nigeria as a driver of sustainable economic growth.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Pix: U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer Russell Brooks interacting with students of Deeper Life High School during the RoboRave Africa Competition in Lagos.

GOCOP supports Nigeria's new Media Code for Election Coverage - ITREALMS Online

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The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has expressed optimism that the newly launched Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage (Revised Edition 2018) will to a large extent guide operators and separate trained journalists from those who suddenly  found themselves reporting simply because they have access to a laptop or phone and data, reports ITRealms.

Dotun Oladipo, President of GOCOP, made this declaration on Friday at the public launch and presentation of the Code during the ongoing International Press Institute Congress holding at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

Oladipo said: “The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers is elated at this recent development in the Nigerian media space with the launch today of the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage.

“We have been a part of this as individual publications and as an association since the journey to review the Code began. We are proud to associate with this effort spearheaded by the International Press Centre, headed by our own Lanre Arogundade, and those who have supported the effort through funding and capacity building.

“For us, the Code represents what we believe in as an association, especially as it relates to election coverage.

“In coming together, the idea behind the formation of GOCOP was to serve as a peer review gathering of Online Publishers who have worked in the print for several years, with some of us rising to become Managing Directors/Editors-in-Chief, Title Editors and a minimum of Line Editors. Most of us also belong to the prestigious Editors’ Club in Nigeria, the Nigeria Guild of Editors.”

Oladipo said further that GOCOP is concerned with the upholding of journalism ethics, especially online, where, according to him, “ethics has been thrown away,” adding: “We pledge our support to this cause as we go on this journey to entrench the code.”

Speaking, the Director of International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, said the public launch and presentation of the Code “represents a strong statement that good election reporting matters to journalists and media institutions in Nigeria”.

Arogundade disclosed that the Code has been endorsed by six umbrella media professional groups: Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN);  Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON); Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE); Nigeria Union of Hours (NUJ); GOCOP; RATTAWU; 75 broadcast, print and online media; 15 media support groups; and two journalism training institutions - Nigeria Institute of Journalism and International Institute of Journalism.

Arogundade, therefore, enjoined all journalists and media organisations in Nigeria “to strive to read, digest, understand and implement the provisions of this Code”.

According to him, the ultimate goal is that through the credible reporting of the 2019 elections and the electoral processes before and after it, “we can all contribute to credible, free and fair and peaceful elections in the country”.

Arogundade thanked the European  Union for supporting the production and dissemination of the Code.

In his presentation, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said from their statistics, youths and women would play greater roles in the 2019 elections.

However, Yakubu assured that strategic plan has been put in place to ensure hitch free elections, noting that part of the plan was the release of election timetable in January  2018, a year ahead of the general elections billed for February  2019.

Yakubu reiterated that there will be no electronic voting in 2019, saying: “I want to assure you that the will of election voters will continue to prevail.”

He said no fewer than 85 media organisations have so far been accredited by INEC, adding that the 2019 elections will be the most widely covered in the history of election in Nigeria.

Speaking, EU Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Richard Young, assured that the EU would continue to support process that is fair and transparent, saying it is important that the code of conduct has been put in place.

Young commended all the media organisations that partnered with International Press Centre to come up with the revised edition of the Code, noting that it would contribute to free, fair and transparent elections in 2019.

Present at the occasion were the creme de la creme of Nigerian media and their counterparts from across the world attending the IPI conference.

They included the owner of Channels Television, John Momoh; and the Chairman of NPAN and Publisher of THISDAY Newspaper, Nduka Obaigbena.

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Vodacom supports next generation ICT girls

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The Vodacom Business Nigeria has organized a one-day industrial visit for female students from Grace High School, Gbagada and Lagoon Secondary School, Lekki as part of planned activities for the celebration of the recently concluded 7^th Edition of the International Girls in ICT Day, reports ITRealms.

Female students from the schools participated at the celebration where they won the Coding and STEM quiz competitions, respectively.

The International Girls in ICT Day Celebration was organized by e-Business Life Communication Limited, publishers of e-Business Life Magazine at the Oriental Hotel in Lekki, was part of a global campaign that seeks to encourage young girls to consider ICT as a profession and to contribute their quota to the growth of the industry in Nigeria while also actualizing self-development.

International Girls’ in ICT Day is an initiative launched through the Information Technology University (ITU) with the idea of creating a global environment that will empower and encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the ICT field. With the number of school girls opting to study technology-related disciplines in decline in most countries worldwide, ITU has committed itself towards championing the mindset change required to open the minds of young women to the role a career in tech can play in creating exciting, far-reaching opportunities for women.

In fulfilment of goal five of its Sustainable Development Goals, Vodacom Business has created various empowerment programs such as the Women in Leadership Programme aimed at creating leadership and personal capacity in women across all employee levels; the #ConnectedSheCan campaign, a socially driven campaign aimed at celebrating the accomplishments of women within the Vodacom Business Nigeria workforce; and the youth empowerment program, the ‘Power to You’ project under the umbrella of which the Girls in ICT Day is activated, to enable both girls and technology companies to reap the benefits of greater female participation in the ICT sector.

Speaking at this year’s Girls in ICT Day, Vodacom Business Nigeria’s Senior Manager for Product Development, Funke Atanda said: “Vodacom is committed to accelerating the change needed to create relevant opportunities for women through the use of ICT.”

“By supporting ICT skills acquisition for young girls, bringing them into our organizations and opening their minds to new technologies that exist and continue to develop, we are able to encourage more girls to choose courses in the ICT sector. This will help increase the number of women in the ICT sector in the near future,” Atanda said.

Moreover, Atanda alluded that “Initiatives like the ITU Girls in ICT Day would go a long way towards encouraging this change, thus strengthening the sector while continuing to improve social and economic progression in the country.”

By providing donations, training and support to ICT driven programs, Vodacom Business Nigeria is accelerating the removal of barriers for girls and women in the ICT industry.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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Botswana 2018: African Union Commission supports APRA

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The African Union Commission, (AUC) has given support to the 30^th edition of African Public Relations Association conference tagged, APRA Botswana 2018, reports ITRealms.

The Deputy Chairperson, Kwesi Quartey, ITRealms gathered, made this known after accepting APRA’s invitation to be Special Guest of Honour at the conference scheduled to take place May 9-11, 2018 in Gaborone, Botswana.

Quartey who will also be delivering the key note address at the opening ceremony May 9, 2018, expressed delight to have accepted the invitation and has shown interest in ensuring the success of the conference.

Affirming this, the Secretary General, APRA, Jane Gitau told ITRealms in a press statement available to our newsroom that Quartey’s gesture brings to fore the AUC’s commitment in joining hands with APRA to ‘Re-PResent Africa’ which coincidentally is the theme of this year’s conference.

According to Gitau, AUC’s endorsement comes alongside several others from the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), International Communications Consultancy Organization (ICCO), Global Alliance, Public Relations Networks and National Associations across Africa.

“Notably, APRA Botswana 2018 will also feature the second edition of the SABRE Awards Africa for Excellence showcasing the best in public relations work from across the continent. This is organized in partnership with the renowned Holmes Report,” she said.

In addition, she said, the 30^th edition will have in attendance an enviable array of speakers and facilitators from both within and outside Africa, playing host to professionals from various sectors of the communications industry including public relations, marketing, advertising, branding and the media

Gitau also said that APRA Botswana 2018 will focus on issues around fake news, ethics and story-telling as a tool for public relations thereby Re-PResenting Africa to the world.

On his part, the President of APRA, Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya was quoted as saying that, delegates will not only listen and learn from these renowned speakers, they will also have the opportunity to experience the beautiful nature of Botswana’s rich culture and tradition, little wonder APRA Botswana 2018 is dubbed, The Safari Conference.

APRA is the umbrella body for the practice of public relations in Africa. It is a non-governmental, non-profit organization established to foster unity via interaction and exchange of ideas among public relations practitioners in Africa as a whole, and through communication, promote social, political and economic integration on the continent.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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Pix: l-r Deputy Chairperson, Kwesi Quartey and APRA President, Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya

Calling off loans: AfDB denies report, says bank strongly supports Nigeria

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The African Development Bank (AfDB), has denied calling off loans to Nigeria, saying the bank instead is in consultations with the government on how best to continue its support for laudable economic recovery, reports ITRealms.

Director, Communication and External Relations at AfDB, Dr. Victor Oladokun, told ITRealms that the bank categorically refutes the statement that it has “called off loans to Nigeria”, as reported in Reuters and credited to AfDB Vice-President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth Amadou Hott.

According to Oladokun, the African Development Bank is highly encouraged by the economic recovery of Nigeria from recession and salutes the government's efforts towards diversification of the economy.

The bank, he also said, strongly supports the Economic and Growth Recovery Plan of the government and efforts to stem corruption as well as strengthen fiscal consolidation and efficiency.

He pointed out that in November 2016, the Board of the African Development Bank approved a $600-million loan to support Nigeria's efforts to cope with macroeconomic and fiscal shocks that arose from the massive decline in price of crude oil.

“An additional $400 million in support could be considered, if requested and approved by the Board, as part of a larger coordinated effort with other development partners, including the World Bank and the InternationalMonetary Fund,” he said.

AfDB, he insisted is in consultations with the government on how best to continue its support for its laudable Economic and Growth Recovery Plan through investment projects that will help address existing structural challenges, including infrastructure, power, agriculture and support to boost private sector and job creation.

The bank further reassures the Nigerian government of its full support for its continued reforms to diversify the economy and boost economic growth and development.

 Remmy Nweke/ED, Ops

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PDP Chair: Group berates South-West unpreparedness, supports Uche Secondus

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Adding new dimension to the race for the PDP chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Oodua PDP Alliance has berated the South West, saying they are ill-prepared and drummed support for Prince Uche Secondus, reports ITRealms.

Leader of the group who is also a leader of PDP in Osun state, Hon Hakeem Ogunsola, the group affirmed that South West has proved its unpreparedness for the party leadership, affirming that "the leadership should go to South-South, the main base of the PDP.

"We want to note that rebuilding the PDP and winning power back in 2019 demand a chairman with solid home base, deep experience and capacity to face the power of incumbency. We need Prince Secondus to lead this electoral and political battle to rescue Nigeria and change the fake change" the statement noted.

While condemning the discordant and rancorous competition among South West chairmanship aspirants, the group said "South West does not need party chairmanship.If anything we should rally round Prince Secondus and seek better offer in arrangement of national offices.

"How can you be going for chairmanship when there are better bargaining to strike ? How can you hope to lead the party when your zone is  not a stronghold of the PDP? How can you even be taken seriously when many of your aspirants carry heavy baggages? We don't want party chairman in South West. Let Secondus have it" the group opined.

The group which claimed to have members across the six south Western states announced its resolve to mobilise the Yoruba axis of the PDP for Prince Secondus ,describing the Rivers state politician as "tested, experienced and competent to lead the party.

"Secondus has party leadership experience nobody can rival. He has the boldness ,the national recognition ,the will and the passion to pilot the affairs of the party.He is the best to lead the party at this critical times.

"With this press statement, we are putting the whole nation on notice that we align with South South and Prince Secondus. We have commenced advocacy and mobilisation and we urged South West aspirants to drop their ambitions and bargain for better  national governmental positions " he submitted.

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