IDC gathers influential ICT leaders @ Jeddah - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The International Data Corporation (IDC) has hosted its first day of the eighth annual Saudi Arabia CIO Summit at the InterContinental Jeddah, thus bringing together influential information and communication technology leaders to the city, reports ITREALMS.

With the theme 'Enabling a Blueprint for Thriving in the Digital Economy', the Summit attracted more than 100 of the Kingdom's most prominent ICT leaders and showcased innovative strategies for embracing the disruptive power of digital transformation.

Targeted exclusively at C-level executives and above, the event combined thought-provoking presentations, interactive workshops, panel discussions, and case studies, all while facilitating one-to-one meetings between the providers of cutting-edge technology solutions and the influential decision makers responsible for driving their implementation.

IDC's senior vice president for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Mr. Steven Frantzen, set the tone for the day's discussions with his opening address about the need for organizations in Saudi Arabia to accelerate their digital transformation efforts. "As the digital revolution continues to heat up, digital champions and disruptors are emerging in all different kinds of industries," he said.

"These organizations are increasingly setting the Kingdom's investment agenda as they embrace a new generation of innovation-accelerating technologies to completely transform the way they execute processes, engage with customers, create business value, and deliver their products and services. Ultimately, entire traditional business models will be challenged by the new business models born on digital foundations."

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Mouser Electronics receives 1st AS6496 Accreditation on anti-counterfeit measures - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Leading New Product Introduction (NPI) distributor, the Mouser Electronics, Incorporated, has received accreditation to AS6496, making it the industry’s first authorized distributor with the aerospace industry’s high standard for anti-counterfeit measures in authorized electronic component distribution, reports ITREALMS.

Mouser, ITREALMS gathered received this accreditation from the Performance Review Institute (PRI), as part of the Counterfeit Avoidance Accreditation Program (CAAP).

The CAAP audit was based on audit criteria (AC7403) created jointly by PRI, the Electronic Components Industry Association (ECIA) and aerospace OEM representatives.

The AS6496 aerospace standard sets requirements for the avoidance, detection, mitigation and disposition of counterfeit products in the authorized distribution supply chain. This international standard requires authorized distributors to have a counterfeit mitigation policy and a counterfeit electronics parts control plan. AS6496 is geared for all industries and individuals looking to reduce the risk of counterfeit electronic parts entering the supply chain.

“By becoming accredited to AS6496, Mouser demonstrates that we are committed to providing customers with only authorized, genuine components,” said Chuck Amsden, Mouser Electronics’ Vice President of Quality. “At Mouser, we can provide full traceability to the manufacturer on everything we sell. From sales to shipping, Mouser is committed to providing our customers with the right product, on time, every time. Our mission is to be the source most preferred by engineers and buyers to design, prototype, test and manufacture electronics.”

Mouser is also registered to AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015, and ANSI/ESD S20.20-2014, the industry’s gold standards for quality, control, and electrostatic discharge (ESD). Registration to these standards lets customers know that Mouser is an authorized distributor of the highest quality components by providing traceability, risk management, process control, customer support, product availability and document control.

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FinTech agenda: Herbert Wigwe to meet Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc. Herbert Wigwe, would on Thursday, September 27, meet with Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, reports ITREALMS.

The two chief executive officers are set to discuss issues regarding how financial institutions can further strengthen banking security and provide valued added services on digital platforms, leveraging on technology.

Among other things, Herbert Wigwe also disclosed that the strategic meeting is expected to showcase the massive progress of Access Bank - which has succeeded in positioning itself as a top leader in the Nigerian financial industry, with its commitment to promoting the adoption of technology as a tool to disrupt the banking industry and improving financial inclusion in Nigeria.

“Access Bank is revolutionising the Nigerian financial industry to create an ecosystem where customers can perform most of their transactions on digital platforms and the immense technological solutions provided by Microsoft has contributed to this mission. Our discussion will allow us explore various methods through which we can work together to create and deploy custom made solutions to the specific challenges experienced by customers in the country. We also have special plans  to reach the unbanked population, creating simpler and more efficient banking protocol for the banked, while also ensuring that our customers continue to trust us in this digital age”, he said.

Leading the way on its mission to become Africa’s gateway to the world in five years, Access Bank Plc has consistently built innovative products to satisfy the evolving needs of customers and maintain its track record of being an innovative bank and living true to its brand promise of providing fast, secure and reliable customer service.

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FiFAfrica 2018: Remmy Nweke leads discourse on ‘Trends in Online Regulation in Africa’ - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Lead Strategist at DigitalSENSE Africa Media group, Mr. Remmy Nweke would be leading discussion on 'Trends in Online Regulation in Africa' at the 2018 Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica2018), reports ITREALMS.

Other speakers at the Fifth edition session of FIFAfrica to be moderated by Nweke includes Sakah Bernard Nsaidzedze of Pan African University in Cameroun, Legal practitioner and media practitioner, Mr. Zakaria Tanko Musah of Ghana Institute of Journalism, an independent analyst, Nanjala Nyabola, Sylvia Musalagani of Hivos Eastern Africa and Sellina Nkowani from Malawi.

FIFAfrica, which holds in Accra, Ghana is hosted by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) in partnership with the Media Foundation West Africa (MFWA) between Wednesday, September 26 and Friday, September 28, 2018 at La Palm Beach Hotel.

Confirming this, the Research and Communications Officer at CIPESA, Juliet Nanfuka, said, since inception, FIFAfrica has also served as a platform to mark the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).

She also said in a letter to Nweke, that “we look forward to your panel and the insights that will come out of it.”

Further, the session would examine the series of laws in in Africa which have in recent time proposed or passed laws and regulations that undermine public confidence in the use of online platforms and could lead to increased self-censorship by media, civil society groups and individual citizens, as well as to their withdrawal from online discourse.

Recall that Remmy shepherds a team of professional communicators and public relations specialists as Lead Strategist/Group Executive Editor, to deliver on projects including coordinating the activities of all the titles under the group; DigitalSENSE Business News, ITREALMS and NaijaAgroNet.

His team birthed the DigitalSENSE Africa forum (NDSF) on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D); offering education to Nigerians on ICT4D since 2009. In 2011, his team introduced the Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable to offer education and enlightenment on Internet Protocol version Six (IPv6) evolutions for the benefits of Nigerian stakeholders.

A graduate of University of Malta with MA in Contemporary Diplomacy, Remmy is well-traveled tech-mediapreneur, with expertise traversing media relations, corporate branding and new media technologies.

He is the author of ‘A Decade of ICT Reportage in Nigeria’ and the Vice President of African Civil Society on Information Society (ACSIS). He currently represents the Non-Profit Organizations Constituency (NPOC) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) at Non-Commercial Stakeholders Group (NCSG) among others.

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NIMES awards get new date, October 11 - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The organizers of Nigeria Mobile Economy Summit & Expo featuring Nigeria Mobile Economy Awards, have officially announced a new date for this year’s edition, reports ITREALMS.

The event will now hold on October 11, 2018, at the Protea Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. NIMES was earlier scheduled for September 26 at Oriental Hotel, Lagos. 

The event is billed to start at 3 pm with a summit and Expo while the awards take centre stage later in the programme. 

The change according to organizers is to bring the event into the celebration of Nigeria’s 58^thIndependence anniversary. 

While the summit will stimulate lively discussions among high-level decision-makers from the mobile and tech ecosystem, regulatory bodies, agencies and industry stakeholders around the digitisation efforts of all sectors of the economy with the showcase of innovations, the awards are set to honour outstanding individuals, organizations that have distinguished themselves in the areas of Fintech, telecoms, eCommerce, ePayment, Mobile Banking and the entire Business Ecosystem.

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NCM buys sabinews.com from Toni Kan in landmark deal – ITREALMS

MediaWatch@ITREALMS:

In what has been described as a multi-million naira deal, Toni Kan and Peju Akande have sold sabinews.com to owners of New Concept Media (NCM) group, an offshoot of one of Africa’s biggest e-commerce conglomerate, reports ITREALMS.

Toni Kan, ITREALMS recalls, is a renowned writer, journalist, and teacher, alongside his partner Peju Akande confirmed selling their news website sabinews.com which debutin May 2014. The site quickly established itself as an ethical and professionally well run news website featuring a roster of skillful and very insightful columnists.

Two years after launch, Sabinews was described by reboot.org a US based social impact firm, in a survey of African websites as one of the best niche websites in West Africa which has “employed the power of differentiation to set itself apart and win the loyalty of audiences comparable to much bigger organisations.”

Harping on sabinews.com’s USP, the firm further described it as “a digital news and opinions platform known for its popular columnists. The site features a roster of social and political commentators whose analysis of current events run from bitingly critical to refreshingly entertaining.”

The duo of Toni Kan and Peju Akande announced that the site was bought by New Concept Media an offshoot of one of Africa’s biggest e-commerce conglomerate in a multi-million naira deal.

In a statement signed by Peju Akande on behalf of the duo, she said, ‘It’s not about the money, it’s about making history as a Nigerian online news organization, they came to us because we were ethical, professional and well run and we hope that news of our sale will spur other people like us to follow the ethical and professional path especially in this era of fake news.’

Toni Kan and Peju Akande have launched a new website, thisislagos.ng which is more metro oriented and video centric.

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Pix: Peju Akande and Toni Kan

FG Kick-starts 58th Independence anniversary celebration with photo exhibition - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Federal Government has kick-started activities lined up for the commemoration of the 2018 Independence Anniversary Celebration with a Photo Exhibition, tagged “The Footprints of Nigeria’s Political Leaders,” which was curated by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking at the opening of the Exhibition at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the 1st of October every year
provides an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s unity, patriotism and commitment to nation-building.

“Today’s event commemorates Nigeria’s 58th Independence Anniversary celebration. There is no doubt that this day is special to every Nigerian as it is a day to reflect on our unity, patriotism and commitment to nation building. Therefore, one cannot help but be excited as this day approaches annually.

''Over the years, the country has gone through trials and tribulations, but the 1st of October is always a day for celebration and thanksgiving, because it occupies a very important place of pride in the political history of our country. It also serves as a poignant reminder and appreciation of the 'Labours of our heroes past','' he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said for those who were not old enough to have witnessed Nigeria’s Independence in 1960, they can at least look at the pictures of pre-independent Nigeria and the handing-over ceremony of the colonial masters to the Nigerian leaders to have an idea of how things were and the hopes for a bright future ahead.

He said the photo exhibition also showcases Nigeria’s political history, from pre-colonial era till date, as well as Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.

“I wish to therefore use this opportunity to encourage all participants, especially the youth, to spend time to view and savour this significant and historical exhibition,” he said

While declaring the Exhibition open, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said the occasion helps Nigerians to recognize the incredible leadership provided by all the nation’s political leaders, from the colonial days to the present day, who have shown greater wisdom, wits and courage at all times.

Prof. Osinbajo said even though the event reminds Nigerians of the twists and turns in the nation’s historical journey, the present administration has resolved not allow history to determine the country’s future but only as the precursor to a greater Nigeria that is prosperous, united and treats everyone fairly and justly.

He said each phase of the nation’s political history has tested the resolve to remain united and maintain the integrity of the country.

Prof. Osinbajo commended the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture for adopting a very creative and innovative way to celebrate the nation’s Independence Day.

“I must commend the Ministry of Information and Culture for this very innovative way of celebrating our independence and political history. I think the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and its leadership, especially the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, deserve our commendation,” he said.

Dignitaries who attended the Exhibition include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha; Minister of Defence, Brig.-General Mansur Dan-Ali (Rtd); Ambassadors of France, Angola, Kenya, Brazil and Benin Republic, and the Director General of the National Gallery of Art, Mr. Abdullahi Muku, among others.

The Photo Exhibition is open till Friday, 28th September, 2018.

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Pix: Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (second left); Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha (extreme left); Minister of Defence, Brig.-General Mansur Dan-Ali (Rtd) (second right) and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (extreme right), at the opening of the 2018 Independence Day Anniversary Photo Exhibition in Abuja on Tuesday.

CIPESA goes to Accra with FiFAfrica’18 - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) has said that all is now set for the fifth edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) in Accra, capital of Ghana, reports ITREALMS.

This year, ITREALMS gathered that the Forum to be hosted in partnership with the Media Foundation West Africa (MFWA) would take place from Wednesday, September 26 through Friday, September 28, 2018.

Also, the forum prides itself as a landmark event that convenes various stakeholders from the internet governance and online rights arenas in Africa and beyond to deliberate on gaps, concerns and opportunities for advancing privacy, access to information, free expression, non-discrimination and the free flow of information online on the continent.

According to Juliet Nanfuka, the Research and Communications Officer at CIPESA, since inception, FIFAfrica has also served as a platform to mark the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).

Engagements at the Forum, she said, aim to reflect current trends and concerns in access and usage of the internet and related technologies on the continent.

“As such, each year has seen the launch of themed research on the State of Internet Freedom in Africa. Last year, we also launched a key report on Calculating the Economic Cost of Internet Disruptions in Sub-Saharan Africa,” she said.

While the 2014, 2015 and 2016 editions of FIFAfrica were hosted in Uganda, in 2017, the Forum was hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa in partnership with the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), an international network and non-profit organisation that works towards a free and open internet.

Indeed, spreading the physical footprint of FIFAfrica across different regions of the continent ensures that the Forum lives up to its goal of unpacking internet freedom challenges and opportunities in sub-regions of Africa and developing responses that are collaborative, and informed by insights from the experience of other sub-regions of the continent.

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Ikeja Electric says ‘We’re bridging metering gap’ - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Nigeria’s leading electricity distribution company, Ikeja Electric (IE) Plc, has intensified the roll-out of prepaid meters to further close the metering gap within its network, reports ITREALMS.

Disclosing this, Head, Corporate Communications, Ikeja Electric, Mr. Felix Ofulue, said this commitment is in line with the regulator’s guideline which states that all customers have a right to a properly installed and functional meter, and un-metered customer should be issued with electricity bills strictly based on NERC’s estimated billing methodology, the DisCo emphasized that it is also poised to reduce estimated billing with the deployment of prepaid meters.

He also told ITREALMS, the company recently commenced the roll-out of 85,000 meters to cover residential customers across its six Business Units, in its first batch of renewed metering drive.

Mr. Ofulue equally said, the company remains resolute in its commitment to meter all its customers and narrow the metering gap as quickly as possible.

“Ikeja Electric wants to reassure customers and state clearly its plans to progressively reduce estimated billing thereby building customers trust in our services. At the moment, prepaid meters are being installed in different communities across the network”.

“While in other localities, pre-installation activities are ongoing and between now and the end of the year we will have concluded the first batch of the deployment. We therefore urge our customers to be patient as our ultimate objective is to ensure that all our customers are eventually metered,” Ofulue noted.

Customers across the six business units – Ikeja, Abule-Egba, Akowonjo, Oshodi, Ikorodu and Shomolu have indicated their eagerness to be issued prepaid meters to prevent being billed through estimation.

With this move, the DisCO is adding its quota in narrowing the metering gap. The recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed an increase of 1.59 percent in the number of prepaid meter customers, which is an indication that the meter gap is gradually closing.

The Federal Government has consistently enjoined the DisCos to provide meters to customers in a bid to narrow the gap, reduce complaints of high consumption charges and estimated billing, in line with the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act, 2005 to ensure an efficiently managed electricity supply industry that meets the yearnings of Nigerians for stable, adequate and safe electricity supply.

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Danko, 2 others to join ICANN board after Barcelona - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The ICANN 2018 Nominating Committee has named Danko Jevtovic as the newest member of the ICANN Board of Directors at the conclusion of ICANN63 in Barcelona, Spain, reports ITREALMS.

Danko will serve a three-year term and would be replacing Lousewies van der Laan for Europe.

There are two other new board members namely Rafael Ibarra for Latin America / Caribbean Islands, and Tripti Sinha for North America.

ITREALMS gathered that this is an update to the ICANN 2018 Nominating Committee’s 2 August announcement introducing selections for leadership positions within ICANN, after the Committee was informed by Lousewies van der Laan that, due to unforeseen family obligations, she is unable to extend her service to the Board after this current term.

ITREALMS recalled that the Nominating Committee is charged with recruiting and selecting a portion of ICANN’s leadership.

The Nominating Committee is mandated to ensure that ICANN’s overall leadership is diverse in geography, culture, skills, experience, and perspective. Selectees should meet the following basic criteria: Integrity, objectivity, and sound judgment, Support decision-making within groups, Ability to work effectively in English, Understanding of ICANN’s mission and operation, Commitment to ICANN’s success, Experience in world affairs, ability to contribute to cultural, professional, and geographic expertise, Willingness to work long and hard, generally as volunteers, for the global public trust.

ICANN prides itself with the mission to help ensure a stable, secure and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique, so computers know where to find each other. 

ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.

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