Nigerian Editors end confab in Bayelsa, echoes objective reportage

DigitalSENSE Business News:

 

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) rose from its 2015 annual conference in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State to echo its determination for steadfast and objective in media reportage of the country by being the change agents Nigerians desire, reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

A communique signed by the NGE President, Malam Garba Deen Mohammad and General Secretary,   Mrs. Victoria Ibanga, and made available to DigitalSENSE Business News at the end of the four-day conference said that Nigerians must unite to build a nation that is prosperous and secure, irrespective of political, ethnic and religious differences.

The Guild in the 16-point resolution also noted that the 11th Annual All Nigerian Editors Conference which held between August 26 and 30, 2015, called on the government at all levels to carry the mass media along in planning and execution of critical developmental policies and programmes.

Pointing out that the steps taken so far by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to tackle terrorism are commendable and urges Nigerians not to politicize or ethnicise the war against the scourge, stressing that much more must be done by all stakeholders to ensure that every part of country is secure.

“That the present administration’s war against corruption is commendable but that every effort must be made to ensure that it is not selective. Every Nigerian must support the battle to eradicate the monster which has adversely affected the country,” NGE stated.

They also called on media owners to ensure regular payment of salaries as well as provide improved working conditions commensurate with the efforts of media practitioners. While on the other hand, asked media practitioners to play their agenda setting role and make conscious effort to raise the level and quality of public debate by bringing issues of national interest to the fore.

“Nigerians must unite and support efforts of the government of President Buhari to revive the nation’s economy,” the guild insisted, emphasizing that there must be a conscious effort to re-orient Nigerians to embrace values that would bring about the desired change.

Editors, the Guild said, must strive continually to improve their skills and acquire new skills that would prepare them for life outside the Editorial chair as well as endearing Nigerians to the desired change and remain alive to the watchdog role assigned them by Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)  

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4Afrika drums support for DEMO Africa’15

ITRealms:

The Microsoft scheme, under the auspice of 4Afrika Initiative, is drumming support for the upcoming DEMO Africa scheduled for Lagos, the commercial centre of the country, reports ITRealms.

This, ITRealms recalls is the fourth in the series of DEMO Africa that the software giant has pledged its support.

Director, Startup Engagement and Partnerships, 4Africa Initiatives at Microsoft, Mrs. Amrote Abdella, stressed the importance of partnership to build an innovative ecosystem in Africa would growth of startups with disruptive innovations that solve major challenges in Africa today.

“We are laying the foundation for the creation of globally competitiveness businesses. It opens up the opportunity to partner with various stakeholders across sectors, and at Microsoft we believe in joining forces to create a bigger and more sustainable impact,” Mrs. Abdella said.

For the Executive Producer, DEMO Africa, Harry Hare, the support is welcome, reiterating that Abdella’s call for stakeholder support for technology and entrepreneurship in Africa.

“It is actions by different players that will see technology entrepreneurship effectively bringing sustainability to entrepreneurship across Africa,” he said.

The DEMO Africa, ITRealms notes has been scheduled to take place in the week of 21-25 September 2015 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos. Already, top industry players including Fola Adeola, the Founder and chairman of FATE Foundation, and founding chairman of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, have confirmed their participation.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)
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15 Nigerians inducted into African Science Institute fellows

ITRealms:

Fifteen Nigerian scientists and members of the African Science Institute (ASI) have been inducted into organisation’s fellows in the last one year, reports ITRealms.

Also, ITRealms exclusively gathered that out of the 46 fellows ASI inducted in the last one year, that is, between August 2014 and August 31^st, 2015, there are 15 Nigerians as Fellows.

According to ASI president and chief executive officer, Lee O. Cherry, in August 2014 ASI inducted Nigerian Ngozi M. Otuonye, a Microbiologist and a food scientist, Dr. Oluwatooyin F. Osundahunsi.

By October 2014, Cherry said Nigeria recorded another two fellows, namely Dr. Oghenerobor Benjamin Akpor, who is an Environmental microbiologist and Muhammad Alkali, whose specialty is on Mobile and Satellite Communications.

Nigeria began the year with Dr. Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, a Soil Physicst and Water Conservation joining the African Science Institute in January, just as in the month of February 2015, saw the Director General, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) and expert in Microbiology, Dr. Lucy Jumeyi Ogbadu, join ASI Fellows alongside Zoology Parasitologist, Dr. Olaoluwa P. Akinwale.

By March 2015, ASI fellows from Nigeria include Dr. Bamidele Tolulope Odumosu, a Pharmaceutical Microbiologist, in addition to a chemist, Dr. Oladoja N. Abiola, and Dr. Adeniyi Adeneye, Medical Sociologist on public health.

Nigeria also recorded another two fellowers inducted into ASI in June 2015, including Dr. Kingsley Chiwuike Ukaoha, a Computer Scientist and Dr. Mojisola Oluwayemisi Adeniyi; a Atmospheric Physicist, while in July, Dr. Medina Omo Kadiri, a scientist in Plant Biology & Biotechnology was the sole candidate from Nigeria. Whereas, two computer scientists were inducted by August 31st 2015, namely Dr. Osakpanwan Edgar Osaghae, and Dr. Oladipo Francisca Onaolapo.

Other Fellows as detailed by Cherry comprised:

New ASI Fellows in August 2015 include:

* Jean Paul Kamdem, Ph.D. (Cameroon/Brazil): Biochemistry

* Rohan J. Banton, Ph.D. (USA): Mechanical Engineering

* Osakpanwan Edgar Osaghae, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Computer Science

* Oladipo Francisca Onaolapo, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Computer Science

New ASI Fellows in July 2015 include:

* Eligius Lyamuya, MD, MMed, PhD, FTAAS, FCPath (ECSA) (Tanzania): Deputy Vice Chancellor - Academic, Research & Consultancy; Microbiology and Immunology

* Francisca Mutapi, Ph.D. (Zimbabwe/England): Immunology & Infection Research

* Medina Omo Kadiri, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Plant Biology & Biotechnology

New ASI Fellows in June 2015 include:

* Kwaku Danso, Ph.D. (Ghana/USA): Electronic Engineering; Business Development and Management
 

* Kingsley Chiwuike Ukaoha, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Computer Science

* Robert Mitchell (USA): IT Management; Cyber Security

* Mojisola Oluwayemisi Adeniyi, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Atmospheric Physics

New ASI Fellows in May 2015 include:

* James Cates (USA): CEO and Founder, LOBI Group, LLC; Computer Science

* Kumi Rauf (USA): President of "I Love Being Black", the largest Black followers on Facebook; Computer Science

New ASI Fellows in April 2015 include:

* Robert T. Tshikhudo, Ph.D. (South Africa): Director of the DST/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre (NIC); Nanotechnology

* Assan Jaye, DVM, Ph.D. (Gambia): Viral Diseases; Immunology

* Al Davis (USA): Construction Project Development

* Abd Elmoneim Osman Elkhalifa, Ph.D. (Sudan): Nutritional Food Chemistry

* Stephen Elias Damson Nsimba, Ph.D. (Tanzania): Clinical Pharmacologist; Pharmaco-Epidemiologist

* Mona Mohamed Nasr, Ph.D. (Egypt): Computer Science

* Morris Kasigwa Agaba, Ph.D. (Tanzania): Molecular Genetics

New ASI Fellows in March 2015 include:

* Alexander Wooten, Ph.D. (USA): Soil and Water Pollution Remediation, Wetland biogeochemistry

* Samuel Nii Odai, Ph.D. (Ghana): Pro Vice-Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi; Hydraulics and Water Resources

* Bamidele Tolulope Odumosu, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Pharmaceutical Microbiology

* Oladoja N. Abiola, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Chemistry

* Adeniyi Adeneye, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Medical Sociology; Public Health

New ASI Fellows in February 2015 include:

* Angela Antoinette James, Ph.D. (South Africa): Science and Technology Education

* Lucy Jumeyi Ogbadu, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Director General, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA); Microbiology

* Ibok Oduro, Ph.D. (Ghana): Food Science and Technology

* Olaoluwa P. Akinwale, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Zoology (Parasitology)

* Derege Kebede, M.D., Sc.D. (Ethiopia/RDC Congo): Epidemiology; Public Health

New ASI Fellows in January 2015 include:

* Fred Powell, FAIA (USA): Architect Executive

* Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Soil Physics and Water Conservation

New ASI Fellows in November 2014 include:

* Leonard E. Mboera, Ph.D. (Tanzania): Applied Entomology: Editor-in-Chief of the Tanzania Journal of Health Research; Associate Editor of the East African Journal of Public Health and Editorial Board Member of Rwanda Journal of Health Sciences and Tanzania Dental Journal

New ASI Fellows in October 2014 include:

* Oghenerobor Benjamin Akpor, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Environmental Sciences; Microbiology

* Muhammad Alkali, (Nigeria): Mobile and Satellite Communications

New ASI Fellows in September 2014 include:

* Ronald L Mallett, Ph.D. (USA): Theoretical Physics; Relativistic Astrophysics; Time Travel

* Aisha Elfaki Mohamed, Ph.D. (Sudan): Wildlife Medicine; Director of Wildlife Research Centre

* Charles Wood, Ph.D. (USA): Director, Nebraska Center for Virology; Microbiology and Chemistry

* Sidy Ba, Ph.D. (Mali): Chemical and Environmental Engineering

* Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Ph.D. (Ghana): Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of
Ghana; Entomology

* Protus Arrey Tarkang, Ph.D. (Cameroon): Biochemical Toxicology and Applied Pharmacognosy

* Preston Williams, III (Liberia/USA): Information Technology; Resource Allocation & System Dynamics

New ASI Fellows in August 2014 include:

* Kwame Afreh-Nuamah, Ph.D.,DIC. (Ghana): Entomology; Former Director of the Institute of Agricultural Research of the College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon.

* Dianah Ngonyamo-Majee, Ph.D. (Zimbabwe/USA): Agronomy; Biotechnology; 2012 - 2014 Vice President of the Association of African Agricultural Professionals in the Diaspora (AAAPD)

* Ngozi M. Otuonye (Nigeria): Microbiology; Medical Laboratory Scientist

* Oluwatooyin F. Osundahunsi, Ph.D. (Nigeria): Food Science
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Etisalat tells Nigerian youth to break barriers

ITRealms:

Nigeria’s most innovative and youth friendly network, Etisalat has encouraged Nigerian youths to look beyond their present circumstance and break any limitation that may be standing between them and their dream.

Head, Marketing Communications, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Gerald Osugo, gave the advice when the Etisalat team visited and inspired a group of youths, who were undergoing Information Communication Technology (ICT) training at the Paradigm Initiative Network (PIN) Centre in Lagos, in commemoration of the 2015 United Nations International Youth Day penultimate Wednesday.

While stressing that the rewards within the ICT space are remarkable, Osugo noted that Etisalat has been at the forefront of youth empowerment by promoting initiatives that help them reach their full potential. 

“Etisalat has developed several platforms that are geared towards adding value to the youth. Last year a young Nigerian won the Etisalat Prize for Innovation when he came up with an innovative ICT solution called Exammate which helps students to study for examinations,” he disclosed. 

The Programme Manager, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), Oluwatosin Abolaji, said PIN is a social enterprise that connects Nigerian youths with ICT-enabled opportunities. He explained that the digital jobs industry is estimated to grow to about $5 billion global by 2018, therefore it is important to expose the youth to opportunities in digital/online jobs.

 

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Oracle cloud platform offers business agility

ITRealms

The Group Vice President, Oracle, Robert Shimp has said that Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), offerings, such as the Oracle Cloud Platform, have the ability to deliver unprecedented levels of business agility, ITRealms reports.

”PaaS offerings, such as the Oracle Cloud Platform, have the ability to deliver unprecedented levels of business agility. The key now is to demonstrate to businesses just how easy it is to integrate this critical cloud platform into their IT architectures. Yes, the cost savings delivered by PaaS are important, but of greater importance is its ability to help businesses reduce application development timeframes and more easily tailor and integrate third-party Software as a Service apps into their business, allowing them to more effectively address customer demand,” said Shimp.

Oracle, ITRealms gathered, recently announced the results of its “Oracle Cloud Agility” study and revealed that businesses worldwide overestimate their agility. While a majority of businesses believe they are agile, Oracle’s research highlights that many organizations cannot flexibly manage workloads or rapidly develop, test, and launch new applications, leaving them poorly prepared to deal with competitive threats. The study also found a lack of awareness among businesses around how technology, like PaaS, can be used to help address these challenges.

The Oracle Cloud Agility study surveyed 2,263 employees working for large global enterprises to understand business agility in the age of cloud. The results, ITRealms learnt, show that 64 per cent consider their organization to be agile (i.e., able to adjust quickly to new business opportunities or to iterate new products and services quickly). When looking at the United States, businesses are even more positive, with 66 percent believing their business to be agile.

Respondents are clear about the benefits of agility, with 81 per cent stating that the ability to rapidly develop, test, and launch new business applications is either critically important or important to the success of their business, falling to 76 per cent in the United States. In particular, nearly one-third of respondents (29 per cent) believe the effective mobilization of applications and services is the most important factor in business success today when it comes to IT infrastructure.

The study, ITRealms also reports, reveals that the impact of agility on competitiveness is critically important to businesses. In fact, the ability of competitors to launch innovative customer services more rapidly was identified as the top threat by businesses (27 per cent). Fifty two per cent of global respondents indicated that their business does not have an IT infrastructure capable of meeting competitive threats.

Significantly, the survey reveals that the agility benefits delivered by PaaS are not being leveraged. In fact, nearly half of businesses (49 per cent) surveyed either cannot, or do not know if they can shift workloads between public, private, and hybrid clouds, and migrate on-premises applications to the cloud.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

 
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Airtel, Wari collaborate on payment solution to Nigerians

ITRealms
 

Airtel Nigeria and  Wari, a payment solution company with  presence in 23 African countries are collaborating to offer accessible and convenient payment service to millions of Nigerians, helping them carry out their day-to-day transactions seamlessly, ITRealms reports.
 
Designed as a convenient and easy-to-use payment solution, Wari allows users to make payment for goods and services, buy airtime, pay bills, deposit cash and make withdrawals within the country or outside.  
 
According to information reaching ITRealms, the solution can also be used to transfer money and remit through accredited agents across Nigeria, and the service is available to anyone irrespective of whether they are account holders or not. 
 
Speaking on the innovative service, Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Maurice Newa said “Wari is designed to meet the needs of Nigerians, including the banked and unbanked; everyone who needs to make or receive payment for goods and services. It also reduces the risk of carrying  cash while travelling since you can deposit and withdraw at your destination through Wari agents whether within the country or outside Nigeria,” Newa noted .
In his own remarks, the Country Manager, Wari Nigeria,  Mr Damilola  Bamiro, ITRealms reports,said, “the partnership will strengthen Wari’s local presence in all the local governments in Nigeria. This strategic plan will greatly increase access to financial services of the various institutions especially to the unbanked”.
 
He said, “Wari as an African grown agent network has always ensured the best user experience, taking into consideration all local peculiarities and cultures. This, it has done in its 23 countries of presence”.
 
To start using the Wari, Airtel service, ITRealms informs, subscribers and non-subscribers can visit any designated Wari agent in their locality and request for the services, the agent will then facilitate the specific transaction on behalf of the customer. Both customer and Wari agent will receive alerts as confirmation of the transaction carried out.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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Pix:Maurice Newa