NIGERIA LAUNCHES N62 BILLION HIV TRUST FUND AS NIGERIA TARGETS ELIMINATION OF MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION BY 2030

NIGERIA LAUNCHES N62 BILLION HIV TRUST FUND AS NIGERIA TARGETS ELIMINATION OF MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION BY 2030

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja launched a N62 billion trust fund to help Nigeria end AIDS as a public health threat and place more people living with HIV on treatment annually.

Speaking at the launch of the HIV Trust Fund of Nigeria (HTFN), the President pledged that his administration would continue to prioritize health interventions to address killer diseases and public health emergencies.

”At the last United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, I made a call for a renewed global action to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa.
”Ending AIDS as a public health threat in Nigeria will require increased domestic funding. We have continued to make good our commitment of placing more people living with HIV on treatment annually using national resources.

”However, strong domestic resource mobilization with an enduring partnership and shared responsibility is required to sustain the response to HIV and other emerging public health emergencies,” he said.

President Buhari noted that Nigeria’s purposeful partnership with the private sector in the response to COVID 19 pandemic had provided a readily available financing solution to leverage on to sustain the HIV response.

He commended the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the Nigeria Business Coalition Against AIDS for their efforts in establishing the HIV Trust Fund of Nigeria to secure a generation of babies free of HIV.

He also expressed delight with the attendance in person of notable global key players in HIV response and from the private sector at the event and the pledges made.
”Going forward, I hope The HIV Trust Fund of Nigeria will galvanize more of the private sector and other partners to surpass the target of Sixty-Two Billion Naira in the next five years,” he added.

In his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha announced that since 2005 about 6.2 billion dollars has been spent on HIV response in Nigeria.

”About 80 per cent of the funds were contributed by external donors, mainly the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Private Sector contributed 0.1 per cent to 2 per cent of total funds with the rest of funds provided by the Nigerian government.”
Acknowledging NACA’s efforts to promote resource mobilisation to complement existing external support, Mustapha said the Federal Government has sustained the treatment and financing of 50,000 PLHIV annually.

He said the launch of the HTFN will guarantee funding from the private sector-led resources for HIV interventions especially for the elimination of the Mother-to-Child transmission of the virus.

”Since 2005, about 6.2 billion dollars has been spent on HIV response in Nigeria about 80 per cent of the funds were contributed by external donors mainly the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Private Sector contributed 0.1 per cent to 2 per cent of total funds with the rest of funds provided by the Nigerian government.”
Chief Launcher and Chairman and CEO of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote said the mission of the private sector led fund proposed by NACA alongside the Nigeria Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCAA) is to ensure mobilisation of resources towards eradication of AIDS in Nigeria, starting with the Prevention of Mother-to-Child transmission of the virus.

”I am reminded that we have 2 million of our compatriots living with HIV/AIDS and it is our collective responsibility to bring this number down to zero,” he said.

Dangote, who is Africa’s richest man, appealed to individuals and corporate organisations in the country to donate generously toward the Fund, currently chaired by Dr Herbert Wigwe, the Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc.
”We would like the private sector to work in partnership with the Federal Government on a 50-50 basis which we believe will help us eliminate Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria,” he said.

Also speaking, the Director-General of NACA. Dr Gambo Aliyu thanked the President for his commitment and support for the HIV response in the country, noting that as a direct result of his intervention, NACA now procures HIV commodities at manufacturers’ rate, as a result of which more Nigerians living with HIV have been placed on treatment from domestic resources.

He said within the last 3 years, the agency has identified and placed on treatment an additional 900,000 persons living with HIV, bringing the total number of Nigerians on HIV treatment to 1.7 million.

”This unprecedented feat puts Nigeria on a fast-track lane to control HIV spread by 2023.

”However, despite these achievements, our national coverage of prevention of mother to child transmission is less than 50%, leading to about 22,000 cases of mother-to-child transmission of HIV every year in the country,” he said.

Justifying the need for the Fund, the Director-General said providing life-long treatment to all PLHIV even after successfully stopping new HIV infections would require a domestically sustainable financing mechanism.

PRESIDENT BUHARI PROMISES TO HONOUR AGREEMENTS WITH ASUU

PRESIDENT BUHARI PROMISES TO HONOUR AGREEMENTS WITH ASUU

President Muhammadu Buhari says the Federal Government remains committed to honouring promises made to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to prevent disruptive strikes, engender uninterrupted academic programmes and improve funding of education institutions.

The President made the pledge on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving members of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) led by the Co-Chairs, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev’d Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle.

Commending the leadership of NIREC for intervening in the year-long strike by ASUU and holding consultations with the parties, the President said no society which wishes itself well neglects its educational system and all its component parts.
President Buhari urged NIREC that in its subsequent consultations with members of ASUU, it is important that they share with them that Government regards them and the service they provide to the nation very highly.

”However, they should be cognizant of the fiscal pressures that we are currently facing. Nevertheless, we remain committed to honoring our promises.

”For their part, I would like to encourage ASUU to continue to work with us towards finding resolutions to the challenges that confront us.

”My administration is committed to this engagement and dialogue, and I urge them to stay the course towards a joint resolution in the best interest of our children and nation,” he said.

Responding to issues raised by the leadership of NIREC on finding sustainable solutions to the perennial and disruptive strikes that threaten the sanctity and integrity of the nation’s university system, the President said he had directed his Chief of Staff, the Honourable Ministers of Labour and Employment and Education to make resolving this issue a priority.

The President said he had received briefing from the Minister of Labour, detailing where we are today given the various interested parties, and he apprised the meeting as follows:

”To show our commitment, several payments have been made over the last 6 months, addressing several of the issues you raised – details of which the Minister of Labour and Employment can make available to you.

”Funding has also been provided for infrastructure development across several public universities and several of them have begun drawing down on this facility to improve their level of infrastructure

”Finally, and perhaps the most contentious of issues regarding the decision to use either the Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS) or the University Transparency Accountability Solutions (UTAS).

”As you may be aware, IPPIS was introduced as a means of blocking leakages. Through IPPIS, the Federal Government was able to save over N100 billion annually from the core civil service alone. In view of the resistance from ASUU we devised UTAS which is now on the table.

”I have also been informed that the System Assessment Report conducted by NITDA has been shared by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy to all stakeholders including ASUU, and they are to make the appropriate modifications and report their recommendations.”

CAN President, while speaking on behalf of the Council, said the meeting with the President was on the single point of averting strikes in the universities and the challenges of ASUU, which they consider to be of national interest.

Dr Ayokunle told the President that from NIREC’s meeting with ASUU on January 10, 2022, the university lecturers outlined that the bone of contention between the Union and Federal Government centred on eight issues including inconclusive renegotiation of 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, UTAS, IPPIS and distortion in salary payment challenges.

According to him, other contentious issues are visitation panels to Federal Universities report issues, funding for revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowance, state universities and promotion arrears.

The NIREC leadership, while acknowledging that some of the issues have been addressed by the Government, appealed to President Buhari to direct the immediate return to the table to conclude the re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement.


”If the renegotiation process continues to conclusion, issues that the Government is not comfortable with can be re-negotiated with a view to reaching only implementable agreements. We believe that with renegotiation in place, other issues will be adequately addressed along the line,” the NIREC Co-Chair said.

IN COMING MONTHS, YOU WILL WITNESS MASSIVE SHIFT FROM INSURGENCY TO PEACE, STABILITY, PRESIDENT BUHARI TELLS NIGERIANS IN THE NORTH EAST

IN COMING MONTHS, YOU WILL WITNESS MASSIVE SHIFT FROM INSURGENCY TO PEACE, STABILITY, PRESIDENT BUHARI TELLS NIGERIANS IN THE NORTH EAST

Nigerians in the North East will, in the coming months, witness a change from the protracted insurgency to peace and development in their respective communities, President Muhammadu Buhari pledged on Wednesday in Abuja.

The President spoke at the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East of Nigeria, which preceded the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

He announced that his administration is embarking on a revised approach to addressing the 13-year conflict and insurgency in the region and will not relent in efforts towards a return to peace and normalcy.

”At the advent of this administration in 2015, I pledged to Nigerians that I will restore peace in the North East and return it to the path of development and growth. I remain committed to this promise.

”To the people of the North-East, particularly the children and future of the North-East, we will never forget you and your courage, sacrifice and endurance has been exemplary.

”I pledge to you that in the coming months you will begin to witness a shift away from a protracted insurgency to peace building, stabilization, and ultimately development in your respective communities as we embark on a revised approach to addressing this conflict- A Return to Normalcy,” he said.

On the terms of Reference for the Committee, the President emphasized that it entails a shift from managing the situation to activating a permanent solution for effective and practicable restoration.

He said the Committee, among others, is expected to develop a concise three-year action plan by the end of March 2022 that incorporates national and state level plans, providing a clear pathway for the restoration of peace and development in the North East.

The Committee, he said, will also develop and implement a phased plan for the repatriation, returns, resettlement of IDPs and restoration of livelihoods, incorporating global best practices that give dignity to the affected populations.
According to the President, they will also be responsible for the development and implementation of a coordinated peace building and reconciliation programme that is culturally appropriate and community driven.

The Committee is also saddled with the responsibility of strengthening collaboration with key donors, development partners and private sector organisations that are critical to the mobilisation of resources and implementation of programmes.

President Buhari charged the Committee members to adopt the guiding principles of accountability, delineation of duty and community-driven methods to address issues.


”Members will dedicate more time to the conduct of field visits to regularly engage with state government, communities and key stakeholders.

”Due to prevailing fiscal constraints, Ministries, Departments and Agencies will utilise existing budgetary resources and repurpose funds to programmes approved under this initiative,” he said.

President Buhari directed the committee to submit monthly progress report whilst the first progress review meeting will be held in the first week of March 2022.


Underscoring the enormous task ahead of the Committee, the President said:
”History beckons and Nigeria calls on you to be the team that finally charts this new path to the restoration of sustainable progress in the North East and I strongly believe this could lead to the birthing of a template for addressing insurgency and instability in other parts of our country and across the world.

”Failure to deliver on this task you have been assigned is not an option.”
The President also used the occasion to commend Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, who was present at the inauguration with his Gombe counterpart, Inuwa Yahaya, for his unparalleled commitment to his people and exemplary leadership.

The President also expressed appreciation to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) for support in the area of coordination of humanitarian actors and UNDP regional stabilisation facility, which is providing support in the area of security and the rule of law.

The members of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East are:
The Ministers of Finance, Budget & National Planning; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management & Social Development; Interior; Foreign Affairs and Defence.

Others are the National Security Adviser, Inspector- General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff, Director General, State Security, Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Director-General, North-East Development Commission, Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants & Internally Displaced Persons, Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency and Chief of Defence Intelligence.

New Awards to NCC, Danbatta Underscore Significance of Telecom Contribution to GDP

New Awards to NCC, Danbatta Underscore Significance of Telecom Contribution to GDP

On a note that signals a momentous year for the Commission, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has already put two awards in its kitty, as it receives The REGULATOR OF THE YEAR Award for 2021. Its Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), Prof. Umar Danbatta, also received the PUBLIC OFFICIAL OF THE DECADE Award.

The combined awards, issued on the heels of a public lecture, titled, Public Sector Financing: The Oil Revenue, Challenges, Solutions and Prospects, eloquently expressed the significance of telecom sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy. Noteworthy is telecoms’ 12.45 per cent contribution to the nation’s GDP in 2020, which was central and pivotal in taking the nation out of recession.

The awards, issued by Nigerian NewsDirect, a multimedia firm, was presented just two days ago at an impressive event at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, organised by the firm to commemorate its 11th Anniversary.

As indicated, the presentation of the awards was preceeded by the Nigerian NewsDirect anniversary public lecture, Delivered by Dapo Okubadejo, Ogun State Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor.

Okubadejo’s paper reflects essentially on the increasing challenges of the nation’s dependence on oil revenues for public sector financing. The paper offers solutions to better public sector financing from the context refocusing on the opportunities and prospects inherent in the oil sector but particularly in other sectors.

By sheer coincidence, or conscious contextual social intervention, the topic of the Lecture and its treatment were not just poignant reflections of the state of the economy, they were fluent and persuasive of the role of NCC in midwifing and enabling the utilisation of telecoms and ICTs applications for economic recovery and growth. A fact that gives concrete expression to the imperative of diversification of the nation’s economy from oil, which is being vigorously pursued by the Federal Government and which NCC is a key sectoral driver.

Thankfully, the role NCC is mandated to play in enhancing Nigeria’s growth and development is not lost on its Management. This strategic role and commitment to it, was emphasised by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s Director Public Affairs, who received the awards on behalf of the Commission and the EVC/CEO. Adinde, while conveying NCC’s gratitude for the award, said the Commission will not rest on its oars but rededicate itself towards demonstrating its worthiness of the public trust and confidence reposed in it as an agency central to rediversification of the nation’s economy.

These garlands, swelling the repository of awards to NCC would not surprise discerning watchers of national events. In November 2021, the Commission conducted a historic auction of the 3.5GHz spectrum, in preparation for the deployment of 5G services to be activated this year. It was not the first time NCC will conduct an auction but it was the first time it had completed an auction with the final bid ending at a price more than 30 percent higher than initial bid offer. The auction, which started with initial offer of $197.4 million, close after 11 rounds at $273.6 million. Two companies, Mafab Communications and MTN Nigeria Plc, won the bid.

Besides it routine activities, just a forthnight ago, the EVC delivered the Convocation Lecture of the Fountain University, at Osogbo, where he emphasised the imperative of youth’s embrace and exploration of the opportunities the ICT revolution has offered them to contribute to the nations growth and development.

Similarly, just a day after the Convocation Lecture, a digital training centre, facilitated by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), an arm of NCC, was commissioned at Ijesa Muslim Grammar School, Ilesha, Osun State.

The foregoing shows that the Commission is unwavering in its commitment to expanding the nation’s frontiers of growth and development within the context of its mandate.

Many individuals (including Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Elumelu Foundation; and Ken Nnamani, President of ATCON); corporate organisations (including Ecobank, Chevron, and Polaris Bank); and State Governments (including Osun, Ogun and Benue) received various categories of awards.

Emeka Opara Appointed To Oversee Airtel’s Brand in Over 14 African Countries

Emeka Opara Appointed To Oversee Airtel’s Brand in Over 14 African Countries

Airtel the multinational telecommunication giant with interest in Asia and Africa recently appointed a Nigeria, Emeka Opara to man their image and brand in over 14 African nations. This is a testament to the capability of Emeka as a seasoned technocrat.

In his word, Emeka Opara said, “From Nigeria to Africa. Today, after 19 and a half years in Airtel Nigeria, I formally assumed a new position in Dubai, UAE, as the Vice President Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Africa Plc, with responsibility for 14 countries.”

He added that “To all who supported me along the way as I journeyed in my career, I will forever be in debt of gratitude.
All the glory goes to The Great Architect Of The Universe!”

Emeka Oparah has over 25 years of consistent communications practice spanning journalism, advertising, public relations, events, sponsorships.

Anthony Emeka Nwosu

ANAMBRA TO HOST THE FIRST IGBO SPELLING BEE COMPETITION IN NIGERIA

ANAMBRA TO HOST THE FIRST IGBO SPELLING BEE COMPETITION IN NIGERIA

The first Igbo spelling bee competition in Nigeria titled “Oka Nsupe Igbo” (Igbo Master Speller) is set to take place in Anambra state. The competition which is designed for junior and Senior secondary school students in Nigeria is scheduled to hold from 13th to 14th May, 2022.

“Oka Nsupe Igbo” is the Igbo version of City Speller Bee, an initiative of Onitsha Business school which was created to promote the wide adoption of Igbo language amongst the younger generation. The Yoruba, Hausa and English version will take place later in the year.

This competition is part of a series of projects by Onitsha business school to discover young talents while creating an amplified atmosphere for the development of literary non-curricular activities among young people.

  • Chinedu Aniagboso

Kaspersky reports the anomalous decline of mobile malware in Africa in 2021

Kaspersky reports the anomalous decline of mobile malware in Africa in 2021

While analysing the threat landscape of African countries, Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.za) experts saw a steady decline in attacks on mobile devices in the region, as cybercriminals consolidated their efforts to focus on more complicated, dangerous and profitable threats instead. These and other findings are featured in Kaspersky’s Mobile Threats in 2021 (https://bit.ly/3JPgBkn) report.

Overall, in 2021, South African users faced 38% less mobile malware attacks than in 2020, while other countries in the region have seen even more dramatic changes of their mobile threat landscape: Mozambique saw a 48% decrease, followed by Botswana (58%), Nigeria (59%), Ethiopia (69%) and Ghana (76%). The only countries where the share of attacks increased was Angola, where mobile malware actually grew by 12%.

This dynamic is a reflection of the global trend, as cybercriminals tend to invest less and less into the mainstream threats that are successfully neutralised by modern security solutions. Instead, they choose to invest more into new mobile malware that has become increasingly complex, featuring new ways to steal users’ banking and gaming credentials, as well as other strands of personal data. For instance, in 2021 Kaspersky detected more than 95,000 new mobile banking Trojans in the world, but the number of attacks using such malware remained similar. Additionally, the share of Trojans – malicious programs capable of executing remote commands – doubled, reaching 8.8% in 2021.

In addition to the strategic changes on the mobile threat landscape, experts also attribute the overall decline of mobile malware in 2021 to the enormous wave of attacks seen at the beginning of lockdown in 2020 as users were forced to work from home. That period also saw increased use of various video conferencing and entertainment apps, increasing the volume and spread of attack opportunities. Now that the situation has stabilised, cybercriminal activity declined as a result.

Staying cautious and careful on the Internet and avoiding downloading unknown apps is good practice

“Indeed, there have been fewer mobile attacks in general, however, the attacks we are still seeing have become more complex and harder to spot. Cybercriminals tend to mask malicious apps under the guise of legitimate applications, which can often be downloaded from official app stores. On top of that, with mobile banking and payment apps becoming even more widespread, there is a higher chance of cybercriminals targeting these more actively. Staying cautious and careful on the Internet and avoiding downloading unknown apps is good practice, but I also strongly recommend using a reliable solution. When it comes to the security of finances in particular, it is better to be safe than sorry,” comments Tatyana Shishkova, security researcher at Kaspersky.

Read the full report looking into mobile threats in 2021 on Securelist (https://bit.ly/3JPgwgz).

To protect yourself from mobile threats, Kaspersky shares the following recommendations:

  • It is safer to download your apps only from official stores like Apple App Store, Google Play or Amazon Appstore. Apps from these markets are not 100% failsafe, but at least they get checked by shop representatives and there is some filtration system — not every app can get onto these stores.
  • Check the permissions of apps that you use and think carefully before permitting an app, especially when it comes to high-risk permissions such as Accessibility Services. The only permission that a flashlight app needs is to the flashlight (which doesn’t even involve camera access).
  • A reliable security solution (https://bit.ly/3Hag4YJ) helps you detect malicious apps and adware before they start behaving badly on your devices. Conveniently, you can get protection, like Kaspersky consumer products, directly from mobile operators.
  • If you are a business, consider taking a holistic approach to the protection of your security perimeter, selecting the most appropriate (https://bit.ly/3sYPg8C) one for your company.
  • iPhone users have some privacy controls provided by Apple, and users can block app access to photos, contacts and GPS features if they think these permissions are unnecessary.
  • A good piece of advice is to update your operating system and important apps as updates become available. Many safety issues can be solved by installing updated versions of software.

Kaspersky calls on the mobile industry to enhance cyber protection at all levels, including security for their users, by providing tailored cybersecurity services. Kaspersky Consumer Business Alliances enable companies to offer their customers complete cybersecurity portfolios by backing them with Kaspersky’s global support and expertise.

FMOJ HAS MADE STEADY PROGRESS UNDER MY WATCH – AG SGF

The outgoing Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice Umar Etsu Mohammed Esq, has said that the Ministry had made steady progress under his watch despite his short duration as the Accounting Officer.


Mr. Mohammed stated this in his remarks during the handing over ceremony recently held at the Conference Room of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to mark the end of his career in the Federal Civil Service.

“Six months is such a short time to measure the success and achievements of any administration. But such is the rare challenge that has been bequeathed to me to sincerely measure my humble contribution in the milestones of this Ministry’s journey”. He stated.

He disclosed that he had sustained the gains made by his predecessor which had resulted in the following achievements among others: Engagement of Valuers to assess Assets forfeited to the Federal Government; Sustained payment of DTA for active and ongoing cases; Payment of welfare allowances/packages, Robe Allowance to State Counsel and special incentives to Administrative staff; Maintenance of the facilities at the Ministry’s Headquarters; allocation of funds and better welfare for zonal offices, adequate maintenance and staffing of newly created departments (Department of International Cooperation, Department of Administration and Reforms and Department of Civil Appeals), application for waiver to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation for employment in the State Counsel Cadre and continued push for the Approval of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to transform the three arms of the Asset Recovery and Management Unit (ARMU) into full-fledged departments.

He hinted that the challenges facing the Ministry were not insurmountable; hence, he implored “the incoming SGF/PS to utilize every genuine opportunity that presents itself to address these thorny areas”.

He thanked directors and all staff of the Ministry for their tireless efforts in meeting timelines and deadlines in dispatching their duties and urged them to continue in their meritorious service to the nation.

In his response, the incoming Ag SGF/PS Mr. Benjamin Ogu Okolo who until his appointment was the Director of Comparative Law maintained that he was ready to embrace directives and wisdom necessary to continue to sustain the administration of Justice in Nigeria under the supervision of the HAGF.

He solicited for the support of directors, top management and other staff of the Ministry in the onerous task of piloting the affairs of the Ministry until the appointment of a substantive Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary.

Modupe Ogundoro

OUR LPG SOLUTION FOR THE TELECOMS INDUSTRY HAS HELPED THE PLAYERS IN REDUCING THEIR OPERATING COST – TRANOS’ MD.

OUR LPG SOLUTION FOR THE TELECOMS INDUSTRY HAS HELPED THE PLAYERS IN REDUCING THEIR OPERATING COST – TRANOS’ MD.
In an exclusive interview with Mr. Jude Abalaka, the CEO of TRANOS Energy, a leading indigenous energy firm based in Lagos, we gain unique insights into the company’s latest innovations. Mr. Abalaka expounds on the groundbreaking hybrid generators designed specifically for the telecommunications industry. Moreover, he underscores the strategic importance of TRANOS Energy’s recent milestone – the inauguration of a cutting-edge gasket manufacturing facility within Nigeria’s borders. Join our correspondent, Anthony Nwosu, as he delves into this stimulating conversation, exploring the pioneering advancements shaping the energy sector and manufacturing landscape in Nigeria.

 

The company has been doing a lot in the Engineering and Manufacturing space. How can you describe Tranos as an organization?

As an organization, we are essentially a technology-oriented company. Our focus is on using our products and solutions to influence lives and make them better. We have solutions designed for various industries such as the Oil and Gas, Telecoms, Real Estate, and Energy sectors through our numerous designs and fabrications processes we have set a world-class standard in safety, quality, and efficiency. As a highly innovative company, our services include the manufacturing of high-quality products in power generation, energy distribution, control, and automation as well as manufacturing of enclosures.

Can we know the strides that you have made in 2021?

We are not a power generating firm, but we have products for power generation and distribution problems. Coming back to the question, Covid-19 has changed the way businesses are done across the globe. We are soldering through it although it changed our plans such as product introduction and expansion of our capabilities and speaking of the strides that we have made this year; we launched our production at our second facility. So as of today, we have the largest cable manufacturing facility in Nigeria and possibly in West Africa to produce gaskets and cable management systems. For our clients, what this means is that the things that they struggle to import, we have the capacity to in manufacture them locally. Although the pandemic has slowed things down, we have been able to put our heads together and conclude on projects that we have started pre-pandemic. We strongly believe in improvement; we always have something that we are doing to improve either through a partnership or introducing products and solutions.

Your manufacturing and production facilities are massive, how do you cope with the product acceptability in Nigerian and how do you compare with the ones in China and Europe?

Fortunately for us, our product development is our niche, we focus on quality first. We expect that when we are developing products, we focus on the relevant industries we cater to. These industries focus on quality and high standards. We do not want to develop a product that will fail in terms of quality and other factors. We are competing with products from Europe and Asia. In terms of acceptability, we have overcome that, though there was a bit of friction initially. We have firms that rely on our products, and we are integrating our products into various industries and ecosystems.

Do you have presence in the ECOWAS region?

We do not have plants in the other West African countries for now, but we are beginning to receive orders from countries within the ECOWAS region. We might or not have a physical presence in these countries, that is a decision we are yet to make, but what we are certainly hoping to do is to ensure that we have customers spread around Africa. 

 

“We integrated this technology where if there is enough sunlight, there is no need to have the generator being powered by diesel but if there isn’t, then the generator switches automatically to diesel. We also came up with a solution that run on gas not even on diesel which is cheaper. The advantage of this generator is that it doesn’t run on natural gas because there is no need to start building gas pipelines to all base station. We do not use compressed natural gas (CNG) we developed a generator that runs on cooking gas (LPG).”

As a stakeholder in the energy space, what are your advice to the government in the area of power generation and distribution?

The government is on track now in terms of the direction and approach they are taking in the energy sector. We have seen a lot of projects and renewables coming up. We have also seen private firms getting licenses for captive power generation. The problem we have is power isn’t a technology problem but a commercial. It is all about the economics and the cost per kilowatt of power. If the price is good and the industry is buoyant enough, then power generation firms will generate and be paid for it, and the distribution effective. If we can continue along the trajectory of ensuring that power generation and distribution are commercialized fully then we can have a robust energy space. But the government is on the right track.

Can you tell us about your hybrid power solutions for the telecoms industry?

Our hybrid power solution has been developed specifically for the telecom base stations. We have been in that industry for years now. We have a generator system that works with solar power and diesel. We integrated this technology where if there is enough sunlight, there is no need to have the generator run on diesel but if there isn’t, then the generator switches automatically to diesel. We also came up with a solution that runs on gas, not on diesel. The advantage of this generator is that it doesn’t run on natural gas because there is no need to start building gas pipelines to all base stations. We do not use compressed natural gas (CNG) we developed a generator that runs on cooking gas (LPG).

What are the advantages of the LPG run generator to the CNG run generator?

The advantages are numerous, unlike the compressed natural gas generator where you need a gas pipeline, in the LPG gen set, you do not need this and, the CNG is also difficult to transport. It is usually transported under heavy steel but not the cooking gas or the LPG generators and diesel which is easily stolen and causes spillage. Our LPG generator is environmentally friendly, the emission from the gen-set drops significantly and, the cost of product transportation is reduced. There are a lot of advantages to our LPG generator solution. With this type of generator, the cost of maintenance is reduced, and we have it on a lot of sites in Nigeria. The stealing of diesel has been eliminated; sites are running more efficiently and, maintenance intervals are much longer. With the diesel solution, you are meant to maintain it every 250 hours while on gas we are looking at 2,500 hours. So, you get higher reliability and reduced operational expenditure (OpEx) for the organization.

How have you been able to build capacity in fabrication for oil and gas sector?

We try to focus on three things when it comes to being able to have the resources to satisfy customers. The first is human capital, the second is knowledge and the third is equipment. Our focus is to be a world-class firm and for us to achieve this, we need to be equipped and that means we need the requisite tools. We have made that capital investment. Then we look at knowledge, even if you have the best equipment and you do not have very critical knowledge and we have invested in human capital. Our system is designed to train, we are always training and retraining. When it comes to fabrication, you need good design engineers, welders, etc. we have been able to train this year, it is an annual thing for us, there was a time we brought in a trainer from overseas, retrain our in-house welders and then we enlisted some fresh female graduates from technical schools, universities, and polytechnics, we trained and retained some of those ladies at the end of the program, they are still with us till this day. We are big on gender balance here at Tranos. We are an ISO-certified company, as an ISO 9001 compliant firm we have a clear process for meeting the requirements for production and fabrication. We maintain this process and that is how we have been able to maintain our quality so far.

As a firm that offers excellent fabrication services, have you been able to partner with the public sector in any way?

Our ethos is on providing value, if we are going into any partnership, we try to provide value. Within Lagos we see all sorts of funny enclosures, we can correct these designs. With the quality of our enclosures, the government can get a world-class enclosure. In the housing space, we have a lot of products and we have gone into partnership with various reputable companies that are based overseas.

What do we expect from Tranos this year?

Thankfully 2021 has come to an end, this year we are looking to continually deliver products and services that add value to lives anywhere and everywhere. We are also looking at dipping our feet into new terrains where our products and services are needed. As an innovation-driven company, our mission is to continue in the path of delivering to make lives easy for our world.

 

“Our LPG generator is environmentally friendly and the emission from the generator set drops significantly and the cost of product transportation reduced. There are a lot of advantages in our LPG generator. With this type of generator, the cost of maintenance is reduced and we have it on a lot of sites in Nigeria. The stealing of diesel has been eliminated; sites can be run more efficiently. Your maintenance intervals are much longer. In diesel you are meant to maintain it every 250 hours while on gas we are looking at 2,500 hours. So, you get higher reliability and reduced operational expenditure (OpEx) for the organization.”

Kingston FURY Partners with G2 Esports as Official Gaming Memory Provider

<a><strong>Kingston FURY Partners with G2 Esports as Official Gaming Memory Provider</strong></a>
  • Kingston FURY Memory Unleashes the Power of G2 Gamers

Dubai, UAE – January 28, 2022 – Kingston FURY, the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, announces its partnership with one of the world’s leading entertainment and esports brands, G2 Esports, as the official gaming memory and storage provider. The power of G2’s legendary gamers will fully be unleashed with the help of Kingston FURY’s high-performance DRAM and SSDs to take their systems to the next level.

Kingston has always seen the force that is gaming and has been a proud supporter and regular sponsor of esports teams. While this is the beginning of a partnership between Kingston FURY and G2 Esports, it’s not the first time Kingston has worked with its founder, Carlos ‘Ocelote’ Rodríguez. The former pro-player of SK Gaming is familiar with the power of Kingston having experienced the HyperX line.

“Kingston recently reintroduced its memory products with the launch of Kingston FURY, engineered with gamers and enthusiasts in mind, so we’re very excited to welcome G2 to the Kingston family,” said Robert Allen, Marketing Director, Kingston EMEA. “And we’re looking forward to working with Carlos and G2 once again, while also reintroducing ourselves to their fans.”

 “Kingston has been with me for the longest time, both as a partner and as hardware I have religiously used to game and work with for years,” said Carlos ‘Ocelote’ Rodriguez, founder and CEO of G2 Esports. I love the brand, their people, and the forward-thinking attitude they seem to have with everything they touch.”

Kingston joins G2’s ever-expanding roster of partners. Fans can look forward to dedicated and creative content from both brands.

For more information visit kingston.com/gaming.

#  #  #

About Kingston Technology Europe Co LLP 

Kingston Technology Europe Co LLP and Kingston Technology Company, Inc., are part of the same corporate group (“Kingston”). Kingston is the world’s largest independent manufacturer of memory products. From big data, to laptops and PCs, to IoT-based devices like smart and wearable technology, to design-in and contract manufacturing, Kingston helps deliver the solutions used to live, work and play. The world’s largest PC makers and cloud-hosting companies depend on Kingston for their manufacturing needs, and our passion fuels the technology the world uses every day. We strive beyond our products to see the bigger picture, to meet the needs of our customers and offer solutions that make a difference. To learn more about how Kingston Is With You, visit Kingston.com. 

ABOUT G2 ESPORTS

G2 is one of the world’s leading entertainment and esports brands. G2 was co-founded in 2015 by legendary League of Legends player-turned-team owner, Carlos ‘ocelote’ Rodriguez, and veteran esports entrepreneur and investor, Jens Hilgers.

In the past five years, G2 has built a global fanbase of over 35 million fans spanning EMEA, North American, Latin America and Asia Pacific. International household name brands are increasingly recognising the opportunities that esports can offer to tap into an engaged youth audience. G2 currently counts the likes of BMW, Logitech G, Philips, Red Bull, Twitch, Pringles and Mastercard amongst its strategic commercial partners.

Boasting an Instagram following of 1,3 million and Twitter followers in excess of 1,2 million G2 has a loyal community that follows every twist and turn of the club’s fortunes along the global esports calendar.

More information is available at: https://g2esports.com

Kingston FURY Partners with G2 Esports as Official Gaming Memory Provider

  • Kingston FURY Memory Unleashes the Power of G2 Gamers

Dubai, UAE – January 28, 2022 – Kingston FURY, the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, announces its partnership with one of the world’s leading entertainment and esports brands, G2 Esports, as the official gaming memory and storage provider. The power of G2’s legendary gamers will fully be unleashed with the help of Kingston FURY’s high-performance DRAM and SSDs to take their systems to the next level.

Kingston has always seen the force that is gaming and has been a proud supporter and regular sponsor of esports teams. While this is the beginning of a partnership between Kingston FURY and G2 Esports, it’s not the first time Kingston has worked with its founder, Carlos ‘Ocelote’ Rodríguez. The former pro-player of SK Gaming is familiar with the power of Kingston having experienced the HyperX line.

“Kingston recently reintroduced its memory products with the launch of Kingston FURY, engineered with gamers and enthusiasts in mind, so we’re very excited to welcome G2 to the Kingston family,” said Robert Allen, Marketing Director, Kingston EMEA. “And we’re looking forward to working with Carlos and G2 once again, while also reintroducing ourselves to their fans.”

 “Kingston has been with me for the longest time, both as a partner and as hardware I have religiously used to game and work with for years,” said Carlos ‘Ocelote’ Rodriguez, founder and CEO of G2 Esports. I love the brand, their people, and the forward-thinking attitude they seem to have with everything they touch.”

Kingston joins G2’s ever-expanding roster of partners. Fans can look forward to dedicated and creative content from both brands.

For more information visit kingston.com/gaming.

#  #  #

About Kingston Technology Europe Co LLP 

Kingston Technology Europe Co LLP and Kingston Technology Company, Inc., are part of the same corporate group (“Kingston”). Kingston is the world’s largest independent manufacturer of memory products. From big data, to laptops and PCs, to IoT-based devices like smart and wearable technology, to design-in and contract manufacturing, Kingston helps deliver the solutions used to live, work and play. The world’s largest PC makers and cloud-hosting companies depend on Kingston for their manufacturing needs, and our passion fuels the technology the world uses every day. We strive beyond our products to see the bigger picture, to meet the needs of our customers and offer solutions that make a difference. To learn more about how Kingston Is With You, visit Kingston.com. 

ABOUT G2 ESPORTS

G2 is one of the world’s leading entertainment and esports brands. G2 was co-founded in 2015 by legendary League of Legends player-turned-team owner, Carlos ‘ocelote’ Rodriguez, and veteran esports entrepreneur and investor, Jens Hilgers.

In the past five years, G2 has built a global fanbase of over 35 million fans spanning EMEA, North American, Latin America and Asia Pacific. International household name brands are increasingly recognising the opportunities that esports can offer to tap into an engaged youth audience. G2 currently counts the likes of BMW, Logitech G, Philips, Red Bull, Twitch, Pringles and Mastercard amongst its strategic commercial partners.

Boasting an Instagram following of 1,3 million and Twitter followers in excess of 1,2 million G2 has a loyal community that follows every twist and turn of the club’s fortunes along the global esports calendar.

More information is available at: https://g2esports.com