ICANN uniqueness is Internet evolution remains open - Crocker

ITRealms:

The development of the Internet has remained opened since the evolution started, reports ITRealms.

The chairman, Board of Directors, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), Dr. Steve Crocker made this disclosure at the session by the Africa Regional At-Large Organisation (AFRALO) at the ongoing ICANN59 public meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Monday.

Crocker, a long standing member of the Internet development described it as a bit complicated and complex especially novice.

He noted that with the ICANN community there are sets of people who daily contribute to the development of the Internet and how it works including the AFRINIC, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

As said by him, one of the unique aspect of the internet development is that from onset, it has remained open unlike the development of telephone.

This openness, he said, has helped the Internet to evolve to the most adoptable need of the people and end-users.

Remmy Nweke/ED, Ops

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Pix: Aziz Hilali, AFRALO Chair, Steve Crocker, Chair ICANN board and Fatimata Seye Sylla incoming vice chair, AFRALO at the outreach @ICANN59

African total DNS market value @$52m

ITRealms:

The total annual value of the African Domain Name market is worth some $52 million says the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), reports ITRealms.

This is coming as ITRealms gathered that Africa has some 5.1 million domain names associated at May 2017.

According to ICANN in its latest report on Africa DNS market study released at the ongoing public meeting holding at Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, which serves as part of ICANN's outreach efforts to support and improve the regional DNS industry.

ITRealms equally gathered that the report is the first of its kind in the region, which included 54 countries.

Other highlights ICANN said include that the strengths and weaknesses in the DNS sector in Africa.

To this end, ICANN proposed the development of recommendations on how to advance the industry to better exploit the opportunities available and to address identified challenges.

In addition, explore options for establishing an observatory to continuously monitor the growth, development and emerging needs of the DNS market in Africa.

Further, the study findings showed the pathway for the next steps for capacity-building in Africa, thus leading to significant conclusions and recommendations.

Remmy Nweke/ED, Ops

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Yudala Tech Week offers unmatched discounts, free delivery

Sponsored@ITRealms:

The Nigeria’s pioneer online and offline e-commerce outfit, Yudala has flagged off a nationwide mega sales event tagged Yudala Tech Week – a massive promotion offering millions of Nigerians a chance to enjoy rock-bottom prices and free delivery on a wide range of technology products.

Yudala Tech Week runs from Monday June 26^th till Monday 3^rd July, 2017.

Among the wide assortment of eye-catching products on offer from the biggest brands in the market are smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, printers, scanners, digital cameras, game consoles, servers; power solutions such as inverters, surge arrestors, UPS and generators; electronics including TV sets, rechargeable fans, air conditioners, Air Fryers, freezers and refrigerators, microwaves, electric irons, washing machines, blenders, cookers, sandwich makers, toasters, Home Theatre Systems and loads of accessories and consumables.

Through Yudala Tech Week, the company is offering shoppers irresistible price slashes of up to 50% on various products on offer in what has seen a spike in traffic on the Yudala website from midnight when the promotion went live, with thousands of bargain-hungry shoppers keen to be among the first to take advantage.

Furthermore, in a move that is bound to come as another huge source of motivation for bargain hunters, Yudala has partnered with MasterCard, global leading company in payment solutions to offer free delivery to customers for all items paid for with a MasterCard.

With over 21 stores nationwide and many others springing up all over the landscape, Yudala Tech Week is expected to reach millions of Nigerians, offering access to mouth-watering deals for prospective and eager shoppers in various cities. This is especially in view of Yudala’s wide reach and unique positioning as the only e-commerce outfit offering consumers the combined ease of shopping online or walking into the nearest store for pick-up.

As succinctly posited by founder, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, “With the Yudala Tech Week, we are not only offering Nigerians a chance to buy their much-desired tech products at unmatched prices nationwide; we are equally reinforcing the Yudala revolution of ease and convenience for the consumer – a movement we have championed since inception.

“It is instructive to reiterate the numerous ways consumers can leverage on our composite platforms for Yudala Tech Week: you can shop and pay online or pay on delivery. You can place orders online and self-fulfil or pick-up from any of our shops nearest to you. You can also walk into any of our Experience Stores nationwide, pay and collect immediately or you can choose to pay and we deliver to you if you are in a hurry. 

Recall that we are also offering free deliveries for all items paid for with MasterCard. These options offer shoppers 21st century convenience which no other company can provide on this side of the Atlantic. This is why Yudala means peace of mind.

“With these amazing options, we have succeeded once again in giving our esteemed customers another reason to smile. You do not have to be only in Lagos or Abuja to enjoy this. From inception, we have rendered this service on a nationwide scale,” he affirmed.

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We are in bondage

Commentary@ITRealms:

"I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves"- Harriet Tubman

How can anyone describe Nigeria as a free nation when Sheik Othman Dan Fodio, the hero of the core Muslim north, the father of the Fulani Caliphate and the first Mahdi of Nigeria once said,

"Allah has bestowed on me and my people the historic duty to spread the holy faith of the Prophet throughout the Caliphate and convert these pagans. If they refuse to accept Allah and his Prophet we will wash the earth, the forests, the mountains, the rivers and the streams with their pagan blood. Ours is a holy and righteous calling. We are doing the work of Allah".

How can anyone describe Nigeria as a free nation when Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Saurdana of Sokoto, the Premier of the Northern Region and the second Mahdi of Nigeria once said,

"The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather Othman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the north as willing tools and the south as conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us and never allow them to have control over their future".

How can anyone describe Nigeria as being free when General Muhammadu Buhari, the indisputable King of the north, the avenging sword of the Caliphate, the almighty President of the Federal Republic, the unquestionable leader of the African Mujahadeen and the third and last Mahdi of Nigeria once said,

"It is my intention to spread sharia to every part of Nigeria" and that "why should Christians bother when Muslims chop off the hands of Muslims in the name of sharia" and that "Muslims should only vote for Muslims" and finally that "an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on the north".

What portion do those of us that are southerners and Middle Belters have in this so-called "free country" and why have we been consistently denied the right to decide whether we wish to remain in it by having a referendum?

Were we born to be slaves whilst others were born to rule? God forbid it. My Christian faith teaches me that I am the head and not the tail.

It teaches me that it is a sore sight and a great evil under the sun to see the sons of slaves riding on horseback whilst the sons of the King walk around on bare feet.

It teaches me that we are the head and not the tail and that light is meant to overcome darkness and not that darkness overcomes the light.

The truth is that whichever way you look at it Nigeria is not free and Nigeria is not one nation.

We are in bondage and servitude to the sons and daughters of Futa Jalon and we are badly divided. That is the subject of this essay.

*Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation & former Minister of Culture & Tourism, sent this from Ile-Ife, Osun State

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Kidnapped Fr. Oguleru: Bishop Fasina orders Benediction @Ijebu-Ode diocese

ITRealms:

The Catholic Bishop of Ijebu-Ode Diocese, His Grace, Albert Ayinde Fasina, has ordered Benediction across the diocese over the unreleased of the kidnapped Rev. Fr. Mathew Oguleru, reports ITRealms.

An epistle dated Saturday, June 24, 2017, made available to ITRealms, Bishop Fasina urged faithful in the diocese to have hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the epistle, entitled “Be Strong and Let Your Heart Take Courage, All Who Hope in the Lord” the Bishop ordered Benediction to be celebrated across parishes on today, Sunday 25^th, June 2017 by 5pm.

“We are encouraged to fast and offer daily family rosary for this intention. Let us ask God to grant release to our brother, and protection to us all,” he said.

Bishop Fasina said that he was compelled to write to his brethren in the Lord, following the untold pains brought to the diocese by the abduction of “our brother, Rev. Fr. Matthew Oguleru of Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Ilado, by some unknown men. Fr. Oguleru was abducted on his way to morning Mass at Ososa on the 21st of June, 2017.”

This unfortunate and sad event, he said, is a test of faith in God for the diocese, which is capable of inducing fear and enslaving faithful.

“As children of God, we must not be cowed by the devil and his agents. Rather, let us remain strong and continue to hope in God, who is the source of life so that we would have our brother return to us safe and sound,” he said.

The bishop pointed out that since this event occurred, the diocese has been fasting, praying and offering Holy Masses for the safe release of Fr. Oguleru at different parishes.

“I want to sincerely thank you all for this and also implore you not to relent in this act of love and solidarity till we have our brother back. To this end, I ask that there should be Benediction in all our parishes on Sunday 25th June, 2017 by 5pm,” he said.

Further, Bishop Fasina encouraged Catholics to fast and offer daily family rosary for this intention.

“Let us ask God to grant release to our brother, and protection to us all,” he prayed, stressing for earnest prayer so that as the Lord freed Daniel from the lion’s den (Dan.6:2-28), the Hebrew Children from the fiery furnace (Dan.3:21-50) and, Paul and Silas from the jail (Acts.16:25-40), so too the Lord will save Fr. Oguleru from the hands of the kidnappers.

He also commended all member of the Ijebu-Ode diocese to the intercessions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Perpetual Help and St. Anthony.

Nonye Dom/GEE 

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Pix: Kidnapped Rev. Fr. Mathew Oguleru

Christian Religious Knowledge removal: FG lied

Commentary@ITRealms:

Nigerian government and lies. They have lied again. The way Nigerian government behaves is like a thief who wants to steal a fowl. He approaches the fowl gradually, watching with sides of his eyes if anyone is looking. If eventually someone shouts, "Who is doing that?" he will stand pretending as if he is just making the fowl give way. If he already has the fowl in his hand, he will tell you that the fowl just flew up and perched on his hand, that he is not trying to steal it.

This is exactly what this Nigerian federal government is doing now with regards to the accusations that they have removed CRK as a distinct subject and merged it with Civic education while Islamic and Arabic studies are left intact as distinct subjects. They are a bunch of liars.

My cousin in Asaba came back from school sometime last year and told me that they were told that if any of them wanted to read law or any of such courses in the University, the person MUST choose Islamic and Arabic studies as subjects in secondary School. I asked him about CRK. He said that they were told that CRK would no longer be studied. I boiled with anger. If anyone doubts this story, go to Asaba and make research on it.

Now that the issue has come up, Nigerian government is denying. Now simple evidence, let them produce CRK question paper in the last Junior WAEC let Nigerians see. CRK appears only as questions in one of subjects and not as "Christian Religious Knowledge" exam paper. What they are doing is that they want to make CRK part of Civic education so that when you talk they will say no, CRK is not removed. Gradually it will disappear even from the Civic education.

We Christians want to see, and we insist on it, that CRK is returned pure and untainted as a distinct subject as it used to be. Just as they left Islamic and Arabic studies, CRK should be left intact with qualified teachers should be employed to handle it. If they are teaching Islamic and Arabic history, cultures and tradition, Christian history, cultures and tradition should also be taught.

Or does someone think that Christianity doesn't have all these? If they remove CRK from school curriculum in primary and secondary schools, very soon CRK as a course of study will disappear in our universities.

I seriously blame our Christian leaders who are lukewarm about defending what they profess. They are like shepherds who are not interested in what happens to the sheep. They eat chicken, drink tea and sleep in the comfort of their water beds. They think only of their overflowing pockets. Some of them thinking only about the tithes members will pay, thinking about their religious business empires.

I  think some of them need to be pushed out and replaced with those who are ready to work. Whenever anything pertaining to religion comes up, see the enthusiasm with which Muslims come out. Our leaders will not even open their mouths. Other ministers will be busy preaching breakthrough. Our leaders will not talk about political issues, advising followers how to choose whom to vote for.

They will tell you church is not for politics while they go back to the church and play internal, dangerous worthless politics. If our Christian leaders were serious, the political structure of this country would have been different. This is a Clarion call on our bishops, church founders and ministers and the entire Christian faithfuls to compel the federal ministry of education to return CRK completely as a distinct subject to primary and secondary school curriculum.

Seasoned Christian Religious scholars should be charged with the responsibility of drawing up topics that will be contained therein. Anything less than this should be protested against.

 

*Courtesy: Rev. Fr. Gabriel Okonkwo is the director, Holy Ghost Haven Mgbidi, Imo State

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APC governors condemn emergence of irredentist movements

ITRealms:

The governors elected under the All Progressive Congress (APC) otherwise known as Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has condemned the emergence of irredentist movements across the country, reports ITRealms.

The Director-General of PGF, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, told ITRealms in a press statement Friday, urge all decent voices in the country to speak up against these upsurge of desperate irredentist groups.

PGF also urged well-meaning Nigerians to support the emergence of a stronger and virile unified Nigeria for all to thrive.

The Forum insists that, regardless of our diverse identities and whatever differences, Nigeria has to thrive. Hence,‘ there has to be a nation first’.

According to PGF, they are always to promote all-inclusive government, for the development of policies and programmes that improve the life of every Nigerian citizen, regardless of ethnicity and religious orientation.

“It is with this in mind that the Forum condemns in the strongest terms the present secessionist and separatist agitations promoting ethno-regional identity in the country. These sundry factional groups, claiming to represent different ethnic nationalities, sow seeds of disunity and promote secessionist agenda in the nation. We decry and reject their activities in all intents and purposes,” he said.

The group acknowledged the rich diverse heritage of Nigeria as a country, noting particularly that the resurgence of desperate youth groups promoting ethno-regional identities and extremist positions from the different geo-political zones across the nation as currently experienced is a reflection of prevalent weak governance, economy and law enforcement system in Nigeria.

The challenge beforeus as Nigerians therefore is to commit ourselves to theunity of the country. We must create by all means necessary, a country that we can collectively call our home, irrespective of tongues and localities. This is a vision the APC as a party is committed to lead and for which the PGF is unapologetically and intrinsically loyal.These threats to national unity must cease totally and put away into history.

While acknowledging that as a nation, we do have challenges, PGF believe that the resolution of those challenges rest with the development of our democracy and with it, the ascendency of structured processes of national consultations, negotiations and invariably agreements. Some of the challenges are highlighted in the accompanied PGF Position – There has to be a nation first.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE 

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Catholic priest, Fr. Mathew Oguleru abducted

ITRealms:

A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Mathew Oguleru has been kidnapped in Ijebu Ode, reports ITRealms.

Information available to ITRealms as at the time of going to the press, showed that Fr. Mathew Oguleru was kidnapped at the early hours on Wednesday, June 21 on his way to morning mass.

According to Fr Simon Mayungbe of Ijebu Ode diocese, Fr Mathew was abducted by his kidnappers while going for a morning mass, along Ilado, Ibefun-Ikorodu Road.

Fr. Mathew is a regular visiting priest at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, Mafoluku-Oshodi in Lagos.

Reacting to the kidnap, the parish priest of St. Jude, Rev. Fr. Joseph Ahukanna OP, condemned the act, urging parishioners and Catholic faithful to pray for Fr. Mathew safe release.

Also, ITRealms reports there is no immediate reason for his abduction other than to extort money, although no contact has been made by the kidnappers.

ITRealms gathered that lately the religious of Catholic faith have been targeted for kidnap.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Pix: Father Mathew

We’re leveraging ICT for massive online jobs - Shittu

ITRealms:

The Minister of Communications, Barr. Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu has said his ministry is leveraging on Information Communication Technology (ICT) for rejuvenating Nigeria’s economy as well as encouraging massive online job creation through the implementation of various initiatives, reports ITRealms.

In a press statement by Victor Oluwadamilare, his Special Assistant on Media, the minister, in a keynote delivered at the opening ceremony of the Ife Youths Economic Summit (IYES 2017) Thursday, at Ile-Ife said, in this onerous task, 28,800 unemployed youths nominees across various states of the Federation were trained in online job (Micro-work and E-lancing).

The ministry, he also said has established incubation hubs in Lagos and Calabar, which are a private and public sector collaboration aimed at catalysing the ICT industry by helping Nigerian ICT entrepreneurs create successful businesses, support the interactions between innovations and their partners and developing indigenous skills and capabilities. H e added that the target of this initiative is to create 25 successful ICT businesses by 2015.

Striving to make the ICT sector, the 4th pillar of the nation’s economy in terms of contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), he said the sector, which is the fastest growing and which has contributed 9.58 percent to the country’s GDP, trained 1000 Girls in ICT in collaboration with Huawei Technologies and have sent 20 best amongst the 1000 girls already in Nigeria to China in April this year for further training.

Barr. Shittu said in its efforts to fill the about 24 percent IT vacancies in the country, the ministry “plans to build technical and job-ready ICT skills to replace expatriate expertise with highly skilled Nigerians, increase the supply of local highly skilled talent to a fast growing sector and enhance ICT industry employment opportunities.

He said, “ so far, Digital Bridge Institute and other tertiary institutions are concluding an agreement with IBM (Skills Development and Research Institutes) to train 25,000 resources in 5 years (2013-2018) per institute.

“Similarly, partnership agreement had been signed with Cisco to build Cisco Academy for highest certification (CCIE: Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert) in Nigeria and with Nokia on MLab Project. The implementation of the Nokia Life programme for farmers is also at an advanced stage.

“The modules to be covered in the one month following my opening addresses have been carefully chosen; software development which is at the foundation of ICT because you need to write the instruction for the computer in a language it will understand, the study of various electronics technologies which include computer hardware& software, operating systems, 

web-based information and applications, telephones and other telecommunication and multimedia products, e-commerce is the buying and selling of goods and services over the internet and web enabling technologies which are products that can be used through or in conjunction with the world wide web to surf the internet.”

Speaking at the Summit, Barr. Shittu said that youths are cardinal members of the internet ecosystem and that the ministry is strategically inclined to bringing up initiatives to cater for the interest of the nation’s youth population and working closely with various partners at national, regional and global levels to ensure massive youth employment while fast-tracking the rejuvenation of the national economy.

He said the theme of the summit, “ICT as a Formidable Tools For Nigeria’s Economic Rejuvenation and Massive Job Creation”, is apt at this time that the country is moving out of recession and all hands are on deck to ensure gradual economic growth.

According to the minister, ICTs are creating new job opportunities and making labour markets more innovative, inclusive, and global and that there is a shift from traditional labour intensive jobs to technology-enabled jobs, adding that the ICT sector has come to play a critical role in the sustainable growth and development of nations.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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Next Einstein Forum unveils first-ever Africa Science Week

ITRealms:

The Next Einstein Forum (NEF), an initiative of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in partnership with Robert Bosch Stiftung, has revealed plans to host NEF Africa Science Week in Abeokuta and Lagos, respectively, reports ITRealms.

NEF Ambassador, who specializes in petroleum and environmental geochemistry of oil basins, Dr. Sojinu Olatunbosun Samuel, will lead the event.

The AIMS President and NEF Chair, Thierry Zomahoun, said NEF Africa Science Week is the first coordinated science week across Africa.

“Our primary objective is to develop tomorrow’s scientists and technologists by engaging children and young people in scientific activities like science caravans and hackathons. Our activities will also demonstrate the critical impact of science to the general public. By bringing together key stakeholders from all sectors, we hope to catalyse investment in research and development and discuss best practices for attracting and retaining young people, especially girls and women, in the sciences.”  

Africa Science Week in Nigeria will witness exciting sessions such as engaging students in active learning of STEM using interactive experiments but also a Cancer/Hepatitis awareness walks on the streets of Ikeja, Lagos.

“The weeklong signature event will also strengthen research networks and communities of scientists across Africa and we hope that the next few editions will see technology facilitate coordinated regional activities. We would like to thank our partners in the public, academic and private sector for supporting this initiative. Africa will only compete globally if there are coordinated sustainable investments in building the pipeline of researchers and innovators,” said Mr. Zomahoun.

Africa Science Week in Nigeria is the first of a 13-country series. Looking to the future, the NEF will expand the reach of its Africa Science Week to 30 countries in 2018 and all 54 by 2020. Beyond numbers, the NEF hopes that Africa Science Week will grow to include major activities in schools and universities, and result in concrete collaboration between the research community and private sector. 

“Africa Science Week is the only platform bringing together actors passionate about science and technology. This is the best opportunity for the Nigerian youth to learn more about what science can achieve and how it changes life. I am proud to be part of this first edition”, said Sojinu Olatunbosun Samuel.

In line with the NEF’s Dakar Declaration, issued at the first biennial NEF Global Gathering, held in in Dakar, Senegal in March 2016, Africa Science Week will place public engagement at the heart of advancing Africa’s scientific agenda. The next edition of the NEF Global Gathering will be held in Kigali in March 2018 under the patronage of H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda.

Africa Science Week is funded by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Google and local sponsors in each country.

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