TVC consumates DStv, GOtv partnership

ITRealms:

Foremost media organization, the Continental Broadcasting Service (CBS) has reaffirmed its determination to be in the forefront of sharing African stories as the company Thursday in Lagos, consummated partnership with MultiChoice Nigeria on DStv and GOTv, reports ITRealms.

This brings TVC to be among African channels making the continent proud on both DSTv and GOTv respectively in the company’s quest to democratize information for the African populace.

The Chief Executive Officer, CBS, Mr. Nigel Parsons said at the launch of the channels that CBS has continued to deepen information penetration and reach Africa-wide.

TVC News Nigeria, he said, is now available on DStv channel 418 and GOtv channel 45, while TVC Entertainment is on GOtv channel 27.

He also described the partnership with MultiChoice Africa, operators of DSTv and GOTv as reinforcing TVC’s vision of being the continent’s first truly pan-African 24-hour news station, 24-hour Nigeria-centric news channel and 24/7 entertainment channel.

For the Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe, who was represented at the occasion by the Public Relations Manager, Ms Caroline Oghuma, welcomed the addition of homegrown channels on the DStv and GOtv platforms, saying he believes both play a pivotal role in showcasing the channels’ rich content to the rest of Africa.

“We are deeply committed to Africa and support the growth of original African programming. The collaboration with Continental Broadcasting Service will complement and expand our range of quality local content on our platforms,” he said.

ITRealms recalls that CBS, established in 2007, owns and operates TVC News (the first pan-African 24-hour News station), TVC Entertainment, TVC News Nigeria, Radio Continental 102. 3 FM, Adaba 88.9 FM Akure and Uniq 103.1 FM, Ilesha.

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!
Pix: Nigel Parsons, MD/CEO, CBS, Caroline Oghuma, PR Manager MultiChoice and Lemi Olalemi, Deputy MD/CEO

Breaking News: Fuel price hike to N145 cruel: We shall resist this increase - NLC

Breaking News@ITRealms:

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has described the hike in petrol pump price by the Federal Government from N86.50 to N145 as cruel, insisting they will resist the Wednesday proclamation, and summons emergency NEC meeting for Friday, May 13, reports ITRealms.

A press statement issued late last night by the Nigeria Labour Congress, endorsed by its General Secretary, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, and made available to ITRealms, NLC said the unilateral increase in prices of petroleum products Wednesday by government represents the height of insensitivity and impunity that must be resisted.

NLC also said that it will resist the hike alongside all the well-meaning civil society groups, decrying that with the imposition on the citizenry of criminal and unjustifiable electricity tariff and resultant darkness and other economic challenges brought on by the devaluation of the Naira and spiraling inflation, the least one had expected at this point in time was another policy measure that would further make life more miserable for the ordinary Nigerian.

As said by NLC, the latest increase is the most audacious and cruel in the history of product price increase as It represents not only about 80 per cent increase but it is tied to the black market exchange rate.

Furthermore, NLC said, the process through which government arrived at this is both illogical and illegal as the board of the PPPRA is not duly constituted.

“In our previous statements and communiques, we had stressed the need for reconstituting the boards of NNPC and PPPRA and wean both away from the overbearing influence of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources who has assumed the role of a sole administrator.

NLC said, the allusion to the fact that the this increase was arrived at after due consultation with stake holders is not only ridiculous and fallacious, because it goes to show that the brief meeting held today during which government was advised to shelve the idea until at least it meets with the appropriate organs of the Congress was in bad faith.

Accordingly, NLC said, they urged the government to revert the prices to what they were, stressing “We would want to put everybody on notice that we shall resist this criminal increase with every means legitimate."

Already an emergency NEC meeting has been scheduled for Friday, May 13, 2016 to decide on the next line of action. Meanwhile, our affiliates, state councils and civil society allies are requested to commence mobilization immediately.

Chuks Egbuna/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

LASG pays N48bn to pensioners

ITRealms:

The Lagos State Government has paid accrued pension rights totalling N48 billion naira to over 10, 300 retirees to underscore its commitment to improve the welfare and well-being of former staff, reports ITRealms.

The Commissioner, Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Benson Oke Akintola, who stated this on Tuesday while speaking at the 10th Retirement Benefit Documentation Seminar for employees who are due to retire from the Lagos State Public Service between July and December, 2016 at Alausa, Ikeja, said the State Government will continue to deliver tangible dividends of democracy in spite of the limited available resources.

Dr. Akintola, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Pensions Office, Mrs. Funmilayo Balogun said, “Prompt payment of the monthly salaries and allowances of all active workers by the Lagos State Government will continue to be our focus. This is because Government is ever conscious of the necessity to ensure the well-being of its workforce whose contributions to its achievements cannot be quantified.”

Speaking earlier, the Director General, Lagos State Pension Board, Mrs. Folashade Onanuga said that the total contributions credited into active employees Retirement Savings Accounts managed by the 10 Pension Fund Administrators approved by the State Government, from April 2007 to March 2016 is approximately N64 billion.

She restated that the accrued pension rights of N48 billion paid by the present administration to over 10, 300 retirees has increased the total amount remitted by the State Government as employees’ pension rights under the Contributory Pension Scheme to N112.080 billion naira.

While commending the Ambode led administration for its dedication and steadfastness despite the myriad of projects competing for the State’s resources, the LASPEC boss used the occasion to thank all the stakeholders who have, in one way or another, contributed to the efficient operations of the scheme in Lagos State.

The Retirement Benefit Documentation Seminar is a bi-annual event which is intended to prepare employees, retiring from the civil service, for a life of financial independence, as well as educate them on how to manage their health in retirement.

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

OLX, Diamond unveil ‘Do It For Me’ service

ITRealms:

Online classifieds leading site in Nigeria, OLX.com.ng has unveiled a premium product tagged ‘Do It For Me’ (DIFM) on Diamond Bank’s Tech Turks, reports ITRealms.

Speaking at the occasion, Diamond Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, said DIFM helps users manage the posting and selling of items on the website.

“Users who have no time to post, meet with potential buyers or want their privacy protected can entrust the sale of their goods to the OLX Champs who are sales experts,” says Lola Masha, Country Manager, OLX Nigeria.

She explained that DIFM service comes in two forms, namely “Post It For Me (P.I.F.M)’ where the OLX sales champs manage the posting of items for users on the site and Sell It For Me (S.I.F.M), where the entire process is managed from posting the item to actively finding potential buyers until the item is sold.”

D.I.F.M, she equally said comes with a minimal fee for OLX users and the product is only available in Lagos but there are plans to extend in other parts of the country. Interested users can apply for it here.

Daan Sanders, CEO Middle East & Africa, OLX said during an interview on Tech Turks that “D.I.F.M is another innovative way our platform makes life easier and safer for our users”. 

Also, he said, their number one priority in Nigeria is trust, safety and with the help of OLX Champs people who are skeptical about using the platform could be rest assured that the OLX champs will manage the posting and sale of the item for them.

“We continuously reinvent the classifieds business model to fit the local market. The DIFM model is convenient, will keep our users safe and help buyers and sellers close deals quickly,” Sanders said.

ITRealms notes that OLX is the world's leading classifieds platform in growth markets and is available in more than 45 countries and over 50 languages. OLX connects local people to buy, sell or exchange used goods and services by making it fast and easy for anyone to post an ad through the mobile app. Every month, hundreds of millions of people in local markets around the world use OLX's online marketplace to find and sell a wide range of products, including vehicles, electronics, phones and much more.

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Pix: L-R: Daan Sanders, CEO Middle East & Africa, OLX, Lola Masha, Country Manager, OLX and Uzoma Dozie, CEO Diamond Bank at the launch of OLX Do it for me on Diamond's TV Tech Turks in Lagos, recently. 

What people look out for at first instance - Expert

GenderICT@ITRealms: 

People size you up in seconds, but what exactly are they evaluating?

Harvard Business School professor Amy Cuddy has been studying first impressions alongside fellow psychologists Susan Fiske and Peter Glick for more than 15 years, and has discovered patterns in these interactions.

In her new book, "Presence," Cuddy says people quickly answer two questions when they first meet you:

·         Can I trust this person?

·         Can I respect this person?

Psychologists refer to these dimensions as warmth and competence respectively, and ideally you want to be perceived as having both.

Interestingly, Cuddy says that most people, especially in a professional context, believe that competence is the more important factor. After all, they want to prove that they are smart and talented enough to handle your business.

But in fact warmth, or trustworthiness, is the most important factor in how people evaluate you. "From an evolutionary perspective," Cuddy says, "it is more crucial to our survival to know whether a person deserves our trust." It makes sense when you consider that in cavemen days it was more important to figure out if your fellow man was going to kill you and steal all your possessions than if he was competent enough to build a good fire.

AmazonCuddy's new book explores how to feel more confident.

While competence is highly valued, Cuddy says it is evaluated only after trust is established. And focusing too much on displaying your strength can backfire.

Cuddy says MBA interns are often so concerned about coming across as smart and competent that it can lead them to skip social events, not ask for help, and generally come off as unapproachable.

These overachievers are in for a rude awakening when they don't get the job offer because nobody got to know and trust them as people.

"If someone you're trying to influence doesn't trust you, you're not going to get very far; in fact, you might even elicit suspicion because you come across as manipulative," Cuddy says.

"A warm, trustworthy person who is also strong elicits admiration, but only after you've established trust does your strength become a gift rather than a threat."

 Courtesy: Business Insider

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

ATCON elects Teniola president, gets new exco

ITRealms:

The Managing Director of Internet Solutions Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olusola Teniola, has been elected new president of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), reports ITRealms.

Teniola is leading other executive members including Engr. Tony Nwosu as first Vice President; Mr. David O. Roberts – 2nd Vice-President; Mr. Mike Ofili – National Secretary; Mrs. Aderonke Adeyegbe – Treasurer; Mr. Ike Nnamani – Coordinator Telephone Operations and Mr. Hyacinth Anucha – Coordinator Value Added Services.

ITRealms reports that the elections of the new exco were unopposed. 

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Teniola expressed appreciation for the successful and peaceful process and commended members for their support.

The immediate-past president, Engr. Lanre Ajayi has since handed over to the newly elected exco while the election followed the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Wednesday, May 11^th 2016 at Protea Hotel, Ikeja-Lagos.

ITRealms also reports that the inaugural meeting of the Telecoms industry Advisory Council was recently held and the council elected Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande as the Chairman and Dr. Emmanuel Ekwuem, MD/CEO Teledom Group as Vice Chairman.

The outgoing President, ITRealms gathered was received a “National Outstanding Leadership” and “Commander of Nigerian Students” awards from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

The former ATCON president, confirmed that membership of the association has grown to 115.

ITRealms further recalls that during the tenue of Ajayi, ATCON made some progress including hosting training on migration from IPV4 to IPV6, AFRINIC and was sponsored by the NCC, Internet Solutions, Medallion Communications to name a few.

Ajayi pointed out that the NEC of ATCON paid visits to some of its members, a total of about seven members which included Swift Network, Visafone, IHS, Airtel, Etisalat, Natcom among others.

However, the auditor’s report was read by Mr. Olusegun Abraham, from Abraham Shalom and Co, and was adopted.

Vincent Okoli/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Taylor advises CTO member countries to centralize databases

ITRealms:

The Secretary-General, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), Mr. Shola Taylor has advised member nations to centralize their databases in the urge to increase trust of the citizens, especially in a developing economy like Nigeria, reports ITRealms.

Speaking at a press parley of day-one of a three-day Digital Broadcasting Africa Forum 2016 in Lagos, Taylor said that centralizing databases of the government, mostly in Africa has tendency to earn citizens trust.

Stressing that the less of the disjointed database are harmonised, the more trust a country gets from the citizens.

In addition, he said, CTO is concerned that most African countries lack the expertise, so the organization is providing training to affiliate countries through some institutions on cyber security.

This, he said, helps the benefiting countries to have a structured framework to combat cybercrimes.

ITRealms recalls that the forum, which commences Wednesday at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, would last till Friday this week, with focus on “The pan-Africa transition: Achieving digital migration success.”

While some of the highlights include session on “Broadcast Technology Trends, Next Generation, Entertainment, Creation of Local Content, Digital Migration and Spectrum Allocation, Financial and Business Considerations, The consumer Perspective, Digital Radio, Achieving Digital Inclusion, and Financial and Business Considerations.”

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Its official, petrol now sales for N145 per litre - FG

ITRealms:

The Federal Government today, Wednesday removed subsidy from sale the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol or fuel, which will henceforth sale for N145 per litre, reports ITRealms.

Announcing this after a meeting in Abuja today, monitored through the African Independent Television (AIT), ITRealms gathered that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe-Kachikwu made this disclosure.

According to him, the Federal Government at the same time opens the space for independent marketers to import petrol into the country.

He explained that marketers are now free to bring in cargoes and sell, subject to meeting standard quality control.

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

CTO Sec-Gen, Taylor calls for valuation of Africa spectrum

ITREALMS:

The annual Digital Broadcasting Africa Forum kicks off in Lagos, the Commonwealth Secretary General, Mr. Shola Taylor has called for better evaluation of specter on the continent, reports ITRealms.

He also said ahead of the official opening of the three-day conference, tomorrow, that spectrum should be seen as a public good.

According to him, one obvious lesion is that with continued advances in radio transmission technologies, it has become increasingly realised how valuable spectrum is as a finite resource.

He decried that spectrum is undervalued in most part of the African continent, noting that it's nations sovereign right to use spectrum as they see fit, stressing that at CTO, it must be made available on sound economic grounds first, including for the broadcasting sector and on its economic development.

Taylor further said that attendees will include policy makers, regulators and broadcasting executives, focuses on the theme: "The Pan-Africa Transition: Achieving Digital Migration Success.

The event is co-hosted this year by Ministry of Information and Culture and Ministry of Communications  of Nigeria anas well as National Broadcasting Commission.

Resident doctors begin strike, alleges non-medical practitoners are illiterates

ITRealms:

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has directed its members to embark on  a nationwide strike which begins today, Wednesday by 8am reports ITRealms.

The President of NARD, Dr Muhammad Askira, confirmed this Tuesday, lamenting the recurrent crisis in the nation’s health sector, especially among health professionals, and blaming non-medical practitioners. 

The organisation argued that many non-doctors who had wanted to become doctors failed university admission test set by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and eventually accepted to study other health-related programmes adjudged by the public to be lower in value than Medicine. He stressed that when such people graduate and find themselves in the working environment with doctors, they aspire to lord themselves over the doctors.

The association directed its members across public hospitals in the country to suspend services.

Under the arrangement, hospitals are to remain shut till next week Monday, as NARD said it was embarking on a five-day strike to pressurise government to meet its demands.

The President of NARD, Dr Muhammad Askira, stated these on Tuesday, while reading to journalists the outcome of its communique issued at the end of the association's Extra-Ordinary National Executive Council Meeting in Abuja, co-signed by the Secretary-General of NARD, Dr. Ibrahim Kuburi and Publicity/Social Secretary, Dr. Eugene Ahuruezenma. 

He said government had failed to meet demands of the practitioners, even after recent assurances from President Muhammadu Buhari, when he met with leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, and assured the doctors of prompt attention to their grievances. 

According to him, indefinite strike earlier planned for last Monday had been shelved. He explained that the association would further take a decision on next line of action at the end of this month.

Askira said after critical analysis of issues affecting NARD at an “extra-ordinary” National Executive Council, NEC, meeting, the NEC observed that there were some processes still ongoing in resolving the impasse between government and the doctors, and that the efforts so far made by government had not yet met the doctors’ demands.

The issued considered at the NEC meeting, according to him, include resident doctors who work in states of the country that were yet to be paid their salaries; skipping and all accrued arrears for doctors yet to be implemented in most hospitals in the country; unpaid December salaries of doctors in some federal hospitals; and, house officers’ entry steps not effected.

The doctors argued that a committee promised by government on residency training was yet to take off, while some of their members sacked by government had not been recalled.

“After exhaustive deliberations, the NEC made the following resolution: that the proposed indefinite strike action due to commence on 9^th May 2016 has been shelved. That a five-day nationwide warning strike will be embarked upon commencing from Wednesday 11 May, 2016 by 8am for work to resume on Monday 16 May, 2016 by 8:am prompt. That NARD will review the situation at our Ordinary General Meeting holding from 30 May, 2016.

“This decision is to press home our demands for implementation, in one hand, and also to enable the government enough time to expedite action in areas not adequately addressed.

“…NARD appreciates the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, the Leadership of the National Assembly, including all the members of the Senate and House Committees of Heath and Labour matters, NEC members and all well-meaning Nigerians for their positive roles since the beginning of this impasse."

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

Sent from my iPad