Apomu agog for coronation of Oba Kayode Afolabi - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The ancient town of Apomu is gradually setting agog over the coronation of Oba Kayode Adeneken Afolabi slated for Friday, February 7, 2020, reports ITREALMS.

Sources close to the Palace, information ITREALMS that all is now set for the coronation ceremony of Oba Afolabi as the new Alapomu of Apomu land.

Also, the Asiwaju of Apomu, Chief Olaitan Alabi, was quoted in a press statement available to ITREALMS that Apomu is one of the oldest towns in Yorubaland and had been in existence for over 450 years. 

He said the history of old Oyo empire cannot be complete without due reference to Apomu, stressing that the activities of the historic Apomu market contributed immensely to the commercial and economic development of the old Oyo empire.

"Many Royal Fathers of Yorubaland are expected to grace the coronation ceremony. Other people expected are Osun State Executive Council Members, the Speaker, the Leader of Osun State House of Assembly, and the Judiciary will not be let behind," he said.

Equally speaking, the Queen of Apomuland, Olori Janet Afolabi said the new Alapomu has good plans for his people. 

"He is deeply concerned about the neglect and the infrastructural decay. He will work towards developing the land. I will join hands with him to ensure that the women and children are not left out of the development process," Olori Afolabi assured.

ITREALMS further gathered that other activities lined up as part of the coronation ceremony include cultural display and musical entertainment by Ayinde Wasiu, among others.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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Ekiti SEC holds valedictory session for out-going HOS, Ajayi - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The members of Ekiti State Executive Council on Wednesday, held a valedictory session in honour of the outgoing Head of Service, Mr Ayodeji Ajayi, describing him as a hard working public servant who brought transformation into the state’s civil service.

The valedictory session was held during the weekly State Executive Council meeting at the Excos Chamber of the Governor's Office, Ado Ekiti. Mr Ajayi will formally retire from the service on Sunday, having attained the mandatory retirement age.

Dr Kayode Fayemi, who presided over the meeting, expressed gratitude to Mr Ajayi, for restoring professionalism and commitment to the state civil service.

Commending the outgoing Head of Service for driving the transformation agenda of his administration through the civil service, Fayemi said his role as the HOS was historic, adding that the handing over of the outgoing Head of Service to the newly appointed Head of Service, Mrs Peju Babafemi was unprecedented in the history of Civil Service in the State.

"This is the first time a Head of Service will formerly handover to another Head of Service. What we witnessed in the past is the case of new administration asking new Head of Service to take over from the former unceremoniously.

"It is not an accidental transition, we can always call on him to offer his service in areas we believed he can excel."

Fayemi, told members of his cabinet that the coordinated and planned transition has enhanced the dignity of the office of the Head of Service in the State.

During the valedictory session, members of the cabinet also took turn to air their views on their out going colleague.

The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, described Mr Ajayi, as a humble and hard working officer who is loyal to the vision of the Fayemi- led administration.

Also, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Fapohunda, commended the outgoing Head of Service for the numerous support he gave to the growth of the ministry of Justice in the areas of capacity building and career progression for legal officers in the ministry.

Other members of the cabinet who in their comments showered encomium on the out-going head of Service, shared the experiences of their personal encounter with him when he was permanent Secretary and when he became head of service.

While hoping that he would still have the opportunity to serve the State in other capacities, his colleagues, described him as a man who possessed huge sense of humility, simplicity, thorough and lived up to the mantra of restoring the values of Ekiti.

In his remarks, Mr Ajayi was full of appreciation to the Governor for appointing him as Permanent Secretary during his first term and Head of Service in his second term, noting that his exit from the office was the first smooth transition in the history of the State Civil Service.

He said he was able to contribute his quota to the transformation of the civil service due to the policies and programmes that were approved and implemented by the governor.

Ajayi, added that stability has been restored into the service and civil servants can now retired at the appropriate age as may be determined by either length of service or age.

Ajayi who started his career from the old Ondo State, had served in the Ekiti State Civil Service for 24years, rose to the position of permanent Secretary and was appointed by Governor Fayemi as the head of service in 2019.

The state government, had in a release earlier on Monday, announced the appointment of Mrs Peju Babafemi as the new Head of Service. She will resume by Monday.

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Togo breaks ground with largest solar Photovoltaic (PV) project - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The African Energy Chamber (https://EnergyChamber.org/) addresses its heartfelt congratulations to the Republic of Togo for breaking ground on its 50MW Mohamed Bin Zayed Photovoltaic Solar Power Complex today in Blitta. The project was launched in presence of H.E. Faure E. Gnassingbe, President of the Republic of Togo, and Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power, the company in charge of designing, financing, building, launching, operating and maintaining the facility.

The Moyamed Bin Zayed Solar PV Complex is West Africa’s largest ongoing solar PV project, and supports Togo’s ambitions to increase its rural electrification rate to 50% by 2022, and 100% by 2030.

“AMEA Power is a foreign investor who understands Africa and has demonstrated a commitment to supporting local content wherever it operates,” declared Nj Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber and CEO of the Centurion Law Group. “As public and private sector interest for Africa grows in the Middle East, such players are most welcomed. Their work in and with Africa contributes to the development of a sustainable and prosperous future.”

The project further confirms the growing presence of AMEA Power in the continent. The UAE-based company has become a serious investor in Africa’s energy sector and represents the growing appetite of private players and investors from the Middle East to invest in Africa. At the end of 2019, Saudi Arabia-based ACWA Power signed two long-term power purchase agreements for 250MW of solar PV projects in Ethiopia, while state-owned ADNOC is reportedly looking at several investments into the African upstream oil & gas sector.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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Trafficked woman: Lebanese promised me N724,000 monthly salary - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

Operatives of the Lagos State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have arrested a Lebanese (names withheld) who hoodwinked and trafficked a mother of three to Lebanon after promising her a whooping monthly salary of $2000, about N724000.00, reports ITREALMS.

The victim, simply identified as Olayide, said the suspect told her that she would be going there to take care of his aged mother. However, when she got there, she met an entirely different situation.

The 34-year-old woman explained that she was repeatedly sexually harassed by her madam’s grown sons and moved from one job to another.

She also alleged that she was repeatedly hungry and only allowed to eat left overs and sometimes will take just Lipton Tea with bread.

She had only worked for four months when she realised that if she didn’t leave, she would die.

Ironically, the mouth-watering salary, which made her to accept the job and embarked on the trip, was never paid for once.

Indeed, when Olayide was leaving Lebanon, she was given $600 to cover the four months she had worked for the suspect at the Nigerian Embassy.

The victim, who was trafficked out of Nigeria in October, returned on February 2.

She said: “I was moved from one job to another.
“I was moved five times.
“I was even moved to where I worked as a bricklayer.
“I worked like a slave in Lebanon.
“The housemaid work he told me about was a lie.
“I was not given good food.”

The Lebanese national, however, denied all the allegations leveled on him by Olayide, stressing that he only rendered her assistance to better her life.

The NAPTIP Lagos State Commander, Daniel Atokolo, said at the International Organisation for Migration’s Ikeja, Lagos State Office that the victim was trafficked by a 54-year-old Lebanese in October.

Atokolo said: “NAPTIP in response to a complaint by the victim’s husband, on January 30, arrested the Lebanese national who is a resident here in Lagos.

“Fact of the case so far reveal that the suspect had trafficked the victim on the pretence of employing her as a caregiver to his aged mother in Lebanon.

“On arrival, the victim was reported to have been received by an agent, who handed her over to a family where she was exploited as a domestic servant.

“When the victim’s husband approached the suspect, asking him to return his wife, the Lebanese national demanded that the victim would only be returned if the family provides another to replace her.”

According to Atokolo, another case NAPTIP was handling is the arrest of two women, Juliet and Chioma, for selling and buying of a day-old-baby.

The baby belonged to a physically challenged woman.
The baby was bought for N350,000 from the alleged sister of the mentally unbalanced woman.

Atokolo stated: “The current facts of the case indicate that this is the fifth time this helpless mother would lose her children to the greed of the people and sad situations around her.

“Many might argue that this is possibly in the best interest of the children, but the agency calls on Nigerians to please explore legal means of adoption as purchase or sale of babies is a crime that is punishable by law.

“The illegal avenues also avail unscrupulous elements the opportunity to exploit both helpless young women and their young infants even for ungodly activities such as rituals.”

The 45-year-old suspect, who bought the baby, said she had been married for 10 years without a baby.

The lack of baby was affecting her marriage, leading her to a friend to ask about adopting a baby.

The friend took her to the sister of the mentally challenged woman.

She paid N350,000 for the baby and would later be arrested.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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KPMG Report: First Bank fortifies retail banking dominance with 150 indirect jobs - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The unbanked and underbanked, two groups at the centre of retail banking, need to be captured for the financial system to achieve its full potential. The KPMG Nigeria Banking Industry Customer Experience Survey says customers have expectations about how their needs will be met and meeting this requires banks deploying the right network and technology. First  Bank of Nigeria Limited has through its Firstmonie Agent Banking Network created over 150,000 indirect jobs for Nigerians and executed three million transactions via 45,000 agents, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

Banking is no longer where you operate, but what you do. And doing more in today’s banking world requires the right tool, network and technology. Capturing the retail segment of the sector requires the right technology and product. The KPMG Nigeria has for the 13th consecutive year released the Banking Industry Customer Experience Survey, which showed banks playing formidable roles in the retail segment of the market. The retail segment of the report showed that FirstBank scored 71.8 percent, an improvement from 65 percent score in the 2018 survey.

The KPMG report showed that 53 percent of retail customers considered quality of service experience in choosing their bank, 13 percent chosen their bank based on financial stability while 12 percent chose their bank based on image and reputation.

For First Bank of Nigeria Limited, achieving these milestones did not come by chance. It took several decades of investment in the right technology, product and quality leadership.

As the oldest financial institution in the country, founded in 1894, FirstBank has over 28,000 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), launched the first cash deposit ATM in Nigeria in 2011, has appointed over 45,000 FirstMonie Agents spread across the country, targeting 500,000 agents and operates in over 750 business locations. The bank has also created over 150,000 indirect jobs through the FirstMonie Agents scheme as at December 31, 2019.

Also, the bank’s alternative channels were the first to launch WhatsApp banking, among other milestones. Achieving the 80 percent financial inclusion target set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will require the support of commercial banks and use of technology. First Bank of Nigeria is one of the financial institutions which have taken steps to make the target a reality by deploying technology in its operations by way of Agent Banking Network. FirstBank has expressed its commitment to continue to drive financial inclusion through its First-monie Agent Network in 99 per cent of the 774 local government areas and has processed over N2 trillion through the initiative.

The Firstmonie service provides financial/banking solutions to rural and semi-urban locations across the country. Such solutions include account opening, cash deposit, cash withdrawals, airtime purchase, and bill payments. Through this channel, the bank is committed to providing convenient services that engender and provides ease of access to banking products, thereby saving time and travel costs for users of the network. Speaking at the Firstmonie Agent Banking National Awards in Lagos, FirstBank’s Chief Executive Officer, Adesola Adeduntan said: “The initiative has witnessed several changes in the operating structure and value proposition of FirstBank

In December 2017, the bank ran a pilot test with over 400,000 transactions processed and following the success of the first run, it re-launched in 2018.”

According to Adeduntan, through Firstmonie, the bank has remained at the forefront of driving nation-wide inclusion, given our belief that access to financial services is part of lifting people out of poverty and fostering collective national economic development.

Adeduntan said: “The key strength of the bank’s services is to look at the gaps in the society and develop products and services that address the gap. As an integral part of our strategy, we believe in working with the CBN to improve financial inclusion index of the country. We would, at FirstBank, assist Nigeria to address poverty and hunger, thereby promoting security of life and property. Because when people are gainfully employed, the implication is that they will think less of crime.”

The bank’s Deputy Managing Director, Francis Shobo, noted that the agents are the most critical part of the ecosystem because they take deposits, make payments and open accounts, provide transfers and sell airtime at locations with little or no access to financial services. He said there are switches and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has also supported the Firstmonie network. Shobo praised the CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, stating that the the apex bank has made changes in regulation around agency banking. “They have allowed the programme to scale as much as it has scaled,” he said. At the event, 31 agents at the state level won N250,000 each, five agents N1 million each at the regional level and a grand prize of N2.5 million at the national level.

FirstBank Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney, said the Bank has, through the First-monie initiative, empowered communities by connecting them to the financial system. She said the bank will continue to support Firstmonie agents. She said customers’ expectations were changing and that it’s the bank’s duty as a customer-focused bank to ensure that customers were provided with the means to carry out banking through any channel they desire. FirstBank has also recognised the opportunities for inclusive growth and influence of financial technology not just in banking but also business operations across industries.

One of the Firstmonie agents said: “I have been with Firstmonie since they started, and I can say that it has been a life-changing experience. I have been able to build trust of the communities around me as many workers in my area have forgotten the last time they visited any bank branch for basic banking services. I am a proud employer and as a result, my members of staff are well paid and comfortable.

“Firstmonie has created an enabling opportunity for dwellers of my immediate community and neighbouring towns to carry out banking transactions with less time, money, resources and risks as people don’t have to waste time embarking on long journeys to the city, added to the dangers of being robbed on the highway.’’ FirstBank has also partnered National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). The deal seeks to leverage the human traffic and commercial activities at various motor parks across the country to ease access to financial services. FirstBank is also in partnership with Azuri Technologies Limited, an off-grid power distribution firm to make access to off-grid power easy, especially in rural communities, as well as other institutions, that seek to provide resources to cushion the effects of economic and social shocks on low income individuals. Under this deal, FirstBank and Azuri will co-brand and co-market Azuri’s solar home television product.

The pay-as-you-go customers will also pay for their solar photovoltaic (PV) system via FirstBank’s Firstmonie agents and mobile payment solution, thereby deepening financial inclusion. Banking with Technology Banking and technology are becoming inseparable. FirstBank under Adeduntan is driving growth and customer services with technology. The Financial Technology (Fintech) Summit organised by the bank was an opportunity for the bank to emphasise the need for technology in e-business, digital offering, agent banking, wholesale/ transaction banking, retail/consumer lending and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) productivity. He noted that as a Tier-1 lender, which celebrated its 125th anniversary last March, the bank had been able to maintain its leadership position in the industry by leveraging technology to offer innovative solutions through its product offerings.

FirstBank is also taking advantage of the opportunities created by cash-less banking to innovate and give value to customers. The bank has introduced the Visa Multi Currency Card, an All-in One-Card and first of its kind to be offered by any financial institution in Nigeria. This card can be linked to four currencies: Naira, United States dollar, Euro and British Pounds Sterling accounts. With the Visa Multi-Currency card, FirstBank customers – within and outside Nigeria – can enjoy the luxury of having their local and foreign denominated accounts in any currency, linked to a single debit card.

Many banks have continued to make impact in the e-payment space. The Nigeria Postal Service and Fidelity Bank Plc have also entered into a collaboration to deploy modern banking services to Nigerians in 266 rural communities. The move is part of the measures to boost the level of financial inclusion in the country and reduce the number of those not yet in the formal financial system. Speaking at the launch of integrated banking services between Fidelity bank and NIPOST in Abuja, the bank said the collaboration would enable the bank to deploy all its banking services in 266 locations using NIPOST offices.

Access Bank Plc has introduced agency banking to deepen financial inclusion in Nigeria, to enable branches to focus more on complex customer obligations. A banking agent is defined as an authorised third party (a retail or postal outlet) contracted by a financial institution to process clients‘ transactions. The Head, Agency Banking, Access Bank, Michael Ogbaa, while introducing the bank’s Omni-channel agency banking application at the bank’s agency banking forum, in Lagos, on Tuesday decried that there are only 307,000 PoS terminals in Nigeria as at last July, of which only 167,000 are active.

Also, the adoption of e-transactions for customers earned Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), United Bank of Africa (UBA), and other eight banks N135.15 billion between January and September, last year. A look at the unaudited 2019 third-quarter reports of the banks, showed that their revenue from electronic transactions grew by 57 per cent as against the N86.312 billion they earned from the first 10 months of 2018.

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Fayemi promises qualitative education, student support - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has promised that his administration will not relent in pursuing the restoration of the foundational values and principles of education in the State, describing his commitment to students’ development as sacrosanct, reports ITREALMS.

The Governor reiterated this on Monday during a meeting with out-going executives of the Federation of Ekiti State Students’ Union (FESSU) in his office in Ado Ekiti.

The students leaders who passed a vote of confidence in the Governor and his programmes, also honoured him with the title of “Students Governor”

Dr Fayemi promised to continue providing the needed supports to the umbrella body of Ekiti Students within available resources in the State.

He told the students body that education in Ekiti is “not a privilege but a right”, adding that the state is a renowned State of knowledgeable people, who were passionate about knowledge generation, knowledge production and knowledge dissemination.

Assuring the students’ body of the reintroduction of students’ friendly projects and programmes initiated during his first term in office, Fayemi said, the administration’s free education (in primary and secondary schools ) bursary, scholarships and other supports (for students of tertiary institutions) were the anchors that hold the restoration of the core values of a sound educational system.

He said: “For us as a State, Education is not a privilege it is a right, being Ekiti, this is one of the things we are known for everywhere in the world as a state of knowledgeable people, the state of people who are passionate about knowledge generation, knowledge production and knowledge dissemination and as students leaders you have a duty to continue to be in the front in these areas.

“I am glad you (the outgoing FESSU President) talked about your experience while you were in secondary school during our first term in office, at the time you were enjoying that, there are some of your leaders who are here that benefitted from our programmes during my first term, who were active on the FESSU side and able to fight on behalf of our students from various tertiary institutions.

“you can be rest assured that we will continue to do that which is to the benefits and development of our people. I have noted your comments about mobility, I have noted your comment about bursary, scholarships, I have noted your comment generally and the need to have an all-round education the way we did while you were in secondary school which we are trying to bring back to our schools.

“That is simply what the real restoration value is all about, we want to go back to our foundational principles as Ekiti people who value knowledge and are very hardworking, very committed and compassionate about helping their fellow people.”

Fayemi disclosed that the revitalization of Technical and Vocational colleges in the state was a sterling demonstration of his administration’s focus on life skills programmes, with a call on the students’ union body to support and encourage the younger ones to view technical education as a way to self-independence and prosperity.

Earlier, the outgoing FESSU president, Mr Babajide Akomolafe, said the Vote of Confidence passed on the Governor was in realization of his outstanding contributions and implementation of Students friendly programmes towards the development of education in the State.

The FESSU President, noted that the union acknowledged the effort of government in getting full accreditation for EKSU College of Medicine with immediate employment of the pioneer alumni of the college; the provision of bursary and scholarships for students in higher institutions and those in the Law school; provision of free Jamb forms; the mandatory and compulsory education for all school child and the resuscitation of technical colleges in the State.

Mr Akomolafe, who is a student of Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), recalled that he was in secondary school during Fayemi’s first term and enjoyed free computer system, free WAEC form and participated in some students healthy competitions aimed at boosting students’ intellect.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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Pix: L-R:  Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi,  National President, Federation of Ekiti Student Union (FESSU) Akomolafe Babajide; and National secretary, Idowu Ebenezer; during a courtesy visit by out-going national executives of the union to the Governor in  in Ado-Ekiti on Monday.

FG plans stakeholders meeting on social media regulation - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said his ministry will this month convene a stakeholders' meeting as part of efforts to design a framework for the sanitization of the social media.

The Minister stated this in Abuja on Monday when he received the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Jyrki Pulkkinen, and the Ambassador of Innovation of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Finland, Mr. Jarmo Sareva, who were on an advocacy visit to promote the ideals of the Freedom Online Coalition.

He said the government’s response to the irresponsible use of the social media to promote fake news and hate speech by some unscrupulous individuals is to work with stakeholders to device a mechanism to sanitize the social media, without stifling press freedom or infringing on the rights of individuals.

“Our attempt to sanitize the social media is not at all an attempt to stifle the media and I want to make this very clear.... As we speak today, we will be meeting later in the month with leaders of the media, civil society, security and other stakeholders on how to sanitize our social media and make it safe for all.

“We, especially in this ministry, have watched with some trepidation the social media front and we have seen how some people try to abuse this platform to cause disaffection, especially by pushing fake news and hate speech,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

He said the government remains overwhelmingly committed to the protection of human rights, both offline and online, noting, however, that it will not shy away from ensuring that Nigeria has a responsibly free media.

The Minister said that in spite of the plurality of values, tribes, cultures and religions, the government has striven to strike a balance between press/individual freedom and national security.

“For us in Nigeria, respect for human rights is a cardinal principle of not just our constitution but of our day-to-day governance. I am yet to see any country with the kind of population we have, the kind of multi values, multi cultures and multi religions we have, that has at the same time striven to balance national security with freedom of the press.

“I make bold to say that this administration in particular has no intention and does not tamper with the freedom of speech or freedom of individuals,” he said.

The Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Pulkkinen in his remarks, acknowledged that the Minister has a broad understanding of the issues surrounding the misuse of the social media, particularly in relation to the credibility of information on the platform, and urged Nigeria to partner with global bodies like the Freedom Online Coalition in order to address some of the challenges posed by the social media.

For his part, the Ambassador of Innovation in the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Finland, Mr. Sarevo, said the Freedom Online Coalition is a group of 31 like-minded countries formed to promote human rights online and also ensure cyber security, privacy and protection of data against illegal usage and monetization and trust, with a view to protecting all those uploading data on the internet.

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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Buhari mourns NADECO chieftain, Arthur Nwankwo - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

President Muhammadu Buhari condoles with government and people of Anambra State over the death of former Vice Chairman of National Democratic Coalition and prolific writer, Dr Arthur Agwuncha Nwankwo, noting that the labour and sacrifices of the nationalist will always be remembered by posterityd, reports ITREALMS.

The President in a press statement available to ITREALMS and endorsed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Femi Adesina, commiserated with family, friends, professional and political associates of Dr Nwankwo, urging them to find solace in the contributions of the writer to national and global development by consistently pursuing and projecting values of peace, unity and love.


President Buhari affirmed that the late writer’s bridge building efforts, like supporting the famous Handshake Across the Niger, and carefully picking the themes of his many publications to reflect national unity, while advocating for a collective vision, had served the purpose.

The President believes Dr Nwankwo’s investments in humanity will endure, especially standing for democracy and development at great risks, and working hard to ensure that the pivotal institutions are strengthened and sustained.

President Buhari prays that the almighty God will receive the soul of the departed statesman, and comfort his family.




Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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Arthur Nwankwo: We lost a rare gem says Fayemi - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has described the death of former Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Dr Arthur Nwankwo, as a huge loss to the pro-democracy family and the country at large, reports ITREALMS.

Dr Nwankwo, also the Founder and Chancellor of the Eastern Mandate Union (EMU) passed on Saturday. He was aged 78 years old.

Governor Fayemi in a condolence message, signed by his chief Press Secretary, Mr Yinka Oyebode, described the late Dr Nwankwo as one of the country’s foremost rights activists and a patriot who defied all odds in the battle against military dictatorship which led to the enthronement of democracy in the country.

He described the late activist as a man of many parts- An intellectual, rights activist, prolific author, humanist and a pan-Nigeria leader who was ever at home with the ordinary folks.

He recalled Dr Nwankwo’s major contributions to the agitation to end military dictatorship and enthrone democracy in the country, saying that the former NADECO chieftain would be remembered for his uncommon painstaking and analytical approach to knotty issues as well as his firmness, frankness and forthrightness when taking decisions.

“Nigeria and indeed the civil society has lost a rare gem. Dr Nwankwo loved his people and his country so passionately, he would do everything humanly possible to ensure their freedom and prosperity in a free, just and decent society.

“Dr Nwankwo left no one in doubt regarding his stand on Nigeria, especially the unity and progress of the country. He was a bridge builder, who worked with others to confront military dictatorship; an irrepressible advocate of good governance, rule of law as well as a just society.

“We will miss the deep and insightful analysis of this great pan-Africanist on critical national issues, his courageous voice as well as his wise counsel.

“We are however comforted with the fact he lived an impactful life, made his mark and left a legacy of service and honour which will inspire many generations.

“On behalf of my family, the government and good people of Ekiti State, I extend condolences to the children and family of our dearly beloved Dr Arthur Nwankwo. His was a life well lived in the service of humanity. May God grant him eternal rest.”, the Governor added.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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Industry 4.0: Participants urge FG on deliberate ICTLocal content consumption - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Participants at the 2020 ICTLoca Convergence Series in Lagos, have reminded Nigerians that the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4.0) is here and the Federal Government (FG) should encourage deliberate consumption of local Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods and services, reports ITREALMS.

The participants in a communique issued at the end of the one-day community roundtable of ICTLOCA, and made available to ITREALMS at the weekend, urging the government to ensure compliance at all levels in accordance with the available Acts and Executive Orders.

They also recommended that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should ensure that the websites of Nigerian companies registered or bidding for contracts must be hosted locally, use a .ng domain name and email address.

The 18-point communique endorsed by the Secretary, ICTLOCA, Adebunmi Adeola Akinbo, participants sought MDAs to provide ICTLOCA access to the Annual Nigerian Content Performance Report relating to ICT Contracts across industry sectors and other relevant information that will assist the Association.

Further, they called on the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to firmly certify Local ICT Software developers and Local Software Vendors.

In addition, they canvassed that “Stakeholders must ensure that Enforcement and Monitoring of Local Content Laws and Policies of government on the promotion of local content in ICT (by CPN, NITDA, NCC and other relevant regulatory bodies) is implemented.

“MDAs to maintain a database of the formal and informal ICT skills and capabilities, with Open (statistics) Data Access to all Stakeholders.

“Government through its MDAs to identify, support and fund young innovators in the ICT industry and implement intervention programmes to correct the identified skills and competence gap.

“MDAs to support ICTLOCA’s efforts to ensure the patronage of local ICT goods and services. And CPN certification should be a sufficient requirement for the registration of ICT practitioners on the NJQS.

“Stakeholder’s to Intensify collaborations between NCDMB and NCCF-ICT to increase awareness and sensitization of practitioners in the ICT industry via ICTLOCA with the adaptation of the Ten (10) Years Strategic Plan.

“NCDMB in collaboration with NITDA, NCC and other relevant government agencies should support existing and new ICT Hubs to be more efficient, sustainable and relevant to the needs of the industry.

“Government through the relevant regulatory agencies should encourage all to adhere to local content laws and policies.

“All relevant sections of the Acts and Executive Orders related to promotion of Local Content should be translated into guidelines.

“MDAs to collaborate with ICTLOCA to immediately conduct a survey to determine the quantum of ICT goods and services utilized in the sector, the percentage provided by Nigerians and foreigners and the Skill set required majorly by local ICT practitioners to undertake the provisions of ICT goods and services in the sector.

“MDAs to facilitate the participation of OEMs and ICT practitioners in Nigeria to drive investment in Local Content.

“NCDMB to organize relevant trainings and seminars for ICT practitioners to enlighten them on project tendering and ICT Jobs and Service contract awards processes and implementation in the Oil and Gas Sector.

“All Stakeholders to ensure promotion of Ethics and Standard, because hard work still pays.

Even as they advised NCDMB to consider unbundling jobs in the Oil and Gas Sector to create opportunities for Local ICT SMEs to partake in projects that are relatively within their financial capability.

Chuks Egbune/Editor

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