Rwanda hosts preparatory meeting for ITU’s WTDC 2017

ITRealms:

The Regional Preparatory Meeting (RPM) for Africa was held from ended Wednesday December 8, in Kigali, Rwandan capital, reports ITRealms.

Participants at the meeting assessed the ongoing implementation of the Dubai Action Plan adopted at ITU's last World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-14) and started discussions on the Regional Initiatives for the Africa region for the years 2018-2021.

The Regional Preparatory Meeting was the second of a series of regional preparatory meetings that will take place across the world to help identify priorities in each region in preparation for WTDC-17. The first RPM was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic from 9 to 11 November 2016.

WTDC-17, which will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 9 to 20 October 2017, will forge a global plan for telecommunication and ICT development over the next four years.

"The Regional Preparatory Meeting helps to achieve regional coordination in preparation for WTDC-17 and identify issues at the regional level that need to be addressed, taking into account the most pressing needs faced by the Member States and Sector Members of the region," said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. "At WTDC-17, we will define the way forward and elaborate innovative ways to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals."

Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Minister of Youth and ICT of Rwanda, said, "Every time we have an opportunity to meet as leaders from the public and private sectors, academia and civil society in ICT, we must use it to advance the role that new technologies are playing and can play in making this world, and our continent, a better place."

"We are building blocks towards a successful WTDC-17," said Brahima Sanou, Director of ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau. "We have had very interesting discussions and had the pleasure to hear from ITU membership about the needs and opportunities of the region for the future. ICTs have revolutionized communications in Africa and are empowering people everywhere on the continent, promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, generating income and setting a path towards the attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."

Patrick Nyirishema, Director General of the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) and Chairman of the RPM, presented the final draft report. The report recognizes that the Regional Initiatives constitute an effective mechanism for fostering the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In discussing the Regional Initiatives for the Africa region for the years 2018-2021, meeting participants made several proposals all centered on the recognition that ICTs are ultimately about people. Participants acknowledged that the ICT sector is fast-developing and there is a need to take a paradigm shift in approaches for the region to benefit from these changes.

"The Regional Preparatory Meeting is an important platform that allows us to get together and discuss our common goals in a fast changing ICT landscape," said Nyirishema. "The dialogue we have started here will continue and will forge a common vision for Africa region for WTDC-17."

The RPM for Africa was preceded by the Regional Development Forum. Speakers at the opening ceremony included Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Brahima Sanou and Lamin Maneh, the United Nations' Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Rwanda.

The Regional Development Forum provided an opportunity to hear about the status of implementation of the African regional initiatives approved at WTDC-14 as well as the development of the ICT sector in the region. 

The initiatives approved at WTDC-14 focus on the following areas: human and institutional capacity building, policy and regulatory frameworks for the integration of African telecommunications/ICT frameworks, broadband access and adaptation of broadband, spectrum management and transition to digital broadcasting, and confidence and security in the use of telecommunications/ICTs.

The next Regional Preparatory Meeting will be for the Arab States and will be held in the Republic of Sudan from 30 January to 1 February 2017. It will be preceded by the Regional Development Forum on 29 January 2017.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Bonanza: Lagos, Kebbi float Lake rice, offer special price ...

 Lagos, Kebbi float Lake rice, offer special price ...: NaijaAgroNet : The Lagos State government has concluded plans to sell special rice at N13,000 per 50 kilogram (kg) bag for the Christma...

... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

Climate change: ICT can deliver smart solutions – Ban Ki-moon

ITRealms:

The outgoing Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon has said that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has the capacity to deliver smart solutions  to address climate change, hunger, poverty, women’s empowerment and more, reports ITRealms.

Opening the 11th annual Internet Governance Forum in Jalisco, Mexico, the Sec-Gen expressed optimism that the Internet and ICT can play important role in efforts to fulfilling the 2030 agenda.

“Indeed, the Internet and information and communication technologies (ICTs) can play an important, enabling role in our efforts to fulfill the great promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” stated United Nations Assistant Secretary-General Lenni Montiel in a message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the opening ceremony of the Forum. 

Noting that ICTs can deliver smart solutions to address climate change, hunger, poverty, women’s empowerment and more, the Secretary-General’s statement urged delegates to keep working to ensure universal access to a more open information society.

Ensuring such equitable access is one of the main challenges of modern society, said Miguel Ruiz Cabañas, Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, who added his strong support for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. “We are truly pleased that this event will foster the enabling of sustainable and inclusive growth and fight climate change with cross-cutting policies that contribute to access and use of the Internet.”

Alejandra Lagunes, Coordinator of the National Digital Strategy of Mexico and Chairperson of the 2016 IGF, said, “Clearly we need to build on our points of agreement and exchange of ideas so that we can make the most of all of the potential of the Internet.”

Local authorities and other speakers at the opening ceremony echoed the call for an open and universally accessible Internet while emphasizing the importance of net neutrality and more international coordination on cybersecurity issues. As this year’s IGF is the first since its 10-year renewal by the General Assembly, speakers emphasized the importance of the IGF multistakeholder platform for public policy dialogue.

Delegates from all stakeholder groups including governments, international organizations, technology companies, civil society and academia held workshops and meetings Tuesday to address the Internet’s pressing challenges and build on the enormous advances the Internet has created. Specifically, attendees discussed how to bring more women worldwide into the digital economy, better connect developing countries and the Global South, and implement human rights standards to the ICT sector, among other topics.

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BPP approves appointment of FG’s Transaction Parties on Eurobond

ITRealms:

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has approved the Federal Government recommended parties for the execution of Eurobond programme, reports ITRealms.

Disclosing this, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting where she sought approval on a Memorandum for the issuance of United States Dollar 1.00 billion Eurobond.

In addition, the Memo sought approval for this bond to be presented to the International Capital Market and the appointment of Transaction Parties responsible for the execution of the Programme.

She stated that the selection was based on an open and competitive bid process in line with the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and a certificate of “No Objection” was received from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to award contracts to the recommended Parties.

The Minister noted that the USD1.00 Billion Eurobond issuance was appropriated in the 2016 Budget and the funds will support the implementation of capital projects in the 2016 budget.

The appointed Transaction Parties responsible for execution of the transaction include: Citigroup, Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, White & Case LLP, Banwo & Ighodalo and AfricaPractice.

“We have so far, received strong commitment from the international community.  Investors believe in the long-term economic outlook for Nigeria as we continue with our structural reforms and increased focus on infrastructure development to diversify the economy and grow the non-oil sector”, she stated.

“Stable oil prices and steadying foreign reserves will support our plans and we expect high demand for this issue to further push down yields. We are confident that this will be a successful outing in January, 2017.”

 Oya Midele/GEE

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Fortune smiles @ Uadiala as Yudala rewards customer with Kia Rio

ITRealms:

Fortune has smiled on Samuel Uadiala family as they emerged the winner of a brand new Kia Rio in a raffle draw conducted at the Yudala Head Office in Gbagada on November 29^th 2016, reports ITRealms.

Uadiala, a frequent shopper at Yudala, ITRealms gathered, had beaten thousands of other contenders drawn from attendees at the Yudala Zero Gravity Concert held in the three cities of Lagos, Abuja and Enugu as well as shoppers from the company’s Black Friday sales which ran from Thursday November 24^th till Monday November 28^th.

Uadiala had received a raffle ticket after he purchased a Lenovo device and a Tecno phone from Yudala about a month ago.

Of the thousands of customers that qualified for the raffle draw, 100 were randomly selected and the list later pruned down to 20 for the grand draw. Five customers from the Yudala Zero Gravity Rock Gospel Concert held at the Federal Palace Hotel on November 20th volunteered to witness the raffle draw and ensure proper authentication of the proceedings. 

Also on hand to witness the draw was Pastor Remi Morgan Senior Pastor at Christ Church Parish of The Redeemed Christian Church of God in charge of Lagos Province 35.

A visibly elated Uadiala, who was accompanied by his wife, Jummai and other members of his family, was full of effusive praise for Yudala during the official presentation of the car which took place on Thursday December 1st.

“I am short of words. In fact, it is still like a dream to me. When I received the call from Pastor Remi Morgan on Tuesday, I thought someone was trying to play a prank on me. But no, it turned out to be true. Today, I am proud owner of a brand new Kia Rio.

“I am grateful to the Management of Yudala for living up to their promise. This is a clear case of what you see is what you get, which Yudala has always held up as one of its marketing promises. I pray that every staff of this great company will be richly rewarded and will continue to benefit from working in a Godly organization such as this. This is a day that God has made and I will rejoice so gladly in it,” he enthused.

Also speaking during the presentation, Founder/Vice President, Yudala, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh reiterated the company’s status of dependability, as seen in the transparent process that produced the winner and the guarantee of genuine products for which Yudala is renowned.

“At Yudala, we have a mantra: What you see is what you get. We are a corporate giant with a conscience and this was made clear from inception. Our customers are assured the guarantee of genuine products, whether they shop on our online platform or in any of our Offline Experience Store nationwide. This is one of the unique factors that set us apart in the marketplace. The transparent process from which the winner of the Kia Rio emerged is also a major justification of our status as a dependable company. You can always count on us at Yudala.”

In his contribution, Kia Motors representative, Mr. Moses Oguntimehin congratulated the winner, Mr. Uadiala, noting that Kia Motors’ partnership with Yudala is a mutually rewarding one which is set to progress long into the future. According to him, Yudala is one of the fastest growing brands in the country and with a clear vision and customer-centric mandate, factors which make it easy to identify with the brand.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Pix: PROUD WINNERS: (R-L) Chief Executive Officer, Yudala, Mr. Dave Ibelegbu, raffle draw winner Mr. Samuel Uadiala and his wife Jummai, Kia Motors representative, Mr. Moses Oguntimehin and Founder/Vice President, Yudala, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh during the official presentation of a brand new Kia Rio to Mr. Uadiala at the Yudala Headquarters in Gbagada, Lagos…recently. Mr. Uadiala emerged the lucky winner of the grand prize in a raffle draw conducted at the end of the Yudala Zero Gravity Concert and Black Friday Sales on November 29^th 2016.

PIC 2:

HERE ARE THE KEYS: Founder/Vice President, Yudala, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh (R) presents the key of a brand new Kia Rio to Mr. Samuel Uadiala who was accompanied by his wife, Jummai (L). Mr. Uadiala emerged the lucky winner of the grand prize in a raffle draw conducted at the end of the Yudala Zero Gravity Concert and Black Friday Sales on November 29^th 2016.

Christmas gift @SimbaPay to Ghanaians, Ugandans

ITRealms:

As part of its Christmas gift to Ghanaians and Ugandans, a London-based digital money transfer provider, SimbaPay has extended its services to Ghana and Uganda respectively, reports ITRealms.

The chief executive officer for SimbaPay, Nyasinga Onyancha, disclosed this to ITRealms in a press statement endorsed by the operational officer, Alex Maganga, quoting Onyancha as noting that using the SimbaPay app or website, Ghanaians and Ugandans living in Europe could now send money to mobile phones in Ghana or Uganda instantly.

“This is the perfect Christmas gift to Ghanaians and Ugandans living in Europe who have been asking when SimbaPay will expand coverage to their home countries” the CEO said, stressing that by delivering money via existing mobile money wallet services, many recipients who previously could not access formal financial services can now do so.

Ghanaians and Ugandans living in Europe (UK & European Union countries) with a bank account, debit card or credit card will be able to use the SimbaPay app from any mobile phone, tablet or computer. Transfers made using SimbaPay are credited within seconds to recipients’ mobile money wallets such as MTN Mobile Money. This eliminates the inconvenience of queues and old school paperwork.

SimbaPay, ITRealms notes, also delivers money transfers via mobile money and bank account to other African countries such as Nigeria and Kenya with more destinations and partners being sought for addition in 2017.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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Achumba succeeds Shehu as CPN Registrar,CEO

ITRealms:

A fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Mr. Allwell Achumba has been appointed the new chief executive officer and registrar of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), reports ITRealms.

He takes over from the Head, Education, Examination & Training Mr. Idowu Olusile, who was acting Registrar, while the former Registrar, Mr. Sikiru Shehu, was on terminal leave having served out his tenure.

ITRealms gathered that the CPN Council at the 79^th regular meeting held in Lagos recently, approved the appointment of Mr. Achumba, whose appointment commenced November 1, 2016.

Also, ITRealms gathered that Achumba is an ideal Information Technology (IT) practitioner in Nigeria, and a chartered member of CPN.

He promised to take the Council to the next level with his strong managerial background, senior level local and international experience and cross sector exposure.

Achumba, ITRealms further reports, is endowed with good strategic vision, with the ability to build and implement sophisticated plans with a proven track record explicitly supporting business needs.

He assured to maintain close relationships with external bodies, and IT stakeholders, among others.

ITRealms recalls that the CPN was established by Decree No. 49 of 1993, promulgated on June 10, and gazetted on August 9, of same year as a body corporate with perpetual succession and common seal, a legal entity charged with the control and supervision of the computing profession in the country.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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PayU committed to simplify payment systems in Nigeria -Nwanguma

ITRealms:

The country manager of a global online payment service provider, PayU Payments Nigeria Limited, Juliet Nwaanguma, has reiterated the commitment of the company to simplify payment systems in the country, reports ITRealms.

She also said that PayU is coming to Nigeria with innovations capable of making the market more competitive, as the company is fully approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in line with its initiative to promote cashless economy.

Speaking in Abuja at the end of Committee of e-Banking Heads (CeBIH) meeting, she told ITRealms, PayU is part of the leading and trusted PayU group of companies owned by Naspers.

Noting that globally, PayU group of companies, provides payment processing and related services to merchants and consumers, even as the group’s strength lies in its local approach to payments, anchored on valuing local language and culture.

Nwanguma pointed out that by establishing a local presence in Nigeria, this further underscores the group's values.

"PayU" offers simple and secure online payment services to merchants enabling them to accept payments of goods and services using debit and credit cards from their customers and other alternative payment methods as well,” she said.

The country manager further said PayU is a leading online payment service provider in 16 global markets with the objective to provide simple and secure online payment solutions to merchants and consumers.

“This objective is in response to the growing market and regulatory needs to take cash payments online and digitise the economy, whilst at the same time ensuring financial inclusion for all,” she said.

PayU, she said, commenced operations last year in Nigeria, with the aim of looking at the needs of merchants in the country and developing innovative payment solutions that will solve their problems and grow their revenue in the online space.

“And for consumers, offer them a simple and secure means of payments to merchants and businesses,” she declared.

The value proposition of the company, she said, is based on technology which enables provision of superior product offerings and develops innovative payment solutions.

“We offer various services and solutions to enable different sizes of merchants and businesses to receive online payments with or without a website and also provide automated collections of regular payments from their customers,” she said.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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MainOne boost schools with CSR

ITRealms:

The acclaimed West Africa’s leading connectivity and data center solutions provider, MainOne, has given a boost to schools with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, reports ITRealms.

The initiative tagged Changing Lives… Impacting the Future (CLIF), ITRealms gathered, saw MainOne adopting Mayeigun Community Primary School and Gbara Junior Secondary School located in Jakande-Lekki, Lagos by lifting the school environment.

ITRealms reports that the company supplied educational materials and toys and beautified the environment by planting flowers around the premises and landscaping the schools.

According to Coordinator, Health, Safety and Environment at MainOne, Oluyomi Johnson, the CLIF initiative is part of the company’s efforts to positively impact education in Nigeria.

“The major thrust of our community engagement has been in the education sector. Since 2011, we have assisted various schools in Lekki, Ajah and environs, identifying their needs and exploring how we can provide for them. We plan to continue our support for schools across Lagos, renovating their facilities, providing them internet and educational materials and more importantly, volunteering the service of our employees” Johnson said.

Acknowledging the uplifting of the school, the Head Teachers of Mayeigun Community Primary School and Gbara Junior Secondary School, Mrs. Oyeyipo and Mrs. Fashola respectively, expressed their delight at the re-painted facilities and urged other companies to take CSR to schools more seriously.

ITRealms recalls that since 2011, MainOne has been supporting educational institutions in Nigeria with yearly donations of study materials including school bags, text and exercise books, and renovation of critical infrastructure facilities. The Company’s contribution to the development of these schools forms a part of its Corporate Social Responsibility focus in Education and Information and Communications Technology.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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An applause for revolutionary Dunoma @FAAN

Commentary@ITRealms:

Leadership is as much a question of timing as anything else. A leader must appear on the scene when people are looking for leadership as Mao Tse Tung did in 1931, as Winston Churchill did in 1940 and as Lenin did in 1917, when he comes, he must offer a simple, eloquent message, that is what Engr. Saleh did when he assumed office in 2014 he gave the message “building the institution through selfless service to our fatherland. 

The appointment of Engr. Saleh Dunoma as the Managing Director of FAAN, was the best thing to have happened in the aviation industry. He came on board when the entire Aviation industry was hungry for Transparent Leadership. He is a seasoned administrator, a great simplifier who cut through argument, debate and doubt to offer solution to huge challenges that have beset the aviation industry for years, which today is understood to be a thing of the past, due to emergence of Engr. Dunoma. 

His resilient, doggedness and his leadership style of placing square pegs in square holes has placed the aviation sector on the plinth of greatness through purposeful leadership.

Suffice it to say that the advent of Engr. Dunoma and his agenda for the aviation sector in the last two years have greatly and enormously transform the   aviation industry with glaring evident of facts. 

It is being obvious that the Aviation sector needed a pragmatic helmsman with wealth of experience, to direct its affair which was found in Engr. Dunoma: quality leadership, purposefulness, accountability, truthfulness, humility, tolerance and love forthe industry. 

Over the years, administrative leadership that eluded the aviation sector, but today FAAN has found it in Engr. Dunoma. People can only be led where they want to go, the leader follows, though a step ahead, Engr. Dunoma has demonstrated a leadership that rides waves, move with the tides and understand the deepest yearnings of the entire staff of FAAN. 

Engr. Dumona has shown that aviation sector can grow to meet up with international best practices and standards even in the midst of pessimist, critics and enemies of development. He has achieved giant strides even with little resources at his disposal and has expressed pragmatism in the face of challenges. Engr. Dunoma dignifies our desire, convince us that aviation industry will become the hub for economic advancement which will be to the advantage of the nation.

He has given FAAN a sense of glory and the   Aviation sector at large, it will be a great disservice if Engr. Dumona do not get applause from us as an organization, whose mandate is to evaluate the performance of public office holders to ensure it is in tandem with parameters of transparency, accountability and probity for the overall economic growth and national development.

We the initiative for leadership and Economic Watch in Nigeria have resolved to promote openness, and at all times with patriotism, where the people opinion direct the course Justice and fair play in the administrative process of Government institutions. We state unequivocally that Engr. Dunoma has proven to us that he has come to serve Nigerians with outmost desire to revolutionize Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria.

It is against this background, we therefore state with all humility and confidence that Engr. Dunoma is currently reflecting back to us, aviation sense of purpose, putting into words aviation dream and hope by transforming her needs and fears into concrete administrative polices and programmes that are result oriented and which today are evident for all to see.

Courtesy: Ambassador Agbonkpolor is the Executive Director of Initiative for leadership and Economic Watch in Nigeria

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