" ITREALMS

Friday, May 23, 2014

NDLEA arrests dual identity man with 107 ATM cards



Men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recently arrested in Lagos, a man with dual identity who was in position of 107 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards belonging to Citi Bank, reports ITRealms.

The Lagos Airport commander, NDLEA, Mr. Hamza Umar, told ITRealms that the suspect was arrested after the discovery by his men during the outward screening of Turkish Airline passengers to Istanbul, Turkey, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

The suspect, 36, he said, goes with two international passports bearing his photographs but with different names.

“He had a Nigerian passport with the name Funsho Oladimeji Babatunde and a Turkish passport with the name Kosar Kursat both bearing his photographs. The cards found in his luggage are 68 Citi Interswitch Master Cards and 39 Citi Interswitch Visa cards,” Hamza revealed.

The suspect, he said, had confessed to being a native of Iwo town in Kwara State, resides in Surulere, Lagos and is an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) graduate on Economics, from the Kwara State Polytechnic, allegedly told his interrogators he was taking the cards to a friend in Turkey.
“My friend in Turkey called me that I should help in sending the cards to him in Istanbul, Turkey.

“When I collected the cards in Lagos, I kept them in my bag but during search, the officer saw the cards and took me for interrogation. I am an OND graduate of Economics at the Kwara State Polytechnic”, he explained.


Reacting, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, directed the transfer of the suspect to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation as the offence was an indication of fraudulent activities.

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Sunday, May 18, 2014

NIMC sets up over 200 enrolment centres nationwide


The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has established over two hundred new Enrolment Centres across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) reports ITRealms.

NIMC, ITRealms also gathered from the Deputy Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Abdulhamid Umar has commenced enrolment exercises for the National Identification Number (NIN) in these Enrolment Centres in the last 10 weeks.

He quoted the Director of Operations, Mrs. Cecilia Yahaya as saying NIMC is committed to ensuring that the deployment of all enrolment infrastructures based on global best practices was done expeditiously to enable NIMC meet the Presidential directive of December 31, 2014.

She said some of the Enrolment Centres are located in the following Local Government Areas: Alimosho, Eti-Osa, Lekki, Agege, Army Barracks Ojo, Ipaja in Lagos state. Others are Akpabuyo, Odukpani, Biase, Ogoja, etc., in Cross River State; Gerei, Minchika, Song and Mayobelwa in Adamawa State; Nnewi North, Onisha North and South, Anoacha, and Ogbaru in Anambra State.

Other Centres are Kano Municipal, Madoni, Kura, Wudil, Gezawa Tarauni, in Kano State; Alkaleri, Dass, Toro, Katagun in Bauchi; Ivo, Ishilu, Izzi in Ebonyi State and others.

Mrs. Yahaya added that a number of Enrolment Centres have also been opened in more Tertiary Institutions nationwide; they include University of Ilorin, IBB University Lapai, FUTMinna Permanent and Temporary Campus, University of Benin, University of Calabar, Maritime Academy, Covenant University, Crawford University, University of Kastina, Kaduna Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi, Federal polytechnic Ibadan, Ladoke University of Tech, ABU Zaria.

She called on all eligible applicants to visit the NIMC website, www.nimc.gov.ng to see the full list of Enrolment Centres closest to them.

The Director of Operations, further explained that the deployment of these Enrolment Centres is to facilitate, as well as fast-track the enrolment of all Nigerians wherever they may reside; “with the deployment of these new enrolment centres, we now have close to four hundred Enrolment Centres nationwide; while about 50 others will be deployed in the next one month. These would no doubt fast-track enrolment,” she said.

“We have a target, we have expectations and we are moving at the fastest pace possible to enable us enrol as many eligible applicants as possible, subject to a very tight budgetary constraint of course,” she said.

Mrs. Yahaya noted that the Commission has captured the data of close to 3 million Nigerians, and hinted that the newly deployed Enrolment Centres would see aggressive attempts to grow the number of enrolments from 60,000 a day, to 100,000 a day.

She encouraged eligible applicants to take advantage of the NIMC pre-enrolment portal, www.ninenrol.gov.ng, to pre-enrol for the NIN, before proceeding to Enrolment Centre closest to them for biometrics data capture.

“Applicants are further advised to come along with a supporting document such as birth certificate, driver’s licence, International Passport, Voters Identity Card, etc., to complete enrolment and get the National Identification Number,” she said.


In addition, Director of Operations said that the scheme would help to protect Nigerians from identity theft and fraud by providing a simple, reliable, sustainable and universally acceptable means of confirming someone’s identity at all times.

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Photo: DG, NIMC, Barrister Chris Onyemenam.

Friday, May 16, 2014

AU adopts Cybersecurity, Personal data protection policy



The Africa Union (AU) has adopted the proposed policy on cybersecurity and personal data protection, reports ITRealms.

This is coming as the African Ministers of Justice ended its 2014 session at the Headquarers of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

ITRealms also reports that this follows the conclusion of earlier submissions of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministers in Khartoum recently.

The Chief, Knowledge Management and Library Services, at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Mr. Makane Faye confirmed that the adoption occurred on Thursday, May 15, 2014.

According to him, the Conference of African Union Ministers of Justice chaired by Cameroon rose from their meeting with the adoption.

He pointed out that prior to the Conference of Ministers, the meeting of experts from the Justice ministries undertook a thorough review of the Convention on 12 and 13 May. 

“Congratulations to all of you who participated in the regional, sub-regional workshops and expert group meetings from 2008 to 2013,” he said.

ITRealms further gathered that Faye commended the African Internet community for their contributions and work are recognized by the African Policymakers starting from the African Ministers of ICT in Khartoum and today the African Ministers of Justice in Addis.

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Eight emerge finalists @ MasterCard’s Win-a-Trip Few- Can-Win promo


 A total of eight finalists Thursday emerged in the MasterCard competition; Win a Trip Few Can Win, which held in Lagos, for MasterCard debit, prepaid and credit cardholders, reports ITRealms.

Also gathered by ITRealms was that winners were asked to share unique stories on how using their MasterCard product has positively impacted their lives for a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to Lisbon, Portugal to watch the UEFA Champions League Final Lisbon 2014.

The finalists –Obisakin Timilehin, Obafemi Kehinde, Olubunmi Afolabi, Ibrahim Bawa, Jideofor Ntephe, Amaka Anowi, Chibuike Alagboso and Patrick Ikwueme– were announced in Lagos, after they presented their inspirational stories, together with 17 other shortlisted entrants,to a panel of celebrity judges.

The judges - Stephen Keshi (legendary head coach of the Super Eagles); Ali Baba (Nigeria’s foremost comedian); Tolu “Toolz” Oniru (The Beat 99.9fm’s host); Uche Pedro nee Eze (founder of BellaNaija.com) and Omokehinde Ojomuyide (Vice President and Area Business Head, MasterCard in West Africa) – then selected the top eight finalists, based on the quality of their MasterCard stories. 

Videos of the eight qualifiers have been posted on MasterCard’s facebook page (www.facebook.com/MasterCardMEA) where the public is invited to cast their vote for their favourite story. Following this round, the top four winners will each receive a MasterCard Priceless Moments collection package to the UEFA Champions League Final Lisbon 2014.

“The finalists’ stories are so inspiring, and demonstrate how MasterCard is positively making an impact in their daily lives,” says Ojomuyide. “Nigeria already appreciates the immense benefits that cashless transactions have to offer and this campaign truly captures how consumers are embracing the security and convenience of electronic payments.”

Some of the eight finalists described how their MasterCard payment cards enabled them to purchase products from online international merchants and as a result, helped them to grow their businesses.

Bawa, a 26 year old entrepreneur, says: “My MasterCard story is a story about buying and selling, as simple as that may sound. I believe that life is much easier when you can sit down at the comfort of your own couch and conduct a financial transaction successfully.”

Other finalists described specific life-changing experiences, where having access to a payment card helped them to overcome challenging situations.

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Tuesday, May 13, 2014

ATCON elections: Lanre Ajayi returns as president, NEC members too


The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) ended its Annual General Meeting (AGM) cum its general election in Lagos, Tuesday, with the return of the National Executive Council (NEC) led by Engr. Lanre Ajayi, the chief executive officer of PiNet Informatics Limited, reports ITRealms.

ATCON which prides itself as the umbrella organ for practicing companies in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) will be 20 years by December this year since its establishment.

Speaking on behalf of his team on the outcome of the exercise, the returned National President of ATCON, Mr. Ajayi told ITRealms that aside himself, Mr. Olusola Teniola was returned as the first Vice President, Engr. Tony Nwosu as second Vice President, Mr. David Roberts as national secretary, Mrs. Aderonke Adeyegbe also returned as treasurer and Mr. Adegboyega Ojuri, was elected Coordinator, Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Ajayi in his AGM report pointed out some of the achievements of ATCON within the year under review, including the migration of ATCON NewsThisWeek administration to the secretariat, submission of position paper to the Senate Committee on Communication on Quality of Service Issue; re-launch of the association’s website to facilitate online registration and even payment.

In addition, he said, ATCON endorsed some industry players whose activities aligned with its goals, even as it has continued to host the Telecoms Executives and Regulartor’s Forum since 2012.

Further, Ajayi emphasised that ATCON alongside partners hosted and international four-day workshop on Internet Protocol version Six (IPv6), mostly with African Network Information Center, Mauritius at Digital Bridge Institute Cappa-Oshodi in Lagos.

ATCON, he said, recognized the appointment of its four members into the National Broadband Council namely President, immediate past president, Engr. Titi Omo-Ettu, Mrs. Funke Opeke of Main One and president of Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) Mr. Adebayo Banjo, even as ATCON second vice president was nominated into the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) inter-agency committee of professionals to assess telecommunications-based innovations from the academia.

The organisation, he reported intervened in several industry subject matters including the resolution of member company’s complain on non-allocation of block of short codes by NCC as well as submission of input on a bill for an Act to facilitate the use o Information in Electronic Form for Conducting Transactions in Nigeria and for connected purposes 2013 to the Senate Committee on Communication.

ATCON, he said, made input on a bill for an Act to provide for the Interception, Development and Protection of Communications Networks and Facilities for Public Interest and other related matters 2013, just as it purchased an official car for the Executive Secretary.

These achieves in the year under review, he said, was capped with several industry awards.


The new officer will be in office for another two years.

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Photo: R-l: Mr. Adegboyega Ojuri, was elected Coordinator, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), National President, ATCON, first Vice President, Mr. Ajayi, Mr. Olusola Teniola, national secretary, Mr. David Roberts, immediate past president, ATCON, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu and Executive Secrtary, ATCON, Ajibola Olude.

iStore unveils iPhone finance deal with zero interest+ 1 year warranty



iStore, an Apple Authorised Reseller based in Ikeja Mall in the capital of Lagos, has launched iDeals, the first official finance deal for iPhone, to give customers the option to finance their iPhone purchase over 12 months, reports ITRealms.

iDeals, ITRealms gathered, makes owning an iPhone more affordable than ever before by providing a cost effective solution of interest free monthly instalments, starting at just 9500 Naira a month.

Also, ITRealms reports that iDeals launch follows the recent news on the 2nd of May that iPhone was launched officially for the first time in Nigeria through Apple Authorised Resellers. Recalling that iStore is the first Apple Authorised Reseller to sell iPhone and to offer iDeals.

Rutger-Jan van Spaandonk, iStore Director says they were thrilled to launch iDeals and offer a finance option for iPhone and give Nigerians the opportunity to purchase at an affordable monthly rate.

iDeals is genuinely interest free - if you divide the cash price of iPhone by 12, this is the monthly payment you will make, there is no additional interest, he said.

iDeals, he further said, is available for both iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s through a StanbicIBTC salary account and starts at just 9500 Naira per month for the iPhone 5C 16GB model, 11 300 Naira per month for the iPhone 5s 16GB model, 13 000 Naira per month for the iPhone 5s 32GB model and 14 800 Naira per month for the iPhone 5s 64 GB model.

In addition, those iStore customers that would prefer to do a straight cash purchase, will have the option of cash pricing as well. Customers, he said, could apply for iDeals at iStore, any StanbicIBTC branch nationwide or online at www.ideals.com.ng. Once the application form has been submitted, processed and approved, customers will be contacted to collect their iPhone.

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Sunday, May 11, 2014

Okere, CWG boss to chair NIGF 2014



The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) plc, Mr. Austin Okere has been named as the chairman of the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum (NIGF) 2014, reports ITRealms.

The chairperson of the Local Multi-stakeholders Advisory Group (LMAG) of the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum, Mrs. Mary Uduma, revealed to ITRealms that Mr. Okere has accepted to preside over this year’s edition to be held on June 10, 2013 at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Center, Onikan-Lagos.
She also told ITRealms that, LMAG was excited to have Mr. Okere chair the event as his nomination and acceptance was unanimously endorsed by members which consist of the Ministry of Communication Technology (MCT), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA), Internet Society (ISOC) Nigeria, Rita Talabi Foundation, Creative Technology for Development Initiative (CTDI) and Global Network for Cybersecurity (GNC).

Equally, Mrs. Uduma informed ITRealms that the two-day 2014 NIGF would host its youth workshop on day-1 with focus on “Internet Governance for Job Creation & Social Enterprise Development” to be presided over by an Internet Security Consultant and former D-G of NITDA, Professor Cleopas Angaye.

On the day-2, she explained it would centre on “Harnessing Multi-Stakeholders Framework for Internet Governance & Economic Growth” with discussions led by 2014 forum chairman, Mr. Austin Okere of Computer Warehouse Group Plc on June 10.

She noted that over the years, the Internet has affected the way we live and communicate with one another and it has been a huge contributor to economic development.

“It affects virtually all areas of life such as business, health, education and transport,” she asserted.

Mrs. Uduma further told ITRealms that the strategic importance of the forum is such that participants are drawn from all social and economic groups to have a say, through multi-stakeholders’ dialogue, in establishing local principles and protocols that would guide the governance of the Internet in order to facilitate economic growth in Nigeria.

She pointed out that NIGF 2014 is focused on engaging multi-stakeholder’s nature of the forum to harness and aggregate productive ideas, best practices and experiences towards facilitating an all inclusive framework for internet governance in Nigeria that will actively stimulate economic growth, even as she urged participants’ registration at NIGF website. 

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Photo: Austin Okere of CWG.

Tuesday, May 06, 2014

Omo-Ettu leads speakers @ Nigeria IPV6 Roundtable 2014



An erudite telecommunications engineer, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu is to chair the 2014 Nigeria IPV6 Roundtable slated to hold in Lagos on June 6 in commemoration of the World IPv6 Day, reports ITRealms.

The organizers of the Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable, DigitalSENSE Africa, made this disclosure through its Executive Director, Operations, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke in Lagos.

She said that the roundtable scheduled for Welcome Centre & Hotels, Lagos is to mark another World IPv6 Day, being held under the Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable on the second day of the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) series 2014.

Mrs. Nweke explained that the 2014 Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable would be hosted with the theme: IPv6 & Broadband Penetration in Nigeria and urged participants to register at www.digitalsenseafrica.com.ng to enable them get a space.

According to her, speakers at this year’s event include the chief executive officer, Internet eXchange Point of Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Rudman and his counterpart at Phase3 Telecom, Mr. Stanley Jegede as well as president of the Internet Society Nigeria, Chief Giandomenico Massari.

Other panelist expected at the Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable is the president of Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN) Mr. Sunday Folayan.

She also noted that the first day of Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum would focus on the Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) with the theme: Internet Governance, eBiz and Open Access under the chairmanship of Prof. Charles Uwadia and head, Computer Science Departments of University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Further, Mrs. Nweke recalled that Engineer Omo-Ettu is a notable leader in the nation’s telecommunications sector and is a chartered telecommunications engineer, consultant and trainer with special focus on developmental applications of information technology, education processes, youth development, and universal access.

Omo-Ettu also is a Managing Consultant of Telecom Answers Associates, founder of The CYBERSCHUUL, and publisher of CyberschuulNews.com with proven consultancy with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) from its inception in 1993 to 2010 serving the Commission in the areas of industry studies and research, internet applications and universal service plans, just as he offers similar services to private sector clients among others.


She equally notes that Engr. Omo-Ettu who presided over the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) until 2011, had served on Councils of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN); Computer Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), and currently a member of the Nigerian National Broadband Council, whereas he has received over 15 merit awards and recognitions from professional associations.

Staff writer/GEE
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25 countries storm Contonou for ICANN domain names, trademarks workshop


A two-day workshop on domain names, trademarks and rights protection on the continent ends at the Hotel Novotel Orisha Cotonou with 25 African countries participating, ITRealms reports.

Also, ITRealms reports that over 80 attendees came from the 25 participating African countries.

The workshop put together by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, ITRealms gathered was opened by Komi Koutche, the Beninese, Minister for Information and Communications Technology in the company of Mr. David Olive, ICANN’s Vice President for Policy Development Support.

Additionally, ITRealms gathered that participants cut across the country code Top Level Domain  (ccTLD) managers, registrars, practitioners of intellectual property rights, rights protection specialists to name a few and had the opportunity to share best practices for the protection of users' rights on the continent.

According to Olive, “Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) will have a profound impact on brand owners, regional industry and consumers,” stressing that it is important that ICANN supports Africa in its strategy to promote Internet industry.

He also revealed to ITRealms that the workshop affords ccTLD managers and registrars to be better equipped for the rapid implementation of measures for the security, management and promotion of ccTLDs.

“This is a critical part in enabling the Domain Name industry to flourish in African digital economy,” he said.

Pierre Dandjinou , the Vice President of ICANN for Africa, disclosed to ITRealms that the protection of rights is hardly addressed in Africa and mechanisms for protection of existing rights are not very popularized on the continent hence the workshop,


“As many African countries having started to organize their structures of intellectual property rights, it may be necessary to better inform them on the relationship between domain names, trademarks and the mechanisms for conflict resolution,“ Dandjinou said.

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Photo: Pierre Dandjinou , the Vice President of ICANN for Africa

Monday, May 05, 2014

Mobile broadband penetration approaches 32% of global population


Latest figures released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has shown that mobile-broadband penetration is approaching 32 per cent of the global population, just as three billion Internet users will exist by end of this year, 2014, reports ITRealms.

The latest figures contained in its 2014 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Reports made available to ITRealms on Monday indicated that, by end 2014 there would be almost 3 billion Internet users, two-thirds of them coming from the developing world, and that the number of mobile-broadband subscriptions reaching 2.3 billion globally.

ITU Secretary-General, Dr. Hamadoun I. Touré revealed to ITRealms that 55 per cent of these subscriptions are expected to be in the developing world.

“The newly released ICT figures confirm once again that information and communication technologies continue to be the key drivers of the information society,” he said.

Brahima Sanou, the Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, noted that for adequate understanding of the information society, there is need to measure it, stressing that “Without measurement we cannot track progress or identify gaps which require our attention.”

The fixed-telephone subscriptions, the report noted has continued to decline, which result shows that fixed-telephone penetration has been declining for the past five years. By end 2014, there will be about 100 million fewer fixed-telephone subscriptions than in 2009.

Mobile-cellular subscriptions, ITU stated is expected to hit nearly 7 billion, pointing out that 3.6 billion of these will be in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The increase is mostly due to growth in the developing world where mobile-cellular subscriptions will account for 78 per cent of the world’s total,” official said.

Data show that mobile-cellular growth rates have reached their lowest-ever level (2.6% globally), indicating that the market is approaching saturation levels.

Africa and Asia and the Pacific, where penetration will reach 69 per cent and 89 per cent, respectively by end 2014, are the regions with the strongest mobile-cellular growth (and the lowest penetration rates). Penetration rates in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Arab States, the Americas and Europe have reached levels above 100 per cent and are expected to grow at less than two per cent in 2014. The region with the highest mobile-cellular penetration rate is the CIS.

On the growth in fixed-broadband penetration slowing in developing countries, ITU says that by end 2014, fixed-broadband penetration will have reached almost 10 per cent globally.

Forty-four per cent, ITRealms gathered that of all fixed-broadband subscriptions are in Asia and the Pacific, and 25 per cent are in Europe. In contrast, Africa accounts for less than 0.5 per cent of the world’s fixed-broadband subscriptions, and despite double-digit growth over the last four years, penetration in Africa remains very low.

Africa, the Arab States, and CIS are the only regions with double-digit fixed-broadband penetration growth rates. The Americas region stands out with the lowest growth in fixed broadband penetration, estimated at 2.5 per cent and reaching a penetration rate of around 17 per cent by end 2014. Europe’s fixed-broadband penetration is much higher compared with other regions and almost three times as high as the global average.

Mobile-broadband subscriptions will reach 2.3 billion globally, just as penetration will reach 32 per cent by end 2014; in developed countries, mobile-broadband penetration will reach 84 per cent, a level four times as high as in developing countries (21%). The number of mobile-broadband subscriptions will reach 2.3 billion globally and 55 per cent of all mobile-broadband subscriptions are expected to be in the developing world.

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