ITU sets up African regional group for ICT security standardization

DigitalSENSE Business News:

A new Regional Group for Africa has been established within International Telecommunication  Union Study Group 17, the standardization expert group responsible for building confidence and security in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

The Regional Groups within ITU-T Study Groups are expected to contribute to the inclusivity of the ITU-T standardization process. These groups highlight regional priorities for ITU-T standardization, assist in the coordination of regional contributions to the work of ITU-T, and offer a mechanism for standardization experts to convene meetings close to home.

The new ITU-T Study Group 17 Regional Group for Africa (SG17RG-AFR) provides a channel through which to encourage and organize Africa’s participation in ITU-T security standardization. 

The group will guide African contributions to ITU-T security work, conversely informing the region of key ITU-T decisions in the security field. It will assist the region in the implementation of ITU-T standards and organize technical tutorials to increase Africa’s resilience to security threats.

The study group 17 for the African region (SG17RG-AFR) DigitalSENSE Business News gathered would be overseen by a five-man team, led by its chairman, Mr. Michael Katundu, Communications Authority of Kenya, supported by three vice chairmen namely Mohamed M. K. Elhaj, National Telecommunications Corporation of Sudan, Patrick Mwesigwa, Uganda Communications Commission, and Mohamed Touré, Ministère des Postes, Télécommunications et des Nouvelles Technologie de l’Information, Guinée

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Chevron Nigeria secures Niger Delta with AtHoc

 ITRealms

AtHoc Incorporated, the world leader in networked crisis communication, recently stated that Chevron Nigeria has integrated AtHoc technology to create a fully enhanced emergency mass notifications system (EMNS) for its joint venture refinery in the Niger Delta region, reports ITRealms.

"AtHoc is the unmatched innovator with the most secured crisis communications platform and also with the deepest track record in executing unified emergency mass notifications systems for large-scale industrial complexes," explained Mr. Kunle Dada, Managing Director, Benabigail Ventures Limited, Lagos, Nigeria.

"When Chevron presented its requirements for unified emergency alerting, we conducted a thorough assessment of the market," and AtHoc came top, ITRealms gathered..

"We are honored by the trust that Chevron Nigeria and its partners have placed in AtHoc," said Efraim Petel, AtHoc's Vice President of Public Safety. "AtHoc applies a network approach to solving the most complex requirements in safety and security, which results in creating a safer environment for our customer's valued personnel and business operations."

By selecting AtHoc's EMNS technology to unify their disparate communications systems together, ITRealms learnt, Chevron Nigeria has strengthened safety and security readiness for its personnel and business operations.

AtHoc is the pioneer and recognized leader in networked crisis communication, protecting millions of people around the world. AtHoc provides a seamless and reliable exchange of critical information among organizations, their people, devices and external entities

Cyriacus Nnaji/ GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

APGA lambasts APC policy forum, says it lacks national diversity

ITRealms:

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has lambasted the All Progressive Congress for lack of diversity in its on-going national policy dialogue which kicked off in Abuja today, reports ITRealms.

APGA through its publicity secretary, Okwukwe Ibiam told ITRealms that the proposed list of speakers depicts insensitivity to the Nigerian body politic

.

“It is rather unhealthy for an in-coming Government to seem rather non-inclusive, at this out-set,” he said.

According to Ibiam, a forum as the above should look to include viewpoints from the diverse ethnic Nigerian population in academia, chieftains of the different economy and industry, rather than a selection of representatives from given ethno-religious zone. 

“The choice of presenters could be more varied and better,” he said, stressing that a forum which seeks to transform vision to reality may not ignore or take for granted issues of peace and domicile security for all Nigerians, also the expatriate class, which make for a conducive economic environment, investment and trade. 

APGA also said that transportation and infrastructure development in Nigerian economic planning requires expansion of seaport access to different parts of coastal Nigeria to increase National economic vibrancy and decrease port congestion, especially in Lagos.

Insisting that reviving the Nigerian Ports of Calabar, Port Harcourt, Warri, and not reducing them to specialized establishments in addition to creating a Port at Oron, Akwa Ibom State, cannot be over-emphasised.

APGA further said that encouraging the development of geo-economic zones and looking at factors against the continued development of different market zones in Nigeria, which are daily losing business to other parts of Nigeria, particularly from the East Coast to the West coast, secondary to scorching Government trade and economic policy on Ports, Portage and infrastructure.

Encouraging geo-political zones to develop their comparative advantages, APGA said, in any product or trade sector deemed favorable, and hosting trade fairs, to enlighten Nigeria on their product/economic advantages, creating stable product/supply base, for infant industries elsewhere. 

@Chuks Egbuna +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

TNS, GeoPoll to improve mobile data research in Africa with new products

ITRealms:

Global leader in market research consultancy, TNS has said it would partner with world’s largest mobile survey platform, GeoPoll to expand mobile data product offerings in key African markets, and also deploy a new range of research products and services intended to deepen and improve market research in Africa reports ITRealms.

TNS and the mobile survey company partnership, ITRealms gathered, is to take three folds; giving TNS access to GeoPoll’s platform and user database, collaboration on media measurement services, expanding Kantar Media’s data products in Africa.

Speaking on the future of the collaboration, Kim MacIlwaine, CEO, TNS Africa, Mediterranean & Middle East said, “Mobile is an increasingly important mode of communication for market researchers, and we’re excited to collaborate with GeoPoll to expand our data product offerings in key African markets.  We believe GeoPoll’s robust mobile surveying technology combined with TNS and Kantar Media’s expertise in market and media research will be beneficial to all of our clients working in Africa.”

Confirming the partnership CEO of GeoPoll, James Eberhard, stated that GeoPoll has worked hard to drive increased access to quality information in Africa and is excited to partner with TNS and Kantar Media to improve the availability of reliable, cost-effective data across Africa, and looks forward to expanding the partnership in the coming years.

ITRealms also learnt that GeoPoll, in the past two years has rapidly expanded its services in Africa, opening an office in Nairobi, Kenya, and increasing their presence in South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria and was in June 2014, rated largest provider of overnight media ratings in Africa with the launch of its Media Measurement Service, currently running in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.

Daniel Nsolibe/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Anambra: 21 PDP House of Assembly candidates withdraw petitions

ITRealms:

The 21 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who contested in the just concluded general elections in Anambra for the House of Assembly seats have resolved not to challenge their losses at the Elections Petitions Tribunal and join hands with the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, reports ITRealms.

A communiqué issued in Amawbia at the end of session between the 21 PDP candidates and the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke, the group declared that their decision to desist from any acrimonious legal battles to wrestle victory from their All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) counterparts who emerged victories at the polls was in a bid to enable them to “cooperate with the Executive Governor, Chief Willie Obiano to move Anambra State forward in view of the good works which he is presently doing in the state.”

Part of the communique read: “And to effectively achieve the above, the said PDP candidates have undertaken not to take up or initiate any petitions, claims, reliefs or demands whatsoever in any tribunal, courts, panel or commission of inquiry in respect of any matter arising directly or indirectly from the April 11th 2015 Anambra House of Assembly Elections.”

The group further said they agreed that “whoever may have already filed or initiated any such petition, summons, claims or reliefs will immediately after this meeting, withdraw or cause same to be withdrawn at his or her own expense.”

Articulating the views of the group, Barrister Egwuoyibo Okoye, who was the flag bearer for Nnewi South 2 Constituency, explained that the primary concern of the group was what it should do to move Anambra State forward.

“We of the PDP, 21 of us that contested election in PDP came together and decided not to proceed to the tribunal. Those of us that had gone to the tribunal equally agreed to withdraw the petition they had already filed. The essence of that is to make this state remain as calm as possible, creating the enabling environment for Obiano to continue with his Willie is Working programme because our distracting him at the tribunal might delay his programme. We want Willie is Working to continue to work and make sure that Anambra State is moved forward. We need to develop Anambra State. No distractions. And we mean business,” he said.

Barrister Okoye equally pointed out that the group took a “cue from the action of President Goodluck Jonathan who congratulated General Buhari even before the final result in the last election was announced. And that brought a very big peace into the country. Without that, Nigeria would have been boiling today. That is exactly what we want to engender in Anambra State to ensure that there is absolute peace to enable the governor and those that were elected to serve the people have the peace they need to move Anambra State forward.”

Responding, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke thanked the group for demonstrating remarkable patriotism and extraordinary sportsmanship.

Chuks Egbuna +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Pix: A group pix of 21 PDP candidates with Dr. Okeke.

GTBank says all is set for Lagos Principlas cup finals 2015

ITRealms:

GTBank has disclosed that all is now set for the 2015 Lagos State Principals cup finals, reports ITRealms.

The finals of the 2015 Principals cup “Smash all Barriers” kicks off at Teslim Balogun Stadium on Wednesday 20th May in Lagos. 

This is coming as GTBank restated commitment in grassroots and youth soccer development, as a vital step in helping Nigeria emerge a global power-house in soccer. 

The General Manager, Communications at GTBank, Lola Odedina, told newsmen that Nigeria cannot emerge a global soccer giant by wishful thinking. 

"It requires concerted efforts, long range planning, continuous investment and most importantly talent identification and development at the youth level. The need to catch them young and train them well has never been greater,” she said.

Also, she said, that it has been a wonderful season this year, though every year GTBank try to build on the success of the previous year.

“We are pleased with the outcome of the tournament so far and we are optimistic that the talents that will emerge from the Principals Cup will enlarge the pool of potential players that will not only emerge national players but global and disciplined soccer stars."

Segun Agbaje, the Managing Director of GTBank, also reiterate essence of youth soccer development “the Principals Cup Competition paves the way for youths to cultivate their sporting talents and aptitudes, while fostering and building a healthier lifestyle at a critical stage in their lives”. 

He enjoined the students to imbibe the spirit of fair play, hard work, and discipline, which are some of the core values of GTBank. 

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!