Ezekwesili leads Ekpo, Baru, Kuru, Olagunju to Realnews Fifth Lecture

ITREALMS:

The Realnews Magazine and Publications Limited will hold its fifth Anniversary Lecture on Thursday, November 16, 2017, reports ITRealms.

The lecture entitled: “African Leadership in a Turbulent Era” which will be delivered by Dr. (Mrs) Oby Ezekwesili, former Nigerian minister of education, will take place at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, by 10 am prompt.  

 Ezekwesili, former vice president of the World Bank and co-founder of Transparency International, was last week, appointed democracy ambassador by the Swedish-based International Institute for Electoral Assistance, International IDEA.  She is the first female to give the Realnews Anniversary Lecture series.

The Lecture will be chaired by Professor Akpan Hogan Ekpu, director general of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, WAIFEM.

Immediately after the lecture, a panel of discussants will leverage on the topic to speak on how leadership crisis is affecting different sectors in Nigeria and the way forward. The panellists are Mr. Ahmed Kuru, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, executive director, Bank of Industry, BOI, and Dr. Maikanti Baru, group managing director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. Both the lecturer and all of the panellists have confirmed their attendance at the event.

Realnews choice of topic in 2017, according Maureen Chigbo, publisher/Editor, is informed by emerging global trend, especially the emergence of Mr. Donald Trump, as America’s 45th President, with Russia and China increasingly wielding more influence on Africa. “There is also the looming threat of nuclear war in the Korean peninsula. This is coming at a time when African countries are struggling with ceaseless political and socio-economic turbulence, high youth unemployment and hundreds if not thousands of young people from the continent perishing in the Mediterranean Sea on perilous journeys to Europe in search of so-called greener pastures.

“From South Sudan where warlords appear bent on disintegrating the country, to the lingering Boko Haram insurgency in West and Central Africa, coupled with a rash of uprising by separatist groups including the Niger Delta militants and Independent People of Biafra in Nigeria and the increasing wave of terrorism in other parts of Africa, the prognosis looks bleak, to say the least,” she said.

Chigbo said that after the panel and interactive session, there will be an investiture into the prestigious Realnews Hall of Fame, exclusively reserved for only Guest Speakers, Discussants, Realnews Book Reviewers and Chairpersons at our Anniversary Lecture Series.  Former inductees into the Realnews Hall of Fame are Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, United Nations Special Representative to West Africa and Sahel; Mr. Alex Cummings, Liberian Presidential Candidate; Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps; Ibrahim Idris, Nigerian Inspector General of Police; Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, founder and chief executive officer, Alpine Investments Ltd, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Maurice Iwu, former chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mr. Roberts Orya, managing director/chief executive officer of the Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Dr. Ngozi Anyaegbunam, president, Media World, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises and Professor Joe. I. Ezigbo, Managing Director, Falcon Corporation Limited.

“They (inductees) all played key roles during our anniversary Lectures and the induction into the Realnews Hall of Fame is just a token of our appreciation for the honour they did to Realnews Magazine and Publications Limited,” said Chigbo, publisher/editor of Realnews.

Realnews, she said, is a general interest magazine and an online publication thrives on investigative journalism debuted November 19, 2012. It focuses on oil and gas sector with its attendant environmental challenges as well as issues relating to business and economy, politics, power, health, women and youth. Its aim is to unearth exclusive stories about real people and the challenges they are facing in their day-to-day activities. It does this bearing in mind that government can only act to influence the lives of people positively if they are aware of their true situation. Hence, its objective is to use its investigative skills to ferret out information in the sectors it focuses on and produce an unbiased report which will actually influence the government and decision makers to take actions that will make the society better.

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Yudala storms Ikorodu, Ajah, Festac, Agege for offline Black Friday deals

Sponsored@ITREALMS: 

In line with its Yu Live Well promise, Yudala has finalized plans to storm major locations within the Lagos metropolis every weekend from November 11th, bringing the amazing deals lined up for its Mega Black Friday promotion tagged 11/11-12/12 to the doorsteps of millions of Nigerians in these locations while its online platform will take orders 24 hours to meet the needs of Nigerians this season.

The locations include Ikorodu, Trade Fair Complex in Alaba, Ajah, Mafoluku, Agege, Shomolu, Ajao Estate, Iyana Ipaja, Ejigbo, Festac, among others.

The strategy, according the Head of Offline Retail, Ms. Oyeronke Atoyebi is to reach the unreached and under-served members of the public.

Equipped with a mobile store, two 40-feet trucks and buses accompanied by dancers, music and digital entertainment; the Yudala 11/11-12/12 Offline Mega Black Friday train will visit each identified location on Saturdays with an eye-catching line-up of genuine products at the best prices unmatched in the marketplace, with shoppers in line to enjoy bundled offers, raffle draws, freebies and other special giveaways at each venue.

The massive movement kicks off this Saturday November 11th 2017 at Sara Stadium, Festac town and Trade Fair Complex at Ojo Alaba simultaneously by 9am to 5pm, with other locations expected to experience the shopping frenzy on succeeding Saturdays.

On Saturday November 18th 2017, it will be the turn of Agege and Ita Ilewa, Ikorodu to enjoy the Yudala 11/11-12/12 deals galore while Saturday, November 25th will see the action move to the Ajah Complex in Ajah and the Sports Complex in Iyana-Ejigbo.

For residents in Shomolu and Gowon Estate in Iyana-Ipaja, Saturday December 2nd will see Yudala storm both locations simultaneously from 9am while the following weekend, Saturday December 8th will be the turn of eager shoppers in Ajao/Mafoluku and Ojodu-Berger to take advantage of the massive promotion.

Among the wide-ranging categories of products lined up for shoppers are Home Appliances, Computing, Electronics, Mobile devices, Gaming, Lifestyle/Consumer Goods, Power Solutions, Food, Wines/Spirits, among others.

For millions of Nigerians caught up in their weekly busy schedules, this is a unique opportunity to enjoy the loads of amazing offers lined up for the 11/11-12/12 Mega Black Friday promotion for which Yudala has boldly claimed to have the best prices for genuine products nationwide.

“Our mantra at Yudala is Yu Live Well, so we are offering you a chance to live the good life by bringing our 11/11-12/12 Black Friday deals to the comfort of your homes. So, we urge you to choose the good life. Remember, you can only get guaranteed genuine products at the best prices this Black Friday at Yudala. If you find a lower price for a genuine product, we will refund the difference,” noted Atoyebi Oyeronke, Head of Offline Retail at Yudala.

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InsuranceMarket kits practitioners with digital skills

ITRealms:

An insurance industry focused technology company, InsuranceMarket, has commencement series of training programmes for insurance practitioners in Nigeria on e-Insurance, reports ITRealms.

The Executive Chairman of InsuranceMarket, Engr. Lanre Ajayi, said at the kick-off of the exercise in Lagos that the training is a follow-up to the successful hosting of the maiden edition of the e-Insurance conference and clamour by a number of people in the insurance industry for a deeper understanding of the application of e-Insurance to insurance business growth.

Ajayi also said the workshop is focused on an aspect of e-Insurance that enables the use of Information Technology for the creation, promotion and marketing of Insurance Products.

According to Ajayi, at the end of the training, participants are expected to acquire the skills to migrate their operations online. Stressing that the training will equip them with the capacity to create and enlist Insurance products online, integrate various e-Payment gateways, including credit/debit cards, drive traffic to their products and grow sales through adoption affiliate program and promotional programs, like discount codes and coupons.

He further said that the training is targeted at all staff of insurance companies, particularly staff from Underwriting, Marketing, Risk management, IT departments to enable them master how to market their company’s insurance products through digital channels like social media, email marketing and blogs.

He also said participating insurance companies would be offered free enrollment on InsuranceMarket.ng, an online insurance products trading platform, where products from various companies are made available to the buying public.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Paradigm condemns Nigeria attempts to clamp online newspapers

ITREALMS:

Paradigm Initiative has expressed serious concern over alleged Federal Government’s secret attempts to block the domain names of several identified websites accused of threatening national security in Nigeria. These attempts are an unacceptable violation of constitutionally and globally guaranteed rights of expression and information.

According to a report published in the Nigerian Tribune, the Federal Government is alleged to be currently carrying out this operation through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), ostensibly hiding behind Section 146 of the NCC Act 2003. The section, which provides generally on the duties of a network licensee to assist the Commission in preserving national security and preventing the commission of a crime, must not be used by the Federal Government to intimidate online news providers and infringe on their rights.

As said by Paradigm Initiative’s Program Manager Magoyi (ICT Policy), Adeboye Adegoke, “Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria expressly provides that every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides similarly that everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice”

While commenting on the development, Paradigm Initiative’s Director of Programs, Tope Ogundipe says that “whatever process is underway by the influence of the NCC and the NSA would result in a violation of the Constitution and should, therefore, be halted. The Federal Government should desist from covert acts as such and should instead release a list of such sites purportedly threatening national security and follow the due course of the law in handling this matter transparently.”

Mrs Ogundipe further states that in an already declining society which pays minimal regard to the freedom of expression and press freedom, a dangerous precedent would be set if the NCC goes ahead with this plan to restrict access to certain websites in the Nigerian Cyberspace.

While speaking further on the development, Program Manager, Magoyi (ICT Policy), Adeboye Adegoke said that, “The right to receive information and the right to give information is expressly codified in legal instruments recognized in Nigeria and so it would be sheer defiance by the NCC to attempt to make a derogation in such a manner.”

Paradigm Initiative has noted the denial of this censorship plan by the Minister of Communications, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu, stating that he was not aware of any plan by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to gag online newspapers. The Honourable Minister should go a step further to investigate this claim and make a commitment to press freedom and unhindered internet freedom. On its part, Paradigm Initiative will continue to monitor the development and will deploy every legitimate advocacy tools to get to the root of it in ensuring that fundamentally guaranteed rights of citizens are safeguarded.

Ogo Nebenanya/GEE

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Crisis in Cross River PDP: National Assembly caucus tackles Gov. Ayade

ITREALMS:

Indications are rife over unhealthy crisis in the Cross River State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over claims by the state’s National Assembly Caucus of highhandedness and non-inclusive congresses by Governor Ben Ayade, reports ITRealms.

The lawmakers from the state in a letter to the National Chairman of the PDP dated October 12, 2017 warned that unless something urgently is done to remedy the situation, the party stands a poor chance in the 2019 elections.

The letter signed by nine legislators led by Senator Rose Oko (Cross River North) accused the governor of hijacking the state congresses to the exclusion of stakeholders.

“We bring to your attention the state of the structure of the PDP in Cross River State. The 2016 party congresses ostensibly saw the election of new officials for the state, local government area and ward executive officers for the party. There was however an aberration in the manner the congresses were done, as it excluded party stakeholders and elders across the state that became tantamount to a selection rather than an election. The implication of this is that there is now a general apathy (sic) and despondency among party members in the state, most of whom have felt the need to move out of the party to other parties, and indeed have done so,” the petition reads.

The aggrieved lawmakers stated that despite several meetings with the governor and which had in attendance Sen. Ben Obi, National Secretary of the PDP, former Governor Liyel Imoke and the three senators from the state, Ayade had remained unmoved to make the process more inclusive and transparent.

According to them, Senator Owan Enoh decamped to the APC for the non-inclusive congress, fearing that if the situation is not addressed, members of the party could leave for other parties.

The petition was signed by Senator Rose Oko, Senator Gershom Bassey, Hon. Ayibe Ngoro, Hon. Bassey Eko Ewa, and Hon. Daniel Asuquo.

Others include, Hon. Eja Mbora, Hon. Jarigbe Agom, Hon. Essien Ayi and Hon. Legor Idagbo.  

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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AFRICMIL belittles FMBN over refusal to reinstate whistleblowers

ITREALMS:

The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has belittled the management of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) over refusal to reinstate whistleblowers, reports ITRealms.

FMBN, ITRealms gathered had refused to comply with the directive of Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, ordering the immediate reinstatement of two officers who were unjustly punished for blowing the whistle on corruption at the bank.

ITRealms also gathered that Mr. Murtala Ibrahim, Head of Special Investigation/ICT in the Audit Department was sacked on May 8, 2017, while his boss, Mr. Taslim Anibaba, Head of Internal Audit department, was placed on indefinite suspension on August 25, 2017.

Reacting to the situation, the Coordinator of AFRICMIL, Chido Onumah, told ITRealms these gentlemen committed no crime other than refusing to be coerced to cover up a doctored 2016 half-year financial report and other mind-boggling acts of corruption in the bank, including the N2.2billion contract for the renovation of Mamman Kontagora building.

“The bank used the manipulated 2016 financial report to fraudulently earn the commendation of Mr. Fashola, the supervising minister of the institution who was misled into believing that the bank recorded profits in the stated period when in fact it recorded a loss,” he said.

Accordingly, Fashola had ordered an investigation of the case and issued an order of immediate reinstatement of Messers Murtala Ibrahim and Taslim Anibaba but the management of FMBN has brazenly flouted the minister’s directives, refusing to reinstate the sacked and suspended staff while offering no explanation.

“It is unfortunate that the bank has refused to obey the minister’s directive. We view this as an act of gross insubordination and grave insult to the person and office of the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing,” Onumah noted.

He said the bank’s attitude constitutes serious threat not only to the successful implementation of the whistleblower policy, but also endangers the anti-corruption campaign of the current administration.

Onumah reiterated the need to ensure the safety and protection of whistleblowers, adding that if people do not get protection they are not likely to report wrongdoings. This, he said, would render the whistleblower policy ineffective.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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Durex, PPFN sign deal on sexual health

RB Durex in partnership with PPFN on sexual health...: NaijaAgroNet : In accordance with RB’s continuous commitment to being a socially responsible organization, RB Durex has signed an agree...

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

I'm will unseating Obiano - ACPN candidate declares

ITREALMS:

The candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) in Anambra State governorship election, Comrade Akunwata Ejoh Ojiba has said he was not in doubt of being elected as governor of the state on November 18, 2017, reports ITRealms.

He made the declaration while speaking with some supporters and canvassers involved in the parties door-to-door campaign in Ogbaru local government of the state. 

He was accompanied by his running mate, Mrs. Angel Onyinye Ebele; the state party coordinator, Comrade Sam Anumba, and other party executives. 

Comrade Ojiba said "I am not in doubt of being in government house. The government will be yours and you will have access to the government house to make your needs known to the government at all times. 

Also speaking at Okija in Ihiala local government when he visited young people at different locations in the area, Comrade Ojiba noted that "What is happening in Anambra is frightening. When you are sponsored in an election here, your sponsor will now nominate 15 commissioners while the governor will nominate only five. 

"At the end of the day, can you have the courage to tell the commissioners that they are not doing well? Can you sack him? The answer is no", he observed. 

According to him, "The problem in Anambra state is not lack of funds. There is enough money to work for the people but the obstacle to development in Anambra state is sharing of the state resources at the godfather's table every month", he lamented, disclosing that he has no godfather except the God Head. 

Explaining that governance is very simple, he noted that the governor is a supervisor-general; he is the administrator-general. He is to delegate and supervise to make sure that job is done to specifications. 

"For him to know your most important needs, you must have access to him. So, you should have access to your governor. The government house will be open to you."' he said. 

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What Operation Lafiya Dole troops told Buhari, Buratai

Commentary@ITREALMS:

Members of the Nigerian troops in north eastern part of the country under the operation tag, ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ have written an emotional letter to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai in response to his recent letter  to  the team.

The army chief had in a recent letter sent to the troops in the battle field encouraged them never to give up on their quest to bring back lasting peace to the volatile region.

Buratai subsequently promised to off-set the two months’ allowances owed soldiers involved in Operation Lafiya Dole.

The troops in the letter on Monday evening asserted that the COAS’ recent letter to them in the battle field was a boost to their muscles.

The letter jointly signed by Pte Samson Okwudili, Sgt. Aliyu Bala, WO2 Bode O. Ola assured president Buhari and the army chief that the  troops won’t relent until the battle over insurgency is  totally won.

The letter reads:

“Sir, on behalf of Nigerian troops of the “Operation Lafiya Dole,” we acknowledge with joy, the receipt of your endearing letter of encouragement, commendation and assurances to the Nigerian Army troops on special assignments’ within and outside Nigeria, dated, November 5, 2017.

“Similarly, we are extending our heartfelt appreciation to the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu  Buhari (GCFR) and the Minister of Defence, Gen. Monsur Dan. Ali (rtd) for their endless support and encouragement of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian military generally in the face of the daunting and multifarious insecurity challenges confronting our dear country, Nigeria.

“We also, seize this unique opportunity to send our special salute to you, the Corps Commanders and Commanders of Nigerian Army Training Institutions in Nigeria.

 “Sir, we cannot conceal our excitement over the good news conveyed by your letter to us at the warfront. We are disarmed and encouraged by the soothing words of encouragement, commendations and assurances from your splendid and patriotic leadership of the Nigerian Army in the last two years.  We dare say, your mail to us is timely, comforting and a morale booster to greater determination and result-orientated military expeditions by the troops of “Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduiguri.

“We cannot pretend that your humble message to us has enlivened our spirits and energized our strengths to unfathomable depths. It has again,   reactivated our sense of patriotism, loyalty, commitment and rededication to our professional duties. We are indeed motivated and in high spirits to defiantly pursue the cause of the defence of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our beloved country,  Nigeria, by ensuring the  final termination of Boko Haram Terrorism and other sects of  armed local conflicts  afflicting the nation.

“Sir, may you be informed that troops are not unmindful of the tendency of insurgents to attempt a bounce back anytime to undermine the successes so far recorded by the military in the counter-insurgency operations. We are not unaware that some unscrupulous elements within and without, may set out to mastermind such aberrations’ by sowing seeds of discord among troops and their commanders.

“Please, you have our assurances, never to neither let you down or allow terrorism in whatever guise sprout or fester in any part of the country. We are prepared never to accept unwholesome influence in our fold, until collectively; the final song of victory against terrorists is chorused.

“We further wish to specially acknowledge you, our Chief Commander and   COAS, for your sterling leadership qualities and purposeful leadership of the Nigerian Army. We have all come to know you as not just as astute leader of Nigerian troops, but a reformist, performer, comforter, a humanist, a welfarist, an exceptional officer.

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Online media: MRA demands halt on clampdown

ITREALMS:

The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Federal Government to halt its reported efforts to shut down online newspapers, blogs and websites perceived to constitute a “threat to national security” reports ITRealms.

Describing the move as a brazen violation of the Constitution and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations, MRA threatened to lodge a complaint against Nigeria before regional and international human rights bodies if the Federal Government does not put a stop to the plan.

In a statement in Lagos, MRA’s Executive Director, Mr Edetaen Ojo, said the surreptitious moves to clamp down on online media, attributed to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), acting on the instructions of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, constitute an affront to basic human rights norms and standards which guide the actions of all civilized nations.

Mr. Ojo said:  “The Nigerian government, represented by the NSA and the NCC, cannot constitute itself into an accuser, judge and executioner in violation of the rights to freedom of expression and fair hearing, guaranteed by our Constitution as well as regional and international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a party. Their actions constitute a shameless abuse of power by the Federal Government as evidenced by the underhand methods that they have adopted in carrying out their nefarious activities.”

MRA said it is inclined to believe that the plan and its implementation are the handiwork of a few rogue officials of the Federal Government and that it does not have government-wide or presidential support, particularly in the light of the strong denial by the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, of any knowledge of the plan and his disavowal of the move.

It therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to unequivocally distance his Administration from such a brazen violation of the rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression, access to information and fair hearing and immediately put a stop to the move.

MRA said if the Federal Government continued with the patently illegal plan, the organization would have no choice but lodge the appropriate complaints before the relevant regional and international human rights mechanisms, a course of action which may prove embarrassing for the government.

The media reported over the weekend that the Federal Government, acting through the NCC, had engaged the services of a private company in Lagos to block the domain names of “several identified websites threatening national security”. The government directive is reported to have come from the Office of the National Security Adviser who has compiled a list of at least 21 “offending” websites, blogs and online publications that should be blocked for alleged threat to national security.

But MRA insisted in its statement that the National Security Adviser has no authority to make such a determination as only a properly constituted court can determine whether any organization or person is in violation of any law for which punitive action should be taken against them.

The organization also stressed that NCC acting on the instructions of the National Security Adviser without the due process of law is violating the constitution and the rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression including the right to receive information as stated in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which guarantees that “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.”

MRA argued that the NSA has no authority over the NCC which is an agency established by law. It noted that it is clear from the Nigerian Communications Commission Act of 2003 that the person duly authorized by law to supervise and instruct the NCC is the Minister of Communication, who has said that he is not aware that any memo originated from the NCC instructing any firm to gag the press, particularly online newspapers, Internet and social media users, or to shut them down. The Minister also stated that he had given no such instruction and that no instruction would be given to the NCC without such passing through him as the Minister supervising the NCC.

MRA therefore contended that any other instruction to the NCC coming from any other source, including the NSA, is illegal.

It called on the Federal Government to abide by its international commitments as a State Party to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the ICCPR, and urged it to commit itself to following the due process of the law.

According to MRA, if the Federal Government has any reason to believe that any person or institution has committed an offense or is about to commit an offense under any written law in operation in Nigeria, its recourse is to bring that person or institution before a duly constituted court of law and not to resort to taking the laws into its own hands.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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