Nigeria commences online Visa on Arrival

ITRealms:

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has commenced a liberalised online Visa on Arrival (VOA) facility to the public for foreign investors and willing professionals desirous of coming to Nigeria, reports ITRealms.

The Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Thursday, said that‎ the measure was part of the resolution of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) aimed at attracting foreign investors to the country.

“‎As a critical member of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), the NIS has automated its visa application and processing services at all entry points. This is to ensure that all genuine requests for Visa on Arrival facility from any part of the world are processed and issued within 48 hours (two working days),” NIS boss said.

He explained that the‎ online VOA application and processing facility is a product of robust visa reforms regime intended to bring Nigeria in tandem with global best practices and attract Foreign Direct Investors and skilled professionals into the country.

Also, the controller-general said that the new process was‎ designed to eliminate all unnecessary bureaucratic visa processing procedures in Nigerian Missions abroad. Stressing this would be of great help for potential visitors from countries where Nigeria does not have a Mission.‎

He said that‎ ‎a dedicated e-mail address oa@nigeriaimmigration.gov.ng has been deployed where visa applicants, their representatives or companies could forward their requests and details.

Advising applicants to use functional e-mail addresses where copies of approval letter shall be forwarded upon a successful process and payment.‎

“Applicants are, however, to note that successful payment online is not an approval and should not proceed to Nigeria until you have received ‘Visa on Arrival Approval letter’ duly issued by the NIS Headquarters, Abuja.”‎

He said that a VOA desk had been opened at all international airports in the country where visas would be issued upon the presentation of all the necessary travel documents and evidence of visa payment.

The NIS boss expressed optimism that the VOA process and the introduction of the harmonised arr‎ival and departure cards would go a long way in attracting investors to the country. 

Nonye Dom with additional reports from NAN/GEE

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Dell, Intel launch cloud ecosystem hub for EMEA

ITRealms:

Dell EMC and Intel have launched a new web-based Cloud Ecosystem Hub, to provide Cloud Service Providers (SPs) in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) as well as end users with an online one stop site to unify and simplify access to Dell EMC’s cloud proposition and resources, reports ITRealms.

Country Manager, Dell EMC Nigeria, Travers Nicholas said that the hub will connect customers with SPs to help establish stronger marketing efforts, enabling digital transformation and significantly growing long term Cloud business.

This new unified platform demonstrates Dell EMC’s commitment to providing choice and unique solutions to every customer and removing obstacles to cloud adoption through hosting an online cloud portal for Dell EMC Technology, making it easier for customers to select the right SP to address their needs. For SPs, the hub will be a platform to launch key initiatives and drive new business through the marketplace. With sales revenues in the hardware market decreasing and much of the Cloud market set to transition over to hybrid Cloud, it is expected that Cloud SPs will acquire a considerably larger market share over the next five years[i] and Dell EMC and Intel will act as key business enablers to all parties.

“Historically, vendors have failed to support Service Providers in their campaigns and the Dell EMC Cloud Ecosystem represents a game-changing development for both Service Providers and customers alike,” said Eric Velfre, senior vice president, Compute and Networking Sales Dell EMC EMEA. “By simplifying access to the Dell EMC Cloud value proposition and offering content and support for co-marketing projects, we can generate awareness and enable new capabilities to achieve greater profitability for our partners. Through the Dell EMC Cloud Community we can also drive demand from the customer towards Service Providers and capture feedback to help develop future Dell EMC Cloud technologies” he said.

The country manager also said that the One-Stop site for enterprise customers, the Cloud Ecosystem Hub promises to help them understand how to transform their businesses, with a dedicated repository of up-to-date resources and assets explaining the value proposition and benefits offered by Dell EMC’s Cloud technologies. Customers will be able to select SPs through bespoke searches to find the most relevant solutions for their businesses, with options to contact providers directly through the platform. The Cloud Ecosystem Hub will also allow customers to discover and register for broader industry events organised by SPs and Dell EMC.

The Cloud Ecosystem Hub, he said, includes an array of new tools for SPs, including LeadPool demand generation, allowing partners to identify ‘hot’ vendor agnostic leads, along with additional resources to help promote offerings directly to customers.

As said by him, the platform also provides the latest insights and information around Dell EMC’s and Intel’s Cloud technology offerings to help SPs build a stronger portfolio. In addition Dell EMC will allow SPs to run co-marketing campaigns with tools to assist in the creation of marketing assets, campaign building and client and influencer networking, featured within the marketplace.

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Grass Cutting scam: I've no power to give contract...

Grass Cutting scam: I've no power to give contract...: NaijaAgroNet :   ​The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir   David Lawal  has said he does not award contr...

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SOPHiA Genetics berths @7 African research centers

ITRealms:

Leading data-driven medicine, Sophia Genetics, has listed African hospitals to be integrated with SOPHiA, the company’s artificial intelligence, for their clinical workflow in order to advance patients’ care across the continent, reports ITRealms.

The chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder, Sophia Genetics, Jurgi Camblong, made this known at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) in Phoenix.

ITRealms also reports that some medical institutions at the forefront of innovation already using SOPHiA in Africa, Camblong said, include, PharmaProcess in Casablanca, Morocco; ImmCell in Rabat, Morocco; Al Azhar Oncology Center in Rabat, Morocco; Riad Biology Center in Rabat, Morocco; Oudayas, Medical Analysis Laboratory, Morocco; Center for Proteomic & Genomic Research (CPGR) in Cape Town, South Africa; and Bonassama District Hospital in Douala, Cameroon.

African hospitals, Camblong pointed out, are adopting SOPHiA to get up to speed and analyze genomic data to identify disease-causing mutations in patients’ genomic profiles, and decide on the most effective care.

“As new users of SOPHiA, they become part of a larger network of 260 hospitals in 46 countries that share clinical insights across patient cases and patient populations, which feeds a knowledgebase of biomedical findings to accelerate diagnostics and care,” the CEO said.
According to Camblong, since inception, noted that SOPHiA vision has been to develop innovative technological solutions that analyze patients’ genomic profiles to offer better diagnosis and care to the greatest number of patients, wherever they live.

“Today, I am very proud that SOPHiA is triggering a technological leapfrog movement in healthcare across Africa,” the founder said.

Isaac Oyimah/GEE

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NCC, law enforcement agencies brainstorm on telecom infrastructure security

ITRealms:

As part of efforts to drum more support for the security of telecommunications infrastructure in the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and law enforcement agencies assembled in the city of Port Harcourt, Rivers State for brainstorming, reports ITRealms.

Correspondent reports that the consciousness of the centrality of telecommunications and the revolutionary benefits the nation has derived from the exponential growth in the telecommunication sector, was the bottom-line for the session.

ITRealms also gathered that they were concerned about the attendant challenges, particularly the antics of criminals who through vandalism of telecom infrastructure, theft, and use of pre-registered SIM cards, are causing disruptions in telecom operations and undermining efforts at consolidating sectoral gains.

This, NCC said, was why the Commission is currently holding sensitization workshops for law enforcement agencies in all geopolitical zones of the country.

According to the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, this workshops have been designed as a strategic partnership and collaboration between NCC and the nation's security sector, to embolden enforcement processes; the laws and regulatory frameworks; challenges of prosecution; and how ICT enables effective policing.

He also noted that similar workshops have been held in Lagos and Kano as anchors for the South West and North West zones respectively.

ITRealms further gathered this workshop under review targets the law enforcement agencies in the South South zone.

The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, represented by Mr. Efosa Idehen, Head Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, commended participants for good attendance and robust participation.

He also requested all law enforcement agencies to amplify the voice of the Commission, particularly in its determination to make 2017 Year Of The Telecom Consumer, a programme unveiled just a week ago to sensitize the public and heighten awareness about consumer issues across the industry.

“The increasingly strategic role of telecommunications and ICT in the economy, the fact that the commanding heights of the economy and all other sectors ride on telecoms services provided by operators regulated by NCC demand that the challenges confronting telecom operations be tackled speedily,” he said.

Idehen explained the current collaborative initiative of the Commission with the security sector to ensure that law enforcement agencies are conscious of their roles under the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, and other extant laws, regulations, guidelines and directions guiding telecommunication operation in Nigeria, up to and including arrests and prosecution of those who contravene the telecom laws in Nigeria.

This, he said, would help to ensure that the Quality of Service and the Quality of Consumer Experience are improved upon qualitatively with concrete benefits to the consumer, the telecom industry and the country at large.

ITRealms reports that participants at the workshop included personnel from the Office of the National Security Adviser; the Nigeria Police Force; Nigerian Customs Service; the Department of State Services; and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Season 2: Be a Millionaire with Skye Bank goes to Owerri for draws

ITRealms:

The season 2 of the Reach for the Skye Millionaire reward promo is headed to the capital of Imo State, Owerri for its upcoming draw, reports ITRealms.

Scheduled to hold on Thursday, 30^thMarch, 2017 in Owerri, Imo State, ITRealms reports that the exercise aligned with Skype Bank’s effort in encouraging savings culture and rewarding loyal customers.

ITRealms recalls that already the first millionaire, Olusola Olusegun Ezekiel, emerged at the first draw of the Season II which took place on February 16^th, 2017 in Ikorodu, Lagos.

Skye Bank's Group Head of Retail Banking, Ndubuisi Osakwe explained that to participate in the draw, customers are encouraged to open any Skye savings account and make a minimum deposit of N10,000 over a 30day period.

“If however you already own a Skye savings account, with additional deposit of N10,000 minimum, you increase your chances of becoming the next millionaire. The more you save, the better your chances of emerging a millionaire,” he said.

ITRealms also reports that up for grabs are monthly cash prizes of N100,000 for 10 customers; N50,000 for 10 customers and N20,000 for 20 loyal customers.

“There will also be free gift of recharge cards for the first 200 dormant accounts re-activated on a monthly basis,” part of a press statement to ITRealms read.

Skye bank has used the ‘Reach for the Skye Millionaire reward promo initiative to change lives, accelerate employment generation and develop indigenous entrepreneurs; while encouraging savings culture among Nigerians.

According to Skye Bank's Group Head of Retail Banking, Ndubuisi Osakwe, the reward promo was instituted by the Bank to encourage savings culture, especially amongst the mass market segment.

"As a bank, we are committed to continually satisfy the needs of our customers; as well as empower and encourage savings culture in them, through rewards like this and also provide opportunities for them to establish small businesses with limited capital provided.

“The reward focuses on retail banking that is anchored on the premise of building a long lasting relationship with our customers based on trust; as well as supporting the financial inclusion drive of the CBN meant to bring a lot more people into the financial system and the formal economy,” Osakwe said.

ITRealms recalls that ‘Reach for the Skye is a year-long promo, with series of monthly raffle draws during which more and more winners will continue to emerge.’

The promo which was endorsed by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, usually have at least a representative of the Commission present during the draws in order to ensure transparency in all processes.

Ayo Midele/GEE 

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CS2 hosts 20 Nigerians to cyber drills on new DDos threat

ITRealms:

Leading cyber security solution power house, the Consultancy Support Services (CS2) Limited has hosted some 20 Nigerians to a global cyber drill on the “Emergence of a New DDoS Threat,” reports ITRealms.

The newly emerging Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), ITRealms gathered reflect largely the intentional paralyzing of a computer network by flooding it with data sent simultaneously from many individual computers.

Confirming Nigeria’s participation in this global cyber drill to ITRealms, the executive chairman of CS2, Alhaji Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola, said that his team successfully hosted 20 Nigerian participants for the Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (APCERT) and Cyberdrill 2017.

According to him, the session was hosted with the theme “Emergence of a New DDoS Threat.”

“Participants were drawn from a wide range of security, public service organisations and the private sector,” he said.

Ajijola explained that the exercise which commenced “22-03-2017, 2:00 AM” was held at the Penthouse, Ogun State House, Central Business District, Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“It started with preliminary reviews at 2 am Nigeria time (GMT+1) with the actual cyber drill commencing at 3 am 22 March 2017,” he said, stressing that this is representative of real-world situations.

“Hackers don’t work regular hours,” Ajijola said, emphasizing that all assignments were completed, thus successful.

“We are pleased to note that all assignments were successfully completed,” he said.

Ajijola further told ITRealms that APCERT teams from 18 economies including Australia, Brunei Darussalam, People's Republic of China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam) participated in the drill, and additionally with 4 CSIRTs from 4 member countries (Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Pakistan) of the OIC-CERT www.oic-cert.org.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Killers of late Cynthia Osokogu to die by hanging

ITRealms:

The two-member gang of Okwumo Nwabufo and Olisaeloka Ezike charged with the murder of Ms Cynthia Osokogu, a Facebook friend, have been sentenced to death by hanging, reports ITRealms.


Ms Cynthia Osokogu, ITRealms gathered was a postgraduate student of Nasarawa State University, at the time of her death on July 22, 2012.

ITRealms recalls that Ms Osokogu was murdered by the duo convicts on July 22, 2012 at Cosmilla Hotel, Lake View Estate, Festac Town, Lagos.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Olabisi Akinlade of the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere, found Nwabufo and Ezike guilty as charged by the state.

Also, the judge held that the circumstantial evidence brought by the state in proof of the six counts of conspiracy, murder and stealing against the accused persons were cogent, complete, unequivocal and compelling, hence sentenced both to death by hanging.

*Ozo Nweke Ozo with additional reports from The Punch & Channels TV/GEE

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Buhari, Saraki commiserate with Britons over Westminister terror attack

ITRealms:

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned Wednesday’s terrorist attack near the United Kingdom Parliament Building at Westminster, London, reports ITRealms.

This is coming as the Senate President, Dr. Olusola Saraki has also extended the sympathy of the National Assembly to the government, parliament and people of UK over the attack.

The President, who sympathized with the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, assured her that the government and people of Nigeria “stand with Britons at this sad and trying moment in their country.”

As said by President Buhari, “terror attack anywhere in the world is condemnable,” stresing that the whole world must join hands to defeat the perpetrators of terrorism.

He prayed that God Almighty will comfort the grieving families and heal the injured.

In a related development, the National Assembly (NASS) through the President of Senate, Dr. Saraki declared that any attack on any Parliament in the world is an attack to all parliaments.

He also condemned the attack while urging for improved security at parliaments across the world including the National Assembly Abuja.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Mara acquires multichannel platform, Nimbuzz

ITRealms:

An African multi-channel platform of online and mobile technology innovations that are designed to connect people across emerging markets, Mara Social Media, has acquired global platform Nimbuzz Assets, reports ITRealms.

Nimbuzz, ITRealms gathered, was initially released in May 2008 is a powerful cross-platform mobile calling and messaging app. The app can be installed on computers, mobile phones, smartphones, and tablets. Nimbuzz offers its users the ability to make voice and video calls, enable chat and file sharing worldwide. The app has over 200 million users and is available for Android, iPhone, and Symbian, MIDP, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and PC & MAC clients.

Anubhav Nagar, CEO of Mara Social Media said “We see a strong momentum for consumer messaging apps, which are set to overtake social media apps globally. 

According to reports and current trends it is clear that social media apps are likely be eclipsed by messaging apps in the next two years. This is the opportunity, which we identified with Nimbuzz.”

As part of this acquisition, Mara gains access to Nimbuzz’s & Holaa’s unified platform as well as their international assets, IP & Database. The acquisition provides a strong foundation for our future growth in emerging markets. Nimbuzz Instant messenger & Holaa has a user base of 200 million registered users spread across India and the Middle East.

Ahuti Chug, Chair of Mara Social Media said “Users are now demanding a messaging app experience that goes beyond entertainment or communications. We see this as a gap in the offering of the existing messenger players in most markets and it opens up a huge opportunity for Mara to tap in to. We are extremely excited about this move and with the fact that it makes us a global player in this space.”

Mara will roll-out a new hybrid approach for the Nimbuzz messenger which would be an amalgamation of content, Incubator platform, smart market place and consumer communities. Mara plans to integrate the Nimbuzz platform with its existing Mara platforms including Mara Mentor and Mara Jobs into Nimbuzz Messenger and vice versa.

Mara Mentor is a free online mentoring platform that connects ambitious entrepreneurs and business leaders globally and can be accessed via a web-based platform and a mobile application that’s available on iOS and Android.

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