South-East: Urgent intervention required, Ekeh tells FG

ITREALMS:

The Chairman of Zinox Group, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh has called on the Federal Government to partner credible businessmen and entrepreneurs from the South East to save the region from the looming effects of mass unemployment currently plaguing the zone, reports ITRealms.

Ekeh, who is serial digital entrepreneur made this call at a two-day convention organized by the Owerri People’s Assembly, an apex socio-cultural organization held in Owerri, the Imo State capital on April 2^nd and 3^rd 2018.

In attendance were a host of dignitaries from the state including renowned politician and businessman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere; First Lady of Ondo State, Mrs. Betty Akeredolu; former Min. of Education, Prof. Chinwe Obaji and Senator Chris Anyanwu, among several others.

Ekeh, who was the Chairman on the occasion, disclosed that the unemployment situation in the region is a ticking time bomb, describing it as a social problem of immense ramifications which may see all-inclusive peace elude the nation, if not urgently addressed.

“The problem of massive unemployment facing the South East region is one that requires concerted efforts from the Federal Government and other stakeholders. A situation in which thousands of qualified graduates, most of them with upper class degrees, are still looking for their first jobs 10 or 12 years after leaving school, is highly worrisome. It is a suicidal situation; one that will potentially explode in disastrous consequences, if not immediately addressed.

“If you rely on statistics, there are over a million of such unemployed graduates in the South East. Having such a huge number of active yet unengaged youths concentrated in the region is a serious cause for concern and the Federal Government has a role to play in nipping this situation in the bud.”

While disclosing that a lot is being done by private individuals and entrepreneurs from the region to ameliorate the situation, Ekeh noted that this was grossly insufficient and urged the Federal Government to partner with such well-meaning Nigerians to achieve more.

“What is required is a joint effort to save our youths. In reality, the State Governments cannot do it alone. Also, a number of entrepreneurs, businessmen and other well-meaning Nigerians from the region are equally doing their best but it is hardly enough. Personally, I have been quietly supporting the Imo State Government for many years in creating employment opportunities for youths in various communities in the state. These investments often exceed the sum of N1bn annually but it is like a drop of water in an ocean.

“The Federal Government must come to the aid of these youths by partnering with other well-meaning individuals from the state in creating platforms that will generate employment opportunities for the unemployed and equip them with the right mindset and confidence to take their place in today’s knowledge economy,” he advised.

While commending the members of the Owerri People’s Assembly (OPA) for their commitment in improving the lot of the people, Ekeh called for a united front in achieving the political ambitions of the zone.

“I am not a politician and not remotely interested in contesting any elective position. However, I identify with the wishes and aspirations of people of Owerri zone to have one of their own emerge the next Governor. For this to be possible, however, the zone must forge a common front and put forward their best candidates for each elective position. I recently engaged the Governor, His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha on this matter and he has also declared his willingness to help actualize this dream, provided the zone provides a credible candidate. Only a fool will agree to hand over to an incompetent successor or someone who will come and destroy the legacies he has put in years of hard work to build,” he said.

Counselling the youths on the need to embrace humility as one of the core virtues to success, the Zinox Chairman, whose tech conglomerate recently concluded the acquisition of e-commerce giant Konga, reiterated his determination to create more capacity-building avenues to support the youths through the creation of a finishing school and digital skills acquisition centre in the zone, pledging to use the facilities as a proof of concept for the 27 local governments in the state.

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Worrisome oversight functions: ALTON drags NASS to court

ITREALMS:

The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has explained why they recently dragged the National Assembly (NASS) to a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking interpretation over the alleged worrisome oversight functions on telecommunications companies by various NASS committees, reports ITRealms.

Confirming this to ITRealms, ALTON chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, said the resolution to seek this interpretation was taken at the organisation’s General Meeting held on Friday, 20th October, 2017, including an order restraining NASS from serving any further summons on telecommunication companies pending the determination of the case, which industry observers described as largely “embarrassing harassment.”

ITRealms also gathered that the resolution include that a firm of solicitors with good track record in handling high-profile constitutional law cases be instructed to institute an action in court seeking the court’s interpretation of the provisions of the constitution on the extent of the National Assembly (NASS)’s oversight functions on telecommunications companies.

ALTON chairman expressed dismay that its members have been inundated with incessant summons from different committees of the NASS served on their Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) to appear before several National Assembly (NASS) Committees.

This, he said, have negatively impacted on the ability to focus on business operations.

“The NASS’ insistence on attendance of CEOs at such session is without consideration of these CEOs reasonable schedule conflict or the fact that other senior management staff may be better versed and suited due to the nature of their job roles vis-a-vis the subject matter of investigation,” he lamented.

ALTON also cited an instance, saying that the Ad-Hoc Committee set up by the House of Representatives to investigate the Health Implications of Telecommunications Towers in residential buildings, called for public hearings on Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th April, 2017, at which the industry was supposed to be represented by ALTON, but the Committee, insisted that each operator make its own presentation.

“There were further hearings on Tuesday, 25th April and 8th and 23rd May 2017. However, at those Hearings the Committee insisted that it would only grant audience to the CEOs of the Companies and no other representative, in spite of technical knowledge and seniority of such representatives,” he decried.

In addition, ITRealms reports that ALTON observed that some of the investigative duties of the different committees overlap and require similar information from the attendees.

“For instance, members are summoned by both the standing Committee on Telecoms and its Ad-hoc Committee on Operational activities of Telecoms Equipment and Service Providers both investigating loss of revenue to the Federal Government. The Committee on Telecoms is also investigating loss of jobs which the Committee on Labour also summons members in respect of. The Committee on Telecoms also served summons for investigation by its Adhoc Committee for Value Added Services and Committee investigating locally manufactured skills,” he said.

ALTON further pointed out that apart from the duplication of effort by the Committees, the manner of invitation borders on harassment of our members as the invitations are sometimes scheduled on the same day leading to conflict or scheduled back to back for 3 to 4 days, which will necessitate member CEOs being away from their businesses for such long periods.

ITRealms further gathered that some of the requested information border on information within the purview of specific government agencies, such as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Ministry of Communications, which NASS could easily request the agencies to provide, such information as evidence of Tax remittances to government since inception of members operations, which could date as far back as sixteen (16) years; or confidential information which members should not be obliged to provide e.g. list of all employees and current remuneration package of these employees.

Equally, ITRealms gathered that ALTON plea before the Federal High Court include determination of  (a) Extent of the NASS’ oversight functions as it relates to private companies and particularly, Telecommunications Companies being private companies;  (b) Extent of the NASS’ oversight functions with respect to private companies and particularly, Telecommunications companies which are already subject to regulatory oversight by regulators; (c) Specific nature of information which the NASS can lawfully request from private companies including Telecommunications Companies, and whether it includes companies’ confidential information and information within the purview of government agencies.

Others are: (d) “Specific nature of directives that can be made by NASS pursuant to the outcome of their investigative activities;  (e) Declaration on the proprietary of the NASS to issue these summons and insist that our members are represented by their CEOs and not senior management representatives whose job function deal with the subject matter of investigation; and (f) An order restraining the NASS from serving any further summons on Telecommunication Companies pending the determination of the action.”

Chuks Egbune/GEE 

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Cambridge Analytica scandal: CSEAN urges NASS to investigate Facebook, enact data protection law

ITREALMS:

The CyberSecurity Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN) has urged the National Assembly (NASS) to investigate the ongoing scandal of data-mining by Facebook and Cambridge Analytica as revealed by a whistle-blower, Christopher Wylie, reports ITRealms.

CSEAN also NASS to as matter of urgency, enact data protection law, according to its President, Mr. Remi Afon, at the weekend.

He told ITRealms that CSEAN is highly concerned at the news that millions of Nigerians data were allegedly harvested from Facebook and used in a targeted online campaign with the aim of influencing the outcome of 2015 election.

He noted that Cambridge Analytica, the analytics and marketing firm based in United Kingdom (UK) has been implicated in this scandal that also involved allegation of hacking of President Muhammadu Buhari’s email who was at that time the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The firm was allegedly paid £2 million ($2.8 million) by an unnamed Nigerian billionaire to “orchestrate a ferocious campaign” against President Muhammadu Buhari.

While it is now becoming common to use data analytic software to perform targeted online marketing campaign, CSEAN President noted that the recent revelation by Christopher Wylie the whistle-blower and former research director for Cambridge Analytical, is to say the least worrisome.

Wylie alleged while testifying before a committee of British Parliament that an Israeli company called Black Cube was engaged to hack private health data from President Muhammadu Buhari email.

ITRealms gathered that Black Cube has however debunked this assertion, while AggregateIQ (AIQ) a software development firm based in Canada was said to have handled the hacked data and also distributed threatening anti-Islamic videos that showed people’s throats being cut in an effort to intimidate voters and dissuade Nigerians from voting during the 2015 presidential election.

According to Wylie the “AIQ was handed material about Nigeria from Cambridge Analytica to distribute online - that is distribution of kompromat (compromising material) and of incredibly threatening and violent video content,”  AggregateIQ has meanwhile denied this allegation.

CSEAN president, equally noted that the Facebook Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has taken out a full-page advert in some selected print media in the United States (US) and UK to apologise for the Cambridge Analytica scandal but despite Nigeria being also a victim of the misuse of data, no such apology has been tendered in Nigeria.

“Such is the kind of treatment Nigeria has always received and will continue until we begin to hold organisations accountable for personal data of Nigerians they hold. While UK and US are busy investigating the key actors in this scandal, Nigeria is yet to react officially,” he said.

In order to continue to give Nigerian citizens assurance that their data will be managed securely and safely by organisations that hold and process their personal data, CSEAN therefore call on National Assembly as a matter of urgency to initiate robust investigation of Facebook, Cambridge Analytica, AggregateIQ and Black Cube to ascertain whether Nigerian Cyber Crime law has been breached and also look at the present gaps in the law with the aim of enacting a strong data protection law.  As 2019 general election is fast approaching, we will continue to witness online targeting using social media to influence voters.

“The time has come for the Federal Government to set up a Cyber Security Unit that will have capability of defending government systems from cyber threats and provide support to the existing security agencies in terms of cybersecurity investigations,” he said.

CSEAN, Mr. Afon said, has put together a technical session and table-top  exercise during its forth coming Cyber Secure Nigeria 2018 Conference scheduled to take place in Lagos on the 9-10th May 2018, to discuss “Election Manipulation Using Social Media Data to target Nigerians in 2019”.

A communique, he said, will be issued at the end of the conference and shared with relevant authorities, which has the theme for this year as “Mitigating Cyber Threats in Digital Age”.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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9mobile has zero tolerance for unethical practices – Olusanya

ITREALMS:

Acclaimed innovative and customer-friendly telecommunications company, 9mobile, has reiterated unwavering commitment to integrity and best practices as gold standards across its operations, insisting on zero-tolerance, reports ITREALMS.

"At 9mobile we continuously review our internal control and processes to protect the business as well as the interests of other stakeholders by ensuring we checkmate fraudulent activities that can compromise our operations, Chief Executive Officer, 9mobile, Boye Olusanya, stated.

Commenting on enquiries regarding an incident in Kwara State, Olusanya affirmed the company's zero -tolerance for unethical practices. He said management has consistently dealt with all forms of malfeasance amongst its agents and staff as part of proactive measures to stem sharp practices.

"At 9mobile, we frown at indolence whilst encouraging maximum productivity, which comes with rewards. 9mobile has zero-tolerance for all forms of unethical and fraudulent activities. In the rare instance that such occurs, we come down very hard on the culprits in line with due process," he said.

Commenting on the incident, Olusanya noted "This was an incident which occurred in 2016; we asked the police to investigate the activities of a Retail Advisor in one of our experience centres in Kwara State following the discovery of a fraud that was carried out via a compromise of our 'WIN CASH' application.”

"Nine staff were initially involved but only one was found wanting; the implicated staff was handed over to the Police to conduct their investigation.” Reacting to the import on subscribers, Olusanya noted that it was an internal issue and no customer was affected in any way. 9mobile’s primary focus remains superior customer experience, as such we ensure effective security features on all applications and go the extra mile in ensuring safety and security at all times." he said.

Amidst the ongoing acquisition process, 9mobile has continued to delight its subscribers with innovative and pocket-friendly packages.

ITRealms recalls that recently, 9mobile was rated as Nigeria's No. 1 Mobile Network Operator with clearest voice quality and overall best telco by P3 Communications, the largest European and international leader in mobile telecoms benchmarking.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Pillars of biometrics

TalkingBiometrics@ITREALMS:

Preamble:

In this edition, we will discuss seven characteristics that qualify any human attribute to be considered fit as a biometric item. These seven characteristics are together called the pillars of biometrics

Seven Pillars of biometrics:

Most people wonder what makes a biological characteristic fit for biometric use. For a human measurable quantity (trait) to be considered suitable for use as a biometric item (eg fingerprint or voice print), it must possess seven basic qualities, collectively called the seven pillars of biometrics. We shall review each of these seven qualities and how they determine what qualifies as a biometric quantity, but let us first understand the difference between a biometric trait and a biometric modality.

Biometric triats vs. modality:

We defined biometrics earlier in the first edition as the human physiological or behavioural attributes that distinguish humans and used as a means of verifying or authenticating their identity into information systems. A modality is the human identifier from where these biometric characteristics are extracted, but a trait is that particular physiological or behavioural characteristic that is so extracted from modalities. In most cases the modality is a physiological part of the human body eg the eye or the hand, but can sometimes be a behavioural pattern eg human voice, walking style, signature, etc. This is illustrated in Table 1 below and shows examples of eight of the most commonly-used biometric traits and the corresponding modalities from where they are derived.

1: Universality

Biometric universality stipulates that for any characteristic to be suitable as a biometric item, all humans should possess the characteristic, and the modality should adequately differentiate between any two users. The trait must be universally existent in all individuals as a biological feature or a natural human characteristic, and each potential user must possess it. This explains why a horn is not suitable as a biometric attribute because humans do not grow horns. In other words, a horn is not a universal attribute in humans.

In contrast, traits such as the shape of the palm (palm geometry), blood pattern at the back of the eye (retina pattern), and human voice, all qualify as good biometric traits because of their widespread nature and the commonality of their characteristics from person to person, hence their universality. Every normal human has a hand, an eye, and can talk respectively. These modalities exist in all humans and their characteristic properties vary from one individual to another and hence are very usable as biometric traits and in biometric systems.

2: Uniqueness or Distinctiveness

The uniqueness of a biometric trait refers to its ability to distinguish between different individuals and ensure that each potential user possesses the modality from where it is derived. This quality is a strong factor in evaluating the suitability of a biometric entity, and it specifies that the characteristic of the modality should not appear similar in any two people. For this reason, fingerprints differ from person to person even in identical twins, iris patterns also differ between parents and their children, etc. It is the uniqueness of these traits from person to person that contribute to make them acceptable as biometric quantity.

3: Measurability or collectability

Biometric measurability pertains to the ease of measuring and presenting the trait quantitatively. It is the degree with which the biometric samples can be acquired, analyzed and converted into digital templates for the purpose of identification or verification. Measurability emphasizes that the trait samples should be easy to detect and acquire, eg the ease of scanning to obtain a fingerprint image from a thumb or to retrieve iris patterns from the eye using simple technical instruments and systems such as a thumb scanner or a voice recorder makes these quantities suitable for use as biometric traits.

In practical terms the ease of collecting and assembling trait samples for biometric use is a very important consideration in adopting a given method because certain biometrics by their nature and appearance pose serious difficulties during collection. Eg medical conditions such as throat inflammation can affect speech quality and make high quality voice prints difficult to obtain, injured finger can increase the difficulty of acquiring fingerprints. Similarly scars, marks, tattoos (SMT), or age-induced wrinkles can affect the measurability of facial pattern from the face modality.

Coming up next: We shall discuss the remaining pillars of biometrics including security, permanence, and others.

Talking Biometrics @ ITRealms with Dr. Ken is a weekly online column providing biometric education and associated electronic identity awareness.

About The Columnist

Kenneth Okereafor is an accomplished ICT professional and Cybersecurity expert with over 20 years computing experience in Enterprise ICT innovation management in both private and public sectors. He holds dual PhD degrees in Computer Science (Cybersecurity & Biometrics) and Management (ICT Administration and Governance) with a first class Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering background. He is a United Nations trained Network Security Specialist and is proficient in Network Optimization, Data Protection, Biometric Systems and Digital Forensics. In addition to many published works and conference papers, Kenneth has participated at many international technology events, and has contributed to several national ICT development programmes including the design and development of the National eHealth Strategic Framework 2015 - 2020. He has strong research interests in Digital Innovations, Cloud Security, Cybersecurity Education, Biometric Liveness Detection and Green Computing; and may be reached at nitelken@yahoo.com

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ALTON demands Executive Order on telecom infrastructure

ITREALMS:

The Association of Licensed Telecom Operations of Nigeria (ALTON) is demanding expressly for an Executive Order by President Muhammad Buhari on telecom, as critical national security and economic infrastructure, reports ITRealms.

Making this demand, ALTON through its chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, at the weekend, told ITRealms, that the call has become imperative because telecom services are critical to national security and economic infrastructure of the country and supports several economic sectors.

“Our industry supports many other economic sectors of the economy. We are also the first layer of critical infrastructure for socio economic development and security.

“It is pertinent to state that unless telecoms facilities have first level of protection by government, it will be difficult to provide uninterrupted services to the citizenry,” ALTON warned.

According to ALTON chairman, “we respectfully requests for an Executive Order to be issued designating ‘Telecom Infrastructure as Critical National Security and Economic Infrastructure’ as prescribed in the Cybercrime Act, 2015.” 

In addition, ALTON commended the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for being in the forefront of making sure that the ease of doing business is achieved by all stakeholders in the industry.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Breaking NEWS: FG releases 24 more names of ‘PDP looters’ says ‘list not arbitrary’

ITREALMS:

The Federal Government has said the list of alleged looters which it released earlier was based on verifiable facts, including the amount involved, the date the amount in question were collected and from where it was taken, reports ITRealms.

Releasing a fresh list of alleged looters, in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also said those complaining that the list was too short apparently did not understand that it was strategically released as a teaser.

''At the press conference where the list was released, I did say it was a tip of the iceberg. Apparently, this does not mean anything to people whose style is to comment on issues they barely understand, or just to shoot down anything coming from the government,'' he said, adding that the Federal Government has a large number of alleged looters on its list.

Alhaji Mohammed slammed the PDP for daring to challenge the Federal Government over an issue that the party knows is its weakness: Looting of public treasury.

''What was the PDP expecting when it challenged the FG to name the looters of the public treasury under the party's watch? Did the PDP actually believe that the massive looting under its watch was a joke? Did they think it is April Fool?'' he queried.

The Minister said the PDP's reaction to the looters' list has shown that its recent apology is an election-induced act, contrived to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians to vote for the party in the 2019 general election, even when it has not come clean on its looting spree during its time in office.

''The hysterical and panicky reaction from the PDP has shown that the party is not at all sincere about its choreographed apology. Were it not the case, the party would have followed in the footsteps of one of its leaders, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, who simply owned up to his role in the party's rigging in the past elections and said he had turned a new leaf.

''It is said that a true confession is done in humility with an attitude of repentance. It is clear that the PDP does not know this, hence its resort to hubris instead of humility and genuine penitence,'' he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the Federal Government will neither be intimidated nor blackmailed into silence, adding that it will also not rest until all those who looted the public treasury have been brought to justice.

Second batch list of looters and allegedly embezzled, he said, include:

1. Former NSA Sambo Dasuki: Based on EFCC investigations and findings alone (this is beside the ongoing $2.1 billion military equipment scandal), a total of N126 billion, over $1.5 billion and 5.5 million British Pounds was embezzled through his office. A good number of these monies were simply shared to persons and companies without any formal contract awards.

2. Former Petroleum Resources Minister Dieziani Alison-Madukwe: In just one of the cases the EFCC is investigating involving her, about N23 billion is alleged to have been embezzled. She is also involved in the Strategic Alliance Contracts of the NNPC, where the firms of Jide Omokore and Kola Aluko got oil blocks but never paid government taxes and royalty. About $3 billion was involved. The Federal Government is charging Omokore and Aluko and will use all legal instruments local and international to ensure justice.

3. Rtd. Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah: N13.9 billion. N4.8 billion recovered by EFCC in cash and property

4. Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika: N4.5 billion. N29m recovered by the EFCC so far.

5. Alex Barde, former Chief of Defence Staff: N8 billion, and EFCC recovered almost N4 billion in cash and property already.

6. Inde Dikko: former CG Customs: N40 billion, and N1.1 billion in cash recovered in cash and choice properties.

7. Air Marshal Adesola Amosun: N21.4 billion. N2.8 billion recovered in cash. 28 properties and 3 vehicles also recovered.

8. Senator Bala Abdulkadir, former FCT Minister: N5 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.

9. Senator Stella Oduah: N9.8 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.

10. Former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu: N1.6 billion - from NSA.

11. Senator Jonah Jang, former Plateau State Governor: N12.5 billion.

12. Bashir Yuguda, former Minister of State for Finance: N1.5 billion. $829,800 recovered.

13.  Senator Peter Nwaboshi: N1.5 billion

14. Aliyu Usman: Former NSA Dasuki’s aide: N512 million

15. Ahmad Idris: Former NSA Dasuki’s PA: N1.5 billion

16.  Rasheed Ladoja: Former Oyo Governor: N500 million

17.  Tom Ikimi: N300 million

18.  Femi Fani-Kayode: N866 million

19.  Hassan Tukur, former PPS to President Goodluck: $1.7 million

20.  Nenadi Usman: N1.5 billion

21. Benedicta Iroha: N1.7 billion

22. Aliyu Usman Jawaz: Close ally of former NSA Dasuki: N882 million

23. Jonah Jang, former Plateau State Governor: N12.5 billion

24  Godknows Igali: Over N7 billion

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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SGF leads guest to ASURI's 2-day roundtable on research funding

ITREALMS:

Plans have been advanced for a two-day roundtable on research funding for research institutions in Nigeria slated for Abuja, between April 17 and 18, with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha as special guest, reports ITRealms.

The event to be hosted by the Academic Staff Union of ResearchInstitutions (ASURI), ITRealms gathered, represents the interest of researchers in Federal mandated Research Institutes, Agencies and Allied Colleges in Nigeria, in collaboration with Co-Heritage Hunters Nigeria and TF & Associates as organisers, is a talk shop aimed at mobilising the nation in support of adequate research funding.

A press statement jointly signed by the secretary general of ASURI, Dr. Theophilus Ndubuaku, the president of Co-Heritage Hunters Nigeria, Pastor Bola Oregbemi, and the managing consultant of TF & and Associates, Mr. Toye Fawole, the event, coming on the heels of the recently-passed National Research and Innovation Council Bill 2018, will take place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, as an appreciation event to celebrate innovativeness andà beam positive light on the role of research in national development.

 With the theme, “Research our Hope,” the two-day event will feature the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, as special guest of honour while the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Muhammadu Musa Bello, and the minority whip in the Senate, Senator Philip Aduda, representing FCT in the Senate, are chief host and co-host respectively.

The main speaker at the talk shop is eminent scientist and former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oye Ibidapo-Obe, also a former president of the National Academy of Science (NAS) while the chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Senator (Prof.) Robert Ajayi Boroffice, and Senator David Umaru, the chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters who sponsored the National Research and Innovation Council Bill 2018, will lead the team of the 60 Senators who co-sponsored the Bill and several other federal lawmakers from both chambers to the event. 

In attendance as well will be the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator (Dr.) Chris Nwabueze Ngige, and many other Ministers who superintend over federal mandate research institutes and agencies.  

The event is also expected to feature members of the Diplomatic Corps, Executive Directors and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Research Institutes, Director-Generals (DGs) of Federal Agencies, Captains of industry, opinion leaders and the civil society, among others.

The two-day roundtable will feature over 1,000 researchers while over 100 Nigerian research institutes will showcase their activities at the adjoining exhibition, alongside other exhibitors from both private and public sectors.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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MDAs: ATM machines for political elites - Bishop Kukah

EpiscopalSermon@ITREALMS:

The Easter message to Mr. President, and Nigerians et al by Bishop Matthew Hassan KUKAH, Sokoto Diocese. 

Excerpts

"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity…" WB Yeats(1865-1939)

This is no ordinary Easter, Mr. President because these are no ordinary times for our country, Nigeria, over which you preside.

I know that in your Easter Messages, you, the Senate President, the Speaker and our Governors, will all exhort Nigerians with the usual moral platitudes encouraging us to live by the teachings of Jesus Christ, to love one another, to embrace peace and live in unity. Good talk, but, as you must know very well, most ordinary citizens will say that love, tolerance and a sense of community seem to be in exile or in suspended animation in Nigeria.

Mr. President, I have decided to speak to a cross section of Nigerians, beginning with you and going right down to the many nameless men and women who do not even qualify to be classified as the ordinary man in the street because they live on water and have no streets on which to walk. I believe that this country is so split both vertically and horizontally today that all of us must honestly identify our many sins of omission and commission so that we can honestly seek a solution. This is a time for us to genuinely face what looks to me like an impending calamity. The gathering clouds are clear for us to see and even those who cannot see can hear the rumbling and rolling sound of thunder. We ignore them at our own risk. I therefore state as follows:

1. To President Muhammadu Buhari:
You know Sir, that you rode into town like a knight in shining armour, carrying the joys, pains, anxieties and fears of a people whose broken dreams had littered and turned the landscape into a kaleidoscopic scenery of desolation and despair. In your campaigns, you had promised to restore a sense of national pride in us by slaying the dragon of corruption, banishing the retrogressive scourge of Boko Haram, bringing back our daughters from Chibok and making our country and citizens truly safe.

We waited in hope right to the end of the first year, but somehow, amidst some hazy weather, all we heard was the sound of screeching tyres with the plane carrying our hopes seemingly unable to take off. It finally did but we had barely gained altitude when sickness struck and you spent the better part of a year seeking healing. The nation prayed for you and miraculously, you recovered. Evidently, you had been saved for a purpose. Our prayer is that this realization will help you understand that you have a date with history and divine judgment.

For now, before your eyes and in your hands, our country, our communities, our people are all in a state of stupor. We have never felt so alienated from one another. The bogeyman of religion, region and ethnicity, which we thought we had overcome by the sheer nature of your support base, have come back with a vengeance to haunt and threaten the very foundation of our existence. Mr. President, you are too distant from your people. There is a sad feeling that you do not share in the pain and suffering of your people. You must very quickly find a way of connecting with your people before the devil takes over the space. For taking on this challenge and connecting with Nigerians, happy Easter.

2. To the Political Class:
To Governors, Legislators, Senators, and all who are actively engaged in Politics: Please recall that Nigerians have over the years struggled for the building of a democratic, free and egalitarian society. You who are in politics today are beneficiaries of the sacrifices of those who have gone before you.
The nation has not been able to develop a political culture due to the disruptive nature of the political process marred by corruption and violence. Years of military rule have diminished our appreciation of Democracy.

The average age of Governors and Legislators across the country is 50. These are the years of dreams, maturity, sacrifice, patriotism and self-giving. But, sadly, you do not seem to be ready to depart from the culture of cronyism, prebendalism and primitive accumulation. The result has been ruination and decay.

I appeal to you to please abandon the spirit of selfish accumulation and embrace the principles of integrity and genuine service of our country. Do not let this country collapse in your hands. For accepting to make some sacrifice, respect and listen to our people, a happy Easter.

3. To the Political Parties:
Political parties ought to provide the vital foundation stones and building blocks for institutions through which political actors must graduate. It is here that new entrants learn the fine moral principles and ideologies that underpin the Parties. Sadly, there are no Parties in Nigeria. We have only rickety and disposable contraptions put together for state capture. No sooner does this happen that the actors go their way and the circles of frustration return. This explains the debilitating culture of political incoherence and dissonance in our country.

The Parties have become notorious conveyor belts and incubators of hatred, intolerance and corruption of the worst kind, even against their own members. For now, the political parties seem determined to rely on both Federal and State Government and Institutions to serve as their ATM machines. Tragically, this is why politics is toxic and totally unattractive to people of honour.

I want to call on Parties and their leaders to become true to their political claims as expressed in their Manifestoes, reduce the culture of godfatherism, and focus on building the foundation of a strong political culture. Political parties must reduce their adversarial proclivities and focus on patriotic bipartisan areas of co-operation so as to hold our country together. Our people are dying daily across party lines. For agreeing to make Political parties more respectable, a happy Easter.

4. To the Religious Leaders:
We are all custodians of the faith and trust of our people. Sadly, we have proved to be as divided as the people we are supposed to lead. We have been seduced by powerful politicians and have allowed politics to corrupt the sacred spaces of religion. Thus we have lost our voices and no longer seem to have the capacity to interrogate power, as we are called to do.

Religious leaders have fallen to the temptation to present their Churches and Mosques as platforms for partisanship. No divinely inspired religion can pretend that there is no distinction between religion and politics. Unless we are in a theocracy, no Church or Mosque can have its entire people with the same political affiliations.

Religious leaders must avoid the temptation of being seduced by filthy lucre and power for personal or any other gain. We must seek the collective welfare of our people and develop a culture of neutrality that can inspire the confidence in our people in the power of religion to change society so that the common good is always sought and promoted. For seriously rethinking our role in moulding our society, a happy Easter.

5. To the Ordinary people of Nigeria:
The men and women in power who pretend to represent you, call you the masses. The politicians, the business men/women, the religious leaders, all claim to act on your behalf.

But you yourself ,no matter how rich or poor, how educated or otherwise you are, have a duty to understand that God has plans for you and for every individual and you have a duty to both yourself and your neighbour. You have to defend your personal dignity and seek the enforcement of your rights to have property and to raise a family as opposed to waiting for the crumbs from our greedy leaders.

Defend your dignity as human beings and children of God. Do not allow the rich and powerful, who are rich because you are poor, to divide you. They have light and water in their high fenced houses not because they ared Muslims or Christians or that they are from this or that or the other tribe but simply because they are rich. You are poor, homeless, have no road, no water, and your children are sick and illiterate, not because you are Christian or Muslim or from this tribe or the other, but simply because you are poor. You and your children vote, but their children do not vote because they are abroad. Your children beg and die on the streets while their children are abroad fraternizing with those they call infidels. They give you a fake religion that enslaves you while they give their own children the religion of education that will liberate them and make them rule over you.

Rise and defend your right to food and shelter because poverty is not a divine inheritance. Easter teaches us the message of love and of gentleness and of true strength. It tells us that to defend oneself does not mean to turn to violence or to any other misdeed or evil. But it means to recognize one’s dignity as a child of God and remember that each one is created and called to enjoy the fullness of life. Easter means to recognise one’s right to be considered and respected, it means being determined to stand up for what is right and just, it means being strong and steadfast, full of hope and full of love, both for oneself and for others. For deciding today to shake off the shackles of bondage and free yourselves so as to secure your future and your family, a happy Easter.

6. To God the creator and maker of the world:
God our Father, creator of Heaven and earth, we thank you for our dear country Nigeria. You have given us so much, but like selfish animals in a pool of water, our leaders drink and mess up the water for those coming behind them. We thank you for the gift of Easter and other religious feasts. These feasts have been emptied of their moral content because our people only see them as dates on their social calendars. Please forgive us and let us turn to you.

Lord God of Heaven and earth, so many of our children and our parents have died senseless deaths. Rather than worry that they are burying their children, our elders are busy with other ideas, denying sins that they themselves have committed against you and our dear country. We beg you to overlook their excesses and grant them forgiveness. But, please heal our country.

The forces of evil cannot have the last say. Please protect our country because no human army can do this. No power on earth can protect us except you. We are sorry for destroying our country through our collective greed. We stand before you in sorrow and ask for your mercy and forgiveness. The ship of our state is being tossed in the winds, but we know you will save us. Please save our dear country from the grip of evil forces.

Finally Lord, we commit all our children into your hands. Save them from the hands of marauders who continue to prey on them. Help, guide and protect our children, especially our daughters, who, even in their innocence carry the seeds of the promise of tomorrow. Our daughters in Chibok are still in your hands as well as our dear daughter Leah. 

Bring them back home, O God. Leah has defied the forces of evil and her innocent courage is a sure sign that our dream for a new dawn is not empty. Raise up more Leahs for us so that our future can be guaranteed. 

Thank you, Father, and please forgive us our sins. Show our leaders the way, convert them to yourself. 

For a united Nigeria, happy Easter.

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Easter Message: Opara-Ndudu assures APGA will raise Imo again

ITREALMS:

An Imo governorship aspirant for 2019 gubernatorial election on the ticket of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Nick Opara-Ndudu, has sent an Easter greeting to Imo State citizens in the country and Diaspora, urging them not to lose hope as the state “will rise again” if given  the mantle of leadership of the state next year, reports ITRealms.

  In the Easter greeting titled “Imo Will Rise Again”,  which is contained in a video message now circulating in the country and other parts of the world,  Opara-Ndudu told  Imolites to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ as epitomised by his passion, persecution, death and resurrection during Easter, and to pray to the Almighty God to give them the grace to come together to build a state that both present and future generations would take pride in, by taking inspiration from the teachings of Christ.

The former Imo commissioner promised quality and purposeful leadership that will bring about the transformation of the state and improved quality of the lives of the citizens, which he said has deteriorated in the last seven years, adding that the transformation would touch all sectors of the economy of the state.

 He pledged to overhaul the economy by reviving the agriculture and industrial sectors as well as providing quality education, security, health, housing, road  network, if given the mandate to run the state on the ticket of APGA.  All of these are contained in his blueprint which, he said  would  soon be unveiled.

A Chartered Accountant by training, Oparad-Ndudu, who spent over two decades in the banking sector and rising to the position of a Deputy Managing Director, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy from University of Nigeria Nsukka. He has also attended training programmes in  economics, banking and finance, as well as management  within and outside the country.

While in the banking sector, he provided useful financial advice and facilities that enabled many small and medium businesses, across the length and breadth of the country, to grow bigger and now adding values to the economy of the country.

This, combined with his public sector experience, the former bank boss said he  has the required experience of working in a structured environment and the disciplined approach to accomplishing tasks that come with such exposure and experience. These are qualities that would come handy in addressing the rapacious destruction of the civil service bureaucracy and non compliance with due process in the state.

A practicing Catholic Christian and an indigene of Emekuku, Owerri North Local Government of Imo State, Opara-Ndudu said   “I have spent the better part of the past six months building up a network of concerned Imo Citizens to confront the monster that is before us.

As a former student union leader and a veteran of such struggles, I am supremely confident that the will of Imo people (and not cash ) shall prevail in due time and season. And together, Imo will rise again.”

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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