Njalo.ng debuts, steps up online classified space - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

A free classified platform that emphasizes safety and convenience to sellers and buyers, Njalo.ng has made its debut in Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.

Commencing operations, Monday January 06, 2020, Njalo.ng management told ITREALMS, it goes live with a promise to empower millions of individuals and businesses in Nigerians with free access to sell anything ranging from smartphones, cars, laptops, clothes, shoes, bags, property, furniture, books/literature, kiddies’ wears, job placement/vacancies to name a few.

The Co-founder/Chief Technology Officer of Njalo.ng, Mr. Emeka Orjiani described Njalo as the unique meeting room between potential seller and buyer.

"Njalo.ng is here to contribute her quota in the Nigerian digital economy; to create fundamental changes in the Nigerian ecommerce space," he said, asserting that Digital Marketplace is a reality!

"What used to be sold in the open, regular market can now be sold at the speed of a click. That's possible with the help of Njalo, a platform where you can sell anything for free. A new dawn is here! So, if you have car(s), phones, laptops, clothes, shoes, bags, property, furniture to sell or even to place job vacancy, then, Njalo is the meeting room between you and the potential buyer. The platform grants users unparalleled, global visibility for whatever it is you want to sell or buy.

He was quoted in a press statement endorsed by co-founder and Lead Communications, Mr Peter Oluka, as saying that Njalo.ng also seeks to bring consumer's favorite market and products closer to them through online trading and help entrepreneurs build brand recognitions beyond the shores of their environment.

The Co-Founder also disclosed Njalo.ng’s mission as to connect buyers with verified sellers of genuine products and create opportunities for entrepreneurs to widen their business scope by meeting more customers

Sharing idea on how they want to achieve efficient customer-care, the Co-Founder said, “Njalo.ng is ready to ensure that the relationship between sellers and buyers are hassle-free. In a case there are doubts about a seller, the buyer can actually call-in as means to double-check.

“The sellers can also write reviews about their experience with sellers. In all, Njalo.ng will democratize Online Marketplace in Nigeria”, he ad

On her part, the Co-founder/Chief Operating Officer, Njalo.ng, Sandra Ani, said: “When it comes to running any successful online marketplace, many people view marketing and customer service as two separate entities. The truth is, marketing and customer service have a harmonious relationship, in which both disciplines work together to drive the growth and success of your business. In fact, your most important marketing tool is customer service, as it touches your customers directly.

She explained that Njalo.ng is positioned to grow buyer’s confidence in the Nigerian classifieds sub-sector as their emphasis is to rave-up customer.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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2019 KPMG SME Report: FirstBank tops movers - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Capital is crucial in driving sustainable Small and Medium Enterprises’(SMEs’) growth and uplifting the economy. First Bank of Nigeria Limited, as part of the launch of its specialised SMEs’ propositions, has continually supported SMEs through diverse initiatives. The bank says its support for SMEs is in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive on improved funding for SMEs to ensure economic growth and development.

The economies of great nations thrive on the strength and performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) seen as engine of grow

For Nigeria, the Central Bank (CBN) defines SMEs as enterprises with asset base (excluding land) of between N5 million and N500 million and labour force of 11 and 300 people.

The benefits of funding SMEs have attracted many banks with eye on the future to invest and support SMEs in the interest of the economy.

For SMEs to achieve these goals, operators’ easy access to credit must be promoted.

First Bank of Nigeria Limited is one of the banks that is investing and supporting SMEs. Following research by the bank over the years, it identified these seven strategic pillars that are essential to the sustainability and growth of the SMEs.

These include access to infrastructure, access to talent, capacity building, policy and regulation, access to resources, access to market as well as access to finance.

The bank has also held its SMEs’ Week in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano and Owerri. The week-long event was rounded off with a live webinar, facilitated by Gbenga Shobo, the bank’s Deputy Managing Director.

According to Shobo, “FirstBank has, over the years, been at the forefront of supporting businesses, especially the SMEs, as we recognise that the SMEs are the engine of the economy.



We are committed to ensuring that we leave no stone unturned as we connect with them in their continued contribution to national development in terms of the employment opportunities they create as well as their contribution to the nation’s GDP amongst many economic values.



“The FirstBank SME Week is driven to promote the Bank’s SME proposition, thereby having SMEs across the country optimally enlightened on how to plug in. We believe this will help SMEs bolster their contribution to the growth and development of the economy.”



The 2019 Nigeria banking industry customer experience survey report recently published by KPMG Nigeria showed that in the retail segment, the top two performers have remained the same for the fourth consecutive year.



GTBank, Zenith Bank are top-rated bank in the 2019 ranking. Sterling Bank, FirstBank and UBA are the biggest movers in 2019, coming in third, fifth and seventh places.



Commitment to fashion and entrepreneurshi

FirstBank sponsored the Sixth Africa Fashion Week, which held last December in Lagos.

The event themed ‘’Africa Unites’’ was a convergence of fashion entrepreneurs and the public to promote the creativity and innovation of Nigerian and African brands through worldwide visibility, distribution and manufacturing.


Dignitaries at the event include wives of the Ekiti, Ogun and Kwara state governors, Mrs Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun and Mrs Folake Abdulrazaq. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; former Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation,Mrs Omotayo Omotosho; television presenter and model, Idia Aisen; model and beauty influencer, Whitney Madueke were also there. FirstBank was represented by Helen Ogboh, Business Manager, Corporate Banking.



Speaking on FirstBank’s sponsorship of the event, the Bank’s Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney, said: “We are pleased to identify with Africa Fashion Week Nigeria as it showcases creativity by African fashion designers to the teeming public, leading players and enthusiasts of African fashion while promoting their contribution to the growth of the fashion industry.



“We will continue to drive advocacy for this as it can create jobs that will deepen opportunities for the revival of our textile industry resulting in SMEs’growth along the value chains especially, with the growing demand in the fashion industry.”



Recently, the bank promoted the use of local fabrics with a ‘What If’ campaign to commemorate the country’s Independence. It ran across the social media channels, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, focusing on the creativity of sewing local fabrics as a national symbol vis-a-vis our outfits, clothing accessories, household furniture, in line with the bank’s celebratory 125th Anniversary, themed, “Woven into the Fabric of Society”.

Ani-Mumuney said the bank would continue to empower the society, including the support for small businesses and promotion of the growth of the entertainment industry.


Also, on the list of fashion sponsorship credentials of the Bank is the Fashion Souk, as well as Street Souk organized in partnership with Eventful Limited. Ani-Mumuney said “Street Souk was designed to encourage the youth to channel their talents to genres as music, arts and fashion. It’s a platform that identifies opportunities, which promote the innovative spirit in youngsters.


She noted that Street Souk was tied to the FirstBank’s initiative to empower the society, including small business owners. According to her, the initiative is also tied to the promotion of the entertainment industry.



Manager XIIG Glover, a merchant at the Street Souk, Mr Obembe Abiola, said he was happy to be part of last year’s (2019) street trading.

“We are here to showcase what we also have as a brand which is African made and to reach out to people to know about the brand. Last year (in 2018), we were also here and it was a great time out to meet up with new clients, customers and to meet up with other brands and this year is a lot more better than last year. We are large in number, new faces and everything is going on fine,” Abiola said. He commended FirstBank for organising the event aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship.



Also, Creative Director, Dmf Designs & Shopwith5k, Adebayo Bankole, a participant, said she was glad to showcase her brand to people. “I have finally found my target audience here, people that are interested in street Souk culture in Nigeria. They are my target audience,” Bankole said.

She stated that sales had been very amazing and that it was worth-while being part of this year’s Street Souk.



“I really appreciate the fact that FirstBank is doing this because most banks go for ankara or made- in-Nigeria but this is promoting a different culture in Nigeria. Street trading is not common in Nigeria, the fact that FirstBank is able to support the promotion of street Souk in Nigeria is amazing,” Bankole added.



The bank also said it would remain committed to the Federal Government’s diversification drive with the development of agricultural value chain to boost employment.



FirstBank’s Chairman, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, stated this at last year’s edition of ‘Food Souk’, an event the Bank convened in partnership with Eventful Limited, an events management firm.



Mrs Awosika said the bank would continue to support the agricultural value chain from production to consumption to create opportunities for SMEs in the food sector to create job opportunities. “As you have noticed, we have been doing a chain of Souks with Eventful. It is critical for the economy of the nation that we encourage the SMEs sector across different industries,” she said.



According to her, the Food Souk was introduced to diversify the economy through agricultural development. “When we have 200 million people, food is big business because everybody will eat. So, what we are trying to do is in support of the nation’s building. We are seeking to encourage small, medium and big enterprises in different sectors of the economy.

“One is to help create jobs because if we think that 65 per cent of our population is made up of people under 40 years and the highest unemployment rate is within the segment that is between 20 and 35, so you need to create jobs.

“But you will only create jobs when you create entrepreneurs, as we create more businesses you are creating job opportunities,” Mrs Awosika said.



She added that the bank’s focused on the growth of the economy with the hope it would benefit from it as a provider of financial services. “As we grow the economy, as we build lives of Nigerians, as we support the government’s investment in the diversification of the economy and help to create jobs through the enterprises we will ultimately benefit,” Mrs Awosika stated.



The Chairman said FirstBank, the largest retail bank in the country, would continue to support growth and development of SMEs. “A lot of big businesses of today that grew in Nigeria are businesses we supported from scratch. “We are starting with different generations of new businesses and events like this help you to see the trends. It helps you to see the companies that need nurturing.



“It helps you to see the companies that you can support. It also gives you information about how you can best support them and engage them in their terrain to see businesses and understand their feelings to create the kind of product that will support their businesses,” Mrs Awosika said.



A food vendor, Ms Ijeoma Ebeneme, the Chief Executive Officer, JEM N Iris, commended FirstBank for putting the event together. Ebeneme said she was at the fair to make profit, meet new clients as well as create the needed publicity for her brand. Food Souk, formerly known as Fiesta of Flavours, is a food and wine fair, that holds yearly at Harbour Point in Victoria Island, Lagos, since its premier edition in 2015.



The fun food and beverage fair hosted by Eventful and sponsored by FirstBank provides an avenue for attendees to experience the entertainment, art and business of food. It showcases the best in local and international cuisine, cutting-edge food technology and cooking techniques, and the best beverages, wines and spirits the world offers. It provides management and training seminars, food demonstrations and performances.






*Collins Nweze

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FOI Act violation: MRA drags NNPC to court, claims N15m damages - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has dragged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to court over breach of statutory duties under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2011 in flagrant violation of the organization’s right of access to information under the Act, reports ITREALMS.

In the suit filed on MRA behalf by Abuja-based lawyer, Mrs. Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nganga, asked the court to compel the NNPC to perform its statutory duties under the FOI Act within 30 days of the court’s order as well as to pay the civil society organization N15 million as exemplary and aggravated damages for the “flagrant and unlawful violation” of its right of access to information established and guaranteed by the Act.

In addition to the NNPC and its Group Managing Director, also named as a respondent in the suit is Attorney-General of the Federation who, according to MRA, has oversight responsibility under the FOI Act by virtue of Section 29(6) to ensure that all public institutions to which the Act applies comply with its provisions.

In the motion exparte filed pursuant to Order 34, Rules 1, 3(1) and (2) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and Sections 1(3), 2(6), and 20 of the FOI Act, MRA is seeking leave of the court to apply for:

·         A declaration that the failure and/or refusal by the NNPC to proactively publish the information specified in Section 2(3)(a)-(f) of the FOI Act and widely disseminate the information as required by Section 2(4) of the Act amounts to a breach of the corporation’s statutory duty under Section 2(3) and (4) of the Act and constitutes a violation of MRA’s rights of access to information established and guaranteed by Section 1(1) and 2(4) of the Act;

·         A declaration that the failure and/or refusal by the NNPC to proactively publish the title and address of its appropriate officer to whom applications for information should be sent as required by Section 2(3)(f) of the FOI Act amounts to a breach of its statutory duty under the Act and constitutes a violation of MRA’s rights of access to information established and guaranteed by Section 1(1) and 2(4) of the Act;

·         A declaration that the failure and/or refusal by the NNPC to ensure the provision of appropriate training for its officials on the public’s right of access to information and records held by it for the effective implementation of the FOI Act amounts to a breach of its statutory duty under Section 13 of the Act and constitutes a violation of MRA’s rights of access to information established and guaranteed by the Act;

·         A declaration that the failure of the NNPC to widely disseminate and make readily available to members of the public the information specified in Section 2(3)(a) to (f) amounts to a breach of its statutory duty and a flagrant violation of the provisions of Sections 2(1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) of the Act;

·         A declaration that the NNPC’s failure to submit to the Attorney-General of the Federation its annual reports on its implementation of the FOI Act, covering the fiscal years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 and to make the report available to the public amounts to a breach of its statutory duty and a gross violation of Section 29(1) and (2) of the Act;

·         An order compelling the NNPC to comply with the provisions of Section 2(1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) of the FOI Act by publishing and widely disseminating and making readily available to members of the public the information specified in Section 2(3)(a) to (f) of the Act within 30 days of the order of the court;

·         An order compelling the NNPC to ensure the provision of appropriate training for its officials on the public’s right of access to information and records held by it for the effective implementation of the Act within 30 days of the court’s order;

·         An order compelling the NNPC to submit to the Attorney-General of the Federation its annual reports on its implementation of the FOI Act covering the fiscal years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, as required by Section 29(1) of the Act within 30 days  of the court’s order; and 

·         An order directing the NNPC and its Group Managing Director to pay MRA N15 million as exemplary and aggravated damages for the flagrant and unlawful violation of the organization’s right of access to information established and guaranteed by Sections 1(1) and 4 of the Act.

In a statement in support of the motion, filed pursuant to the Rules of the Court, MRA’s lawyer, Mrs. Ogunlana-Nkanga  contended that the organization is authorized and empowered by Section 1(3) of the FOI Act to institute proceedings in court to compel any public institution, including the NNPC, to comply with the provisions of the Act and similarly authorized and empowered by Section 2(6) to also institute proceedings in court to compel any public institution, including the NNPC, to comply with the provisions of Section 2 of the Act.

She noted that since the enactment of the Act into Law on May 28, 2011, the NNPC has consistently failed, neglected and/or refused to perform its statutory duties under the Act, in flagrant violation of MRA’s right of access to information established and guaranteed by the Act.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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Employees insist UBA sacked over 4000 on festive layoff - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

Some staff of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) have insisted that the bank lied over the number of employees laid off as the festive season winds down into the new year, reports ITREALMS.

The actual number sacked they alleged was in the neighborhood of 4000, because it was a nationwide layoff, our sources said.

This came as those with staff loan got next to nothing as severance packages  despite the loan was underwritten by the insurance in case of any eventualities including sack or unemployed.

According to Thisislagos, UBA had earlier reportedly sacked over 1,000 staff early in the New Year, but affected employees were said to be above 4000, which is over 300 more than reported.

One of the affected employees from a Lagos branch who pleaded anonymity offered more details on how the retrenchment occurred.

Thisislagos also quoted the lady staff as saying that bank sent emails to branch managers with a list of shortlisted for retrenchment. In turn, she said, the branch managers informed the affected staff who were then asked to resign or lose their entitlements.

"The affected staff were immediately locked out of their systems with all access denied" she was further quoted.

As said by her, the letters of resignation were done under duress, insisting they deserve justice instead of this kind of treatment.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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DEMS Volunteers not only for ICT sector - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The board of the recently set up Digital Economy Media Support Volunteers (DEMS Volunteers’) has declared that its mission goes beyond the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) subsector, but for the entire economy, reports ITREALMS.

A press statement to this effect available to ITREALMS by the director of Communications for the group, Mr Peter Oluka, premised their foundation to the renaming of the Federal Ministry of Communications to include Digital Economy by the President, General Muhammad Buhari, retired.

They also attributed their inspiration to the consistency of the Minister, Dr. Isa Pantami, who have often highlighted why this paradigm shift is imperative for the Nigerian economy.

"We came up with DEMS Volunteers to step up the awareness creation on every issue that has to do with the concept of digital economy in every sector of the economy and not only restricted to Information and Communication Technology (ICT)," he said.

Oluka further said they would be reaching key players in banking industry, oil and gas, telecoms, transportation, trading, hospitality and health, education, government administration, agriculture, stocks and capital markets, manufacturing, and so much more.

"The message is simple: Nigeria’s Digital Economy and the expected impact: why every sector should key in," the group urged.

Some of the visionaries, ITREALMS gathered, include Prince Stan Okenwa, Director General, and South East Coordinator; Martin Ekpeke, Director of Administration and South-South Coordinator; Alhaji Yushau Shuaib, Director, Northern Operations, Alhaji Jaafar Jaafar as Deputy; Wale Oguntokun, Director, Western Operations and Peter Oluka, Director of Communications, among others.

Chuks Egbune/Editor

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Notoriety: NHIS earns Enhanced FOI hall of shame - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has earned self an "Enhanced Freedom of Information Hall of Shame” for the agency’s notoriety in dismal implementation of the FOI Act, reports ITREALMS.

This was the position of the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) which pledged to take legal action against the NHIS to compel it to comply with its obligations under the Act.

MRA’s Programme Officer, Mr. John Gbadamosi, told ITREALMS that as an agency established by the Federal Government to regulate health insurance and provide easy access to healthcare for all Nigerians through various prepayment systems, the NHIS had apparently chosen to take a back seat in the implementation of the FOI Act and had accordingly failed to comply with most of its duties and obligations under the Act, resulting in unwarranted secrecy over many aspects of its operations.

The NHIS was established by the National Health Insurance Scheme Act 35 of 1999, with the objectives of ensuring easy access to healthcare services for every Nigerian and protecting Nigerian families from financial hardship in the form of huge medical bills; ensuring universal health coverage in Nigeria as well as regulating and managing all stakeholders of the scheme.

"Being an agency responsible for the provision of critical public services to citizens, the NHIS should be open and transparent by default so that those it is intended to serve will know what services it provides, how they can access those services, the costs at which the services are provided and other such information that will enhance its operations and the delivery of its mandate to the Nigerian public," he said.

Stressing, “It is totally unacceptable that the NHIS, particularly given its public service delivery mandate, would deliberately disregard a Law validly enacted by the National Assembly to ensure that it is transparent in its business, operations and activities and accountable to the Nigerian public which it is supposed to serve,” adding that “the situation is now extremely concerning in the light of the fact that the agency’s conduct had been transformed into one of lawlessness as it has continued to undermine the provisions of the law for nearly a decade.”

Also Mr. Gbadamosi noted that NHIS has ignored its proactive publications obligations under Section 2 of the FOI Act, which requires all public institutions covered by the Act to publish and periodically update certain categories of information, for the nine years that the Law has been in existence. He added that besides the fact that the agency’s website does not contain the categories of information that it is required to proactively publish, it makes no reference to the FOI Act in any context.

In addition, he said, the NHIS has failed to comply with the provisions of Section 13 of the Act, which requires it to ensure the provision of appropriate training for its staff and officials to sensitize them on the public’s right of access to information and records held by it and to enable them to effectively implement the Act. 

Pointing out that there was no indication that the NHIS had provided any such training for its personnel and officials over the last nine years.

MRA also accused NHIS of breaching Section 2(3)(f) of the Act which requires it to proactively publish the title and address of the appropriate officer to whom applications for information under the Act should be made by members of the public, adding that this stipulation is also contained in the Implementation Guidelines for the FOI Act issued by the Attorney-General of the Federation to assist all public institutions in their implementation of the Act.

Mr. Gbadamosi stressed that records available from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation show that since the FOI Act was enacted in 2011, the NHIS has not submitted any annual report on its implementation of the FOI Act to the Attorney-General of the Federation as required by Section 29 of the Act, when its ninth report is due in less than four weeks. 

Observing that the NHIS was first inducted into the FOI Hall of Shame on November 6, 2017, he said it was regrettable that more than two years later, the agency had shown no sign that it is willing to mend its ways as it has continued to conduct its activities in secrecy in total disregard for the Law.

Mr. Gbadamosi said MRA had no choice but to take legal action against the NHIS to compel it to perform its statutory obligations and tow the path of law and order.

Oyetola appoints, installs Oba Kayode Afolabi - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Newly installed Oba Kayode Afolabi and
Olori Janet Afolabi at the  ceremony

The Osun State Executive Council under the chairmanship of the Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola at its meeting held on Monday 6th January, 2020 approved the appointment of Prince Kayode Adenekan Afolabi from Atoyebi Ruling House as the next Alapomu of Apomu in Isokan Local Government Area of the State.

This came as Oba Afolabi was installed on January 7th, 2020' almost Five years since the stool of Alapomu of Apomu had been vacant following the demise of Oba Lasisi Afolabi of Ayeye Ruling House in Year 2015.

With the appointment of a new Alapomu of Apomu, the State Council of Obas has gained a new member and he joins the likes of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu and the Alara of Ara whose appointments were recently ratified by the Oyetola administration.

In a related development, the Ooni of Ife has congratulated Oba Afolabi on his appoint and subsequent installation.

The message made available to ITREALMS by the Director, Media & Public Affairs, Ooni's Palace, Comrade Moses Olafare, stated "I am directed by the Arole Oduduwa'Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife, to Congratulate Oba(elect) Kayode Adelekan Afolabi on his selection, confirmation and installation as the new ALAPOMU of APOMU kingdom of the State of Osun.

"The Ooni commends the choice of Prince Kayode Afolab made by the Apomu's kingmakers after due process according to the town's customs and traditions as a round peg in a round hole considering the quality of his personality as a very educated and well exposed Media and Public Relation practitioner with a network of friends and associates across the Nigeria both in the private and public sectors.

"The Co-Chairman of the National Council of the Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) describes the new Alapomu designate as a cool headed virtuous man greatly endowed with all what it takes to be a royal father in the House of Oduduwa.

"Ade a pe l'ori

Bata a pe l'ese

Irukere a d'okinin

Esin Oba a j'oko pe o

Ilu Apomu a r'oju, a r'aaye

Esin, a maa me bi esin ooo

Omo eniyan a f'ohun bi omo eniyan"

Ayo Midele/Editor

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Nigeria to host 2020 NIPS on Tech, knowledge & partnership - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Nigeria is set to advance her gas plans in 2020 according the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking st the opening session of the 3rd annual Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) conference, he revealed the 2020 instalment of the NIPS conference will be anchored on "Widening the Integration Circle: Technology, Knowledge, Sustainability and Partnership."

In line with this initiative, the Minister and the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari, led by Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari will host the third annual Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) which will take place on February 9-12, 2020 in Abuja, Nigeria.

Determined to showcase Nigeria as the foremost oil and gas investment destination, the conference will feature a spotlight session on the Nigeria LNG Train-7 project, which recently reached the final investment decision on the major gas expansion deal that is set to boost the plant’s production capacity to 30 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), from the current 22.5 mtpa.

Further, NIPS will provide the opportunity for the nation to outline how local companies can lend a hand in the advancement of the country’s petroleum industry as it works to boost its output.

“Attracting over 5000 international energy industry executives, NIPS is the most opportune space for Nigeria to communicate its growth and development plans, more so since the Honorable Minister declared 2020 as the year of gas for the country,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber and CEO of the Centurion Law Group. “Following the recent $10 billion investment on Train-7 which will enable the NLNG processing unit to remain the fifth-largest supplier of LNG in the world, Nigeria is right to build on this momentum,” he added.

The 2020 instalment of the NIPS conference will be anchored by the theme, Widening the Integration Circle: Technology, Knowledge, Sustainability and Partnership and will present strategies and opportunities for growth in oil, gas and energy technologies as well as showcase major contract signings.

Speaker highlights include Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Nigeria, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu; Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, OPEC Governor for Nigeria; Dr. Sun Xiansheng, Secretary General, International Energy Forum; Jean-Marc Thystère Tchicaya, Minister of Hydrocarbons, Republic of the Congo and Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

*Nenye Dom with additional report from APO.

Sophos MSP Connect Program premiers with new security - ITREEALMS

ITREALMS:

Global leader in next-generation cloud-enabled cybersecurity solutions, Sophos, has introduced enhanced MSP Connect, a new security offering to ease deployment, management and sell of Sophos’ entire product portfolio, reports ITREALMS.

The latest security offer is for Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and cloud security, as well as new professional services automation (PSA) and remote monitoring and management (RMM) integrations, will help MSPs unlock revenue opportunities, increase productivity and lower operational costs.

ITREALMS gathered that Sophos MSP Connect supports over 8,000 global and regional MSPs worldwide.

Just as MSP billings increased by 83 per cent in the first half of Sophos’ fiscal year, resulting in annual recurring revenue of $33 million.

“To further support this growth, Sophos is expanding its MSP program with optimized offerings that directly meet the evolving needs of MSPs and their customers,” said Scott Barlow, vice president, Global MSP, Sophos. “Sophos is committed to helping MSPs stay ahead of new and emerging threats, and we’re providing a flexible subscription-based model for critical solutions and services that better protect customers with the scalability and automatic invoicing to fit their operational needs. With dedicated teams across the Americas, EMEA and APJ, we’re well positioned to help MSPs grow their managed security service businesses, training them on how to defend customer endpoints, servers, mobile devices, and networks with synchronized security and how to sell cybersecurity as a system.”

Additionally the new MSP Connect offerings include:

Sophos Managed Threat Response (MTR): New MSP Flex options empower MSPs to provide fully managed threat hunting, detection and response services with flexible monthly billing. Now with added support for Windows Server, macOS and Linux, Sophos MTR is customizable with different service tiers and response modes to meet the unique and evolving needs of MSPs, giving them ownership and control of licenses

Sophos Cloud Optix: MSP Flex billing options now also extend to Cloud Optix, a powerful solution that automatically discovers and secures customer assets stored in AWS, Azure and Google Cloud. Now available on Sophos Central, it’s easily managed via a single pane of glass on the unified cloud-based platform, and Flex billing is based on an MSP’s aggregate cloud assets

Expanded PSA/RMM Integrations: New PSA and RMM integrations enable partners to automate manual data entry and invoicing. Sophos expands integrations with Datto, Kaseya and ConnectWise Manage

Designed to meet the unique needs of MSPs, Sophos Central is at the heart of Sophos MSP Connect.

The partner dashboard enables MSPs to easily manage multiple customer installations, respond to alerts, enforce two-factor authentication, manage global policies and role-based administration, oversee licenses, and track upcoming renewal dates via a single, intuitive interface.

Sophos’ unique Synchronized Security approach prevents breaches and automates incident response by integrating Sophos’ comprehensive portfolio of endpoint, network and cloud solutions to deliver reduced risk, increased visibility and improved overall security ROI.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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2020: Nigerian School on Internet Governance opens calls - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The 2020 edition of the Nigerian School on Internet Governance (NSIG) has opened calls for applications, reports ITREALMS.

NSIG, ITREALMS gathered, is powered by the Internet Society (ISOC), Nigeria Chapter, and other partners, which this year, 2020, has been slated for Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Programmes Secretary for ISOC, Nigeria Chapter, Mr. Caleb Ogundele told ITREALMS that the school will hold just before the Nigerian Internet Governance Forum (NIGF) to give participants the practical experience at a national Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

The organisers, he said, will be offering full/partial fellowships to a limited number of applicants to enable them participate in the school.

He also said the intensive programme will cover core Internet governance issues, including political, legal, economic, socio-cultural, and technological dimensions under a coherent curriculum, focusing on Nigeria, Africa, and the Global Internet space.

According to him, to be considered for either full or partial fellowship, applicants must fulfill the following some conditions which include that they must be resident in Nigeria; fill out the application form in its entirety.

"As incomplete applications will not be reviewed," he said.

Deadline for applications, Ogundele said, is January 30, 2020 and urged Nigerians especially the youth and females to take advantage of this school.

Successful candidates, he said will be contacted after evaluation.

Chuks Egbune/Editor

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