Why you can’t make excuse for these scam artists and Yahoo Boys

Why you can’t make excuse for these scam artists and Yahoo Boys

Wait first, why do so many people seem to be making excuses for yahoo boys with some creating unnecessary diversion all in a bid to shield Yahoo criminals from their criminality?

I mean, other times (more times than I can remember, actually) that I call out politicians here on this wall, how come no one comes out to remind me that the politicians are from amongst us, that I should equally call out the fraudulent petrol pump attendant, the corrupt civil servants who ask for bribe before moving your file etc but only yesterday that I called out those despicable criminals (murderers, actually, seeing as they have now added ritual killing to it), a whole lot of people jumped out and insisted I use that one post dedicated to yahoo boys to start calling out the same politicians I call out almost everyday ?

Some say I should blame bad government instead of blaming yahoo boys and I ask;

You that is asking me to blame bad govt and leave yahoo boys alone, are you not affected by bad govt too? Why have you not taken to yahoo too?

Should we equally start making excuses for Boko haram, bandits and the marauding herdsmen who people like Sheik Gumi has repeatedly argued are victims of bad govt too?

Should we stop frowning at every crime and criminals simply because we are experiencing bad govt???

Yahoo boys hardly steal from our corrupt politicians but go about stealing all the savings from our old pensioner parents, people’s hard earned money and even committing gruesome murder in the name of ritual killing, yet, the people who make excuses for them hardly offer the same excuses for other criminals and murderers like Boko Haram, the bandits, rapists, armed robbers, terrorists etc who are all victims of the same failed system.

Why is this so? Why do we defend and make excuses for only yahoo boys and not every other criminals even when everyone living in Nigeria including Charles Ogbu, are all victims of the Nigerian failed system?

Am I missing something here?

Charles Ogbu

NCC-CSIRT Identifies Two Cyber Vulnerabilities

NCC-CSIRT Identifies Two Cyber Vulnerabilities

The Nigerian Communications Commission’s Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) has independently identified two cyber vulnerabilities and advised Nigerian telecom consumers on the measures to be taken to get protected from the cyber-attacks.

The CSIRT, in its first-ever security advisories less than three months after its creation, has solely identified the two cyber-attacks targeting the consumers and proffer solutions that can help telecom consumers from falling victims to the two cyber vulnerabilities.

The first is described as Juice Jacking, which can gain access into consumers’ devices when charging mobile phones at public charging stations and it applies to all mobile phones. The other is a Facebook for Android Friend Acceptance Vulnerability, which targets only Android Operating System.

According to CSIRT security Advisory 0001 released on January 26, 2022, with Juice Jacking, attackers have found a new way to gain unauthorized entry into unsuspecting mobile phone users devices when they charge their mobile phones at public charging stations.

Many public spaces, restaurants, malls and even in the public trains do offer complementary services to their customers in a bid to enhance customer services, one of which is providing charging ports or sockets.  

However, an attacker can leverage this courtesy to load a payload in the charging station or on the cables they would leave plugged in at the stations.

Once unsuspecting persons plug their phones at the charging station or the cable left by the attacker, the payload is automatically downloaded on the victims’ phone. This payload then gives the attacker remote access to the mobile phone, allowing them to monitor data transmitted as text, or audio using the microphone. The attacker can even watch the victim in real time if the victims’ camera is not covered. The attacker is also given full access to the gallery and also to the phone’s Global Positioning System (GPS) location.

When an attacker gains access to a user’s Mobile phone, he gets remote access to the User’s phone which leads to breach in Confidentiality, Violation of Data Integrity and bypass of Authentication Mechanisms. Symptoms of attack may include sudden spike in battery consumption, device operating slower than usual, apps taking a long time to load, and when they load they crash frequently and cause abnormal data usage.

The NCC-CSIRT, however, proffered solutions to this attack to include using ‘charging only USB cable’, to avoid Universal Serial Bus (USB) data connection; using one’s AC charging adaptor in public space; and not granting trust to portable devices prompt for USB data connection.

Other preventive measures against Juice Jacking include installing Antivirus and updating them to the latest definitions always; keeping mobile devices up to date with the latest patches; using one’s own power bank; keeping mobile phone off when charging in public places; as well as ensuring use of one’s own charger, if one must charge in public.

On the other hand, the NCC-CSIRT Advisory 0001 of January 27, 2022, warns that Facebook for Android is vulnerable to a permission issue which gives privilege to anyone with physical access to the android device to accept friend requests without unlocking the phone. The products affected include Versions 329.0.0.29.120 of Android OS.

With this, the attacker will be able to add the victim as a friend and collect personal information of the victim, such as Email, Date of Birth, Check-ins, Mobile phone number, Address, Pictures and other information that the victim may have shared, which would only be visible to his/her friends.

However, to be protected from the Facebook-associated vulnerability, NCC-CSIRT in the security advisory recommends to users to disable the feature from their device’s lock screen notification settings.

The NCC-CSIRT was inaugurated in October, 2021 to provide guidance and direction for the constituents in dealing with issues relating to the security of critical infrastructure in their possession, and periodically assess, review and collate the threat landscape, risks, and opportunities affecting the communications sector, in order to provide advice to relevant stakeholders in those regards.

As the telecoms-industry specific intervention, the objective of which aligns with the objective of the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) document published by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the NCC-CSIRT ensures continuous improvement of processes and communication frameworks to guarantee secure and collaborative exchange of timely information while responding to cyber threats within the sector.

In recent times, NCC-CSIRT has raised series of cyber-vulnerability awareness based on security advisories it receives from the Nigerian Cybersecurity Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), which is the national body for the implementation of the NCPS objective. However, Juice Jacking and Facebook for Android Friend Acceptance Vulnerabilities are the two first-ever cyber vulnerabilities published by the NCC-CSIRT.

FOOD SECURITY: OGSG SETS UP COMMITTEE ON DATA GATHERING

FOOD SECURITY: OGSG SETS UP COMMITTEE ON DATA GATHERING

The Ogun State Government has inaugurated an inter-agency committee named Cadre Harmonise (CH), to work in conjunction with private partners on data collection and analysis needed to ensure food security.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Dotun Sorunke, while inaugurating the committee in Abeokuta, said the government would continue to take necessary steps to boost agriculture for the economic growth of the State.

Sorunke noted that members of the Committee were painstakingly chosen from relevant agencies that have crucial roles to play in the aggregation of data and are well suited to give a qualified analysis of the demographics of the projected food and nutrition situation.

He added that the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration was poised to explore avenues that would help develop agriculture, saying the committee would review the study result, to aid decision-making on food and nutrition, as well as the implementation of actions towards strengthening the sector.

Also speaking, the National CH Coordinator, Mr. Anthony Amu, applauded the State for signifying interest in the programme, which had been carried out in 21 States of the country, saying the parameters for the analysis include food and nutrition security outcomes.

Amu added that other factors to be considered include, hazards, food availability and access, as well as food utilisation and stability, charging the committee members to use the opportunity to serve the State diligently, by presenting accurate data and analysis.

DapoAbiodun #ISEYA #OgunState #BuildingOurFutureTogether #AgricDevelopment

NDIGBO, ENOUGH OF PLAYING THE OSTRICH!

NDIGBO, ENOUGH OF PLAYING THE OSTRICH!

For some months now, a special form of BANDITRY targeted at security formations (the Police, to be more specific) which were hitherto unknown to Ndigbo and Ala-Igbo are now becoming a daily/weekly occurrence and we who claim to love Ala-Igbo, we who lay claim to Igbo Nationalism have suddenly lost our voice.

WHY????

Is insecurity and Banditry only bad when it’s happening in the North? Why the hypocrisy and double standard?

Just yesterday, around 1 am, unknown armed men attacked the Iboko Divisional Police Station in Izzi local government of Ebonyi State setting the building ablaze with fire bombs.

In January, three policemen were killed in another attack on Onueke police station in Ezza South local government area. In February, the Police Divisional Headquarters in Isu, Onicha local government area was burnt by hoodlums, who also torched four patrol vans.

The latest attack brings to four the number of police stations so far attacked in the region.

AWAY FROM EBONYI, other attacks have also taken place in Abia, Imo and Anambra.

In the Abia attack, which occurred in Aba, two officers were killed, part of the station was set ablaze and arms and ammunition carted away.

Just last Wednesday in Anambra, two police officers were killed in two separate incidents when some gunmen attacked a police patrol team at a checkpoint.

In the Imo state attack, a female police officer sustained injuries during a gun fight with attackers.

Before now, Enugu has witnessed multiple attacks at police stations.

IN VIRTUALLY ALL THE ATTACKS, SOME POLICE OPERATIVES WERE KILLED AND GUNS AND AMMUNITIONS TAKEN BY THE ATTACKERS.

I will not pretend not to know that an average Igbo person harbours some degree of RIGHTOUS grievances against the Nigerian security establishment as a body, not just the police. I describe the Igbo grievances against security agencies as RIGHTOUS because in truth, these guys have treated and still treat Ndigbo as CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD. So there is a sense in which an average onye Igbo may feel little motivation to spare any empathy when security operatives are being attacked.

But, WE ARE NDIGBO, a unique people with their own unique views about life. And the security agents are not our teachers. We don’t gloat over the death or misfortune of a fellow human being especially one who may not have directly wronged us. Above all, MINDLESS VIOLENCE AND BLOODSHED IS NOT WHAT WE ARE KNOWN FOR. BANDITRY IS NOT OUR CULTURE.

Again, the police people being killed in these attacks are mostly Igbos who are not in decision making position in the Force. So whatever injustice we suffer cannot, in good conscience, be attributed to them. So we should not keep quiet when they are being targeted by unknown criminals. Just like the rest of us, they are victims of the Nigerian situation, poorly paid, poor equipped and poorly trained. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, the weapons the attackers are carting away from the police WILL END UP BEING USED AGAINST US. So in the final analysis, we are all casualties, as JP Clark would say.

This is why we must stand in unison and in clear unambiguous word, condemn these barbaric cowardly attacks of targeting innocent security personnel and carting away their weapons. We must call out the attackers and bandits whoever they are. We must resist this evil attempt to turn Ala-Igbo to North East. Chaos is a ladder but only in the TV series, Game Of Throne. In real life, chaos is an ill-wind that blows no one any good.

No matter how you look at this, if anarchy descends on Ala-Igbo and there is a total breakdown of law and order occasioned by insecurity, the people that will suffer from this are still our people. Our poor people. It is not even the politicians or elites because they all have standby passports and visas and enough money to fly to any part of the world within a short notice. Already, their families are abroad. And you have seen they don’t really care about you and your plight. Northern Politicians like the Senate president no longer visit their home state. But the poor people who can’t afford a house in Abuja and abroad are still in those villages, at the merciless mercy of bandits and Boko haram. This may be our lot if care is not taken.

We need to rise above petty emotion and see the clear danger this Banditry portends for Ala-Igbo. NA CLAP CLAP DEM DEY TAKE ENTER DANCE.

By Charles Ogbu

NIGERIAN FINTECH P2VEST RECORDS 100,000 USERS ON ITS PLATFORM

NIGERIAN FINTECH P2VEST RECORDS 100,000 USERS ON ITS PLATFORM

The P2vest lending platform offers quick disbursement of loans and flexible payback plan where people can begin to have an ecosystem of lending and borrowing.

P2vest Technology Limited, today announced that its peer-to-peer lending application, P2Vest has hit 100,000 users with access to quick loans. This achievement underscores the organisations’ role in transforming the way people access credit and lend money by bringing borrowers and lenders together.

The foremost peer-to- peer lending platform has over the past 15 months used technology to serve its users with quick disbursement of loans and flexible payback plan. To bridge the gap of access, P2Vest connects authorized lenders with borrowers, while helping them take control of their debt, grow their businesses, and invest for the future.

According to the Founder and CEO of P2vest Technology, Mr Austin Abolusoro ‘’Our goal at P2vest is to build a platform that delivers on ease of access to credit while also building a credit history. Our approach is different, we are using Artificial Intelligence to ensure credit worthy Nigerians have access to quick loans. Since we launched, we have provided access to quick loans to over 105,000 Nigerians. This is a big achievement for us as we have availed people the chance to access loans for their different needs like setting up of businesses, house renovations, Car loans, paying rent, school loan, medical bills on the platform faster and without delay. While also creating an opportunity for people to borrow more as long as they continue to pay back’’

The fast rise of fintech Industries and massive digital transformation in the provision of financial services has brought about the sharing economy- a new model of consumption, sharing, collaboration between individuals of goods, services, resources, with or without monetary exchanges via dedicated platforms. With the adoption of the sharing economy technology by businesses, the model which has grown in leaps and bounds allows for the peer-to-peer economy to thrive as they cut out the role of third parties. Users on P2Vest can borrow money and also lend to others and make some interest.

About:
Founded in 2020, P2vest is a peer-to-peer lending platform known for providing lending solutions for lenders and borrowers through its platform. Utilising technology, P2vest is committed to ease of access to credit for borrowers and ensuring competitive returns for lenders. For more information about the P2vest, visit its website at www.p2vest.com

Obi Cubana and Sustained Campaign of Calumny

Obi Cubana and Sustained Campaign of Calumny

When Obi Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, was perfecting plans to gift his beloved mother a befitting burial, little did he know that such a sincere honour to his mom would shoot his fame to a crescendo and later open him up for barrages of needless scrutiny and vile propaganda.

The recent invitation, detention and subsequent release of Obi Cubana by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and later the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on allegations of cybercrime, money laundering, tax issues and drug-related offences, did not come as a surprise to many, including me. I saw it coming. Being a hitherto silent successful entrepreneur, whose mother’s funeral ceremony brought to the limelight, I knew the powers-that-be would want to vet the source(s) of his wealth.

There is absolutely nothing wrong if law enforcement agencies decide to probe an individual or a business entity, provided it is done within the confines of the law, where the suspect’s fundamental human right of “innocent until proven guilty” is respected in the entire process. After all, no one is above the law. No nation can prosper if some of her citizens are treated as sacred cows. I commend EFCC and NDLEA for being steadfast on their constitutional responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Obi Cubana has vehemently denied all the allegations against him. We have to give him the benefit of the doubt as being innocent of all the accusations while the appropriate law enforcement agencies do their work. Iyiegbu has verifiable businesses commensurate to his networth.

But beyond the ongoing scrutiny by the law enforcement agencies, it is clear that Obi Cubana is currently standing trial in the court of public opinion. Though no one is a saint, but people like us, who knew Obi Cubana’s startup cum success stories have no reason to believe the allegations. Yet we uphold the right of others who choose to believe otherwise.

However, whatever anyone believes does not justify what has become a full-scale propaganda attack on Obi Cubana. Yes, there has been a deliberate and sustained campaign of calumny to profile Obi Cubana with either internet scams or drug trafficking and related offences. It is a well-oiled vicious onslaught against him and his brand. It has become obvious even to the blind that there is a thickening conspiracy to stereotype and tag one of Nigeria’s rising stars of entrepreneurship and philanthropists along with dirty businesses of drugs and economic crimes.

I have seen, read and dismissed a lot of conjectures, innuendoes and prejudiced narratives wickedly put together to damage the hard-earned reputation of Obi Cubana.

As someone who understood this man’s early struggles and followed up on his entrepreneurial voyage; beginning in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, FCT, I am as heartbroken as Obi Cubana on how some sadists and fifth columnists could be peddling barefaced lies and falsehood just to convict him in the court of public opinion and make him an easy prey to malevolent tendencies.

This is not only injustice and wickedness being meted out to Obi Cubana, but every hardworking Nigerian youth, who believes in entrepreneurship as the ultimate escape from poverty and self-actualisation. Why the media trial? If anyone has evidences against him, why not wait to present it in the court of law or even take them to one of the investigating agencies instead of rushing to the court of public opinion where jungle justice of vile propaganda and bile falsehood thrive?

Imagine such sensational and wicked profiling headlines and titles as: “NDLEA links Obi Cubana to drugs”, “Obi Cubana and drug pushers”, “Is Obi Cubana the king of nightlife or a drug kingpin?”, etcetera, being splashed all over the world by some Nigerian media and columnists not minding that it is someone’s reputation they are dragging in the mud. Without being reminded, crafters of such prejudiced stories and vile articles have one goal in mind—to destroy credibility of Obi Cubana and his businesses. It is not about crime-fighting, but to pull down a perceived entrepreneurial enigma. It is predetermined.

Let us do diagnosis and prognosis on one of the weighty accusations. From media reports, NDLEA alleged that a drug convict in Asia paid money into Cubana’s account. An allegation he has since denied. Juxtapose with Obi’s nature of business—clubs, hotels and entertainment, a discerning mind will wonder how Obi is supposed to know the sources of income of his customers and potential clients.

If a customer visits one of Cubana’s clubs, after drinking expensive wines and whiskeys, probably with his friends, and wants to pay with PoS, where else will the money go if not into Cubana’s bank account? Tomorrow if it is discovered that the said customer is a drug pusher, checking his financial transactions, Obi Cubana—the owner of one of the clubs he visited will be maligned for being a drug baron. What an imprudence!

In the foregoing context, if a married man decides to cheat on his wife, and because of the exquisite nature of Cubana Hotels, makes up his mind to lodge there, should women activists allege that Obi Cubana is promoting infidelity—just for running a hospitality business? Should Obi Cubana mandate his members of staff to vet sources of income of their potential customers before attending to them? where is it done across the world?

After a lot of media trial, EFCC lost its case against media mogul Raymond Dokpesi. The Court of Appeal quashed the N2.1 billion money laundering charges against him because the prosecuting team could not substantiate its case. The founder of DAAR Communications was accused of receiving part of arms funds allegedly diverting under then National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.

One of the strong points of argument made by Dokpesi’s defense counsel, was that he got paid for services rendered by his media conglomerate to the Jonathan Administration. It was not his duty to question the source of funds used to pay for the services his company rendered. The case died a natural death. If a media company couldn’t be held liable for source of funds a client paid for a job, can a hospitality company like Cubana Group, let alone its owner, be held responsible for how any if his customers chose to make his money?

While we must collectively uphold the right of law enforcement agencies to do their work, we must also collectively rebuke the resort to media trial. It was not a crime that Obi Cubana chose to bid his mother farewell in the manner that he did. It was his choice. What was displayed at Oba was an outpour of massive goodwill invested in the youth over the years by this entrepreneurial colossus.

Obi Cubana should be commended for popularising entrepreneurship amongst graduates and for promoting the nation’s entertainment industry, instead of this sadistic propaganda targeted at his reputation.

By Chidiebere Nwobodo

Nwobodo writes from Abuja.

CHINMARK TELLS CLIENTS TO HOLD ON FOR SIXTY DAYS

CHINMARK TELLS CLIENTS TO HOLD ON FOR SIXTY DAYS

Speculations have been going on about Chinmark an investment company that pays clients their profits known as return on investment (ROI). The company has been having issues with some regulatory authorities making some people to be a bit skeptical and demanding their money.

In line with the trends and the current realities the company has put up a press release telling the clients to hold on for their payment till the next 60 days at most.

Speaking via his social media, the chief executive officer of Chinmark, Marksman Chinedu Ijiomah said via his Facebook page that “We want to thank you for your support in the growth of the Chinmark Group. Over the years, we have been able to setup businesses that have spread in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world successfully and creating sustainable means of livelihood for over 4,000 individuals working with the Chinmark Group. “

” You will recall that since the commencement of the company, we have successfully built a track record of excellent and quality customer service delivery, we have never disappointed, and we promise not to disappoint you now.”

” However, the Chinmark Group wants to reassure all its clients that there is no cause for panic as the Partnership arm is taking all necessary measures to ensure the system starts working again and more effectively.”

We wish to inform all our partners that we are working efficiently to comply with government regulations for quality control and assurance.

These processes are currently affecting the activities of the partnership arm of the company for a short period of time which will not exceed 45-60 days.

All our offices are open and activities are running. We implore you, our partners, to kindly support the smooth running of all our businesses during this period to enable us pass through this phase and remain as strong as ever. Panic and unrest will affect the businesses that generate returns for the sustainability of the partnership arm.

For further enquires, don’t hesitate to reach us via our official email address, info@chinmarkgroup.com. A follow up email will be sent periodically to our clients who are affected within the period of this process to update them on progress made.

Thank you for patience and support as we are committed to serving you better.

Cheers to Chinmark @50

FG Applauds NCC’s Commitment to Enhancing Digital Skill in Youths

FG Applauds NCC’s Commitment to Enhancing Digital Skill in Youths


…Existing policies are designed to accelerate the delivery of digital economy benefits – Pantami

…We’re poised to deepening digital access – Danbatta

The Federal Government has applauded the commitment and dedication of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) towards enhancing digital skills development among youths, through implementation of various Information and Communication Technology skill acquisition programmes.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, gave the commendation during the inauguration of a Digital Nigeria Centre (DNC), a project executed by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), an arm of NCC, at the Ijesa Muslim Grammar School, Ilesa, Osun State recently
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Representing President Muhamadu Buhari at the event, Aregbesola commended the NCC for timely and thorough implementation of the project, saying he was confident that the project will promote the connection of public secondary schools to broadband internet in Ilesa community and ultimately equip beneficiaries with 21st century skills.

“I would like to thank my very good friend and brother, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, for assenting to our request to have the first of this remodeled project in Osun State sited in Ilesa. I will also like to thank the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta and the entire Management and staff of NCC and the USPF, as well as their technical partners for a timely and successful completion of this laudable project,” he said.

On the sideline of the commissioning, Aregbesola also announced the establishment of President Muhammadu Buhari N100 million Technology Fund for Youth Empowerment, to nudge the emergence of world class technology experts. The Minister of Interior stated that the Fund targets 2,000 youths in the next two years, who will be provided with devices for training in different areas such as software development and design, amongst others.

The Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, who was represented by the State’s Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Babatunde Olawale, expressed the gratitude of the State Government to the Federal Government, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission, for initiative and particularly for inaugurating the pioneer remodeled DNC project in Osun State. Oyetola also informed the enthusiastic gathering that Osun State Government was willing and ready to collaborate with NCC to replicate the project in other parts of the State.

Speaking in the same vein, Pantami, who was represented at the event by the Chairman, Board of Commissioners of NCC, Prof. Adeolu Akande, also commended the NCC and USPF on the delivery of the DNC project on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He declared that the project and similarly instituted ones were initiated by government to give expression to its vision to effectively digitise the nation’s economy for increased prosperity for all Nigerians.

Pantami stated that the Federal Government is focused on promoting digital economy across the country and that this had informed the renaming of the Ministry of Communications to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. On the heels of the re-christening, Pantami recalled that the Federal Government emplaced Digital Nigeria-oriented policies to reinforce the focus of existing policies in order to accelerate the delivery of derivable benefits of digital economy to Nigerians, regardless of their locations and circumstances.


Very central among the policies is the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030, a 10-year, eight-pillar focused blueprint for actualising Federal Government’s digital economy agenda unveiled in November, 2019.

Pantami asserted that the DNC inaugurated at Ilesa was a concrete implementation of the Digital Literacy and Skills, the second pillar of NDEPS.
According to Pantami, the overarching objective of the DNC project is to facilitate adoption of digital lifestyle in the schools as well as in the school communities. The Minister averred that the project’s significance cannot be under-estimated, considering its ability to improve digital skill for the youths and subsequently make them globally competitive.
Pantami said the Nigerian government is determined to arm the youths with digital skills, strong literacy and numeracy skills, critical and innovative thinking skills, complex problem solving aptitude, the ability to collaborate, and deploy socio-emotional skills, which they require to transform their lives and build the economy.

“We have already made a number of giant strides in the development of our digital economy culture and the deployment of initiatives such as the Digital Nigeria Centre eloquently demonstrates the current administration’s commitment to connecting all Nigerians,” Pantami said as he equally expressed Federal Government’s commitment to its tripartite agenda of improving the economy, curbing corruption and enhancing national security through effective deployment of ICT in all nooks and crannies of the country.

In his remark, Danbatta, who was represented at the event by the Commission’s Director of Projects, Iyabode Solanke, said all the regulatory activities, initiatives and programmes that the Commission had undertaken since 2019, in collaboration with its critical stakeholders, including its arm, the USPF, have been targeted at giving concrete expression to Nigeria’s deliberate policy to migrate to a full digital economy.

He said the Commission achieves this by consistently committing itself to expansion of appropriate infrastructure to enhance digital literacy and skills in view of the economic and social impact of digitization on all sectors.

The NCC Chief Executive restated the Commission’s commitment to the overall objective of bridging the digital divide through the provision of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as well as broadband access to the unserved and underserved institutions and communities in the country.
Earlier, the Principal of Ijesa Muslim Grammar School, Ramota Ilesanmi, thanked the President Buhari-led Federal Government for the project, saying that it will go a long way in meeting the ICT needs of students and residents of the city.

The DNC, formerly known as School Knowledge Centre (SKC), is one of the projects in the Access Programme framework of the USPF, conceptualized to promote the availability and utilisation of ICT and resources of the Internet in teaching and learning in public schools in underserved, unserved and rural areas.
Specific objectives of DNC are to increase ICT literacy among school teachers and students; provide a platform for accessing online educational resources; equip students with ICT skills; facilitate ICT adoption in teaching and learning; as well as increase pass rate in Mathematics, English language and other science subjects.

NETCOM AFRICA REITERATES ITS COMMITMENT TO RENDER WORLD-CLASS ICT SOLUTIONS IN NIGERIAN

NETCOM AFRICA REITERATES ITS COMMITMENT TO RENDER WORLD-CLASS ICT SOLUTIONS IN NIGERIAN

In an internet and data hungry ecosystem, Nigerian corporate space has shown promise and regarded as one of the biggest markets in Africa. With a lot of organization increasingly adopting modern technologies especially in the area of data analytics, cyber security and IT outsourcing to increase their productivity. Having seen this thriving ecosystem, Netcom Africa, one of the foremost information and communication technology (ICT) firm located in the Victoria Island, Lagos has brought a bouquet of services that will enable many Nigerian corporate organizations to scale and deepen their productivity.

Servicing many industries such as Financial Services, the company said that their solutions for this sector is crucial. In their words, they said “The financial services industry has its unique set of technology challenges owing to a complex set of regulations and industry best practices to which organizations must adhere. We deliver flexible technology solutions that will allow you to meet your organizational objectives while maintaining the strictest levels of compliance with security and fiduciary requirements.”

They added that “For a leading Nigerian Financial Institution, the contact center is a vital part of its customer-focused operations. The inbound side takes around One hundred and fifty thousand calls a month, while the outbound team makes over 30,000 calls per month. The outbound calls are a combination of sales activity and customer support follow up calls. To sell successfully, reaching a targeted number of customers at a time convenient to communicate effectively is the best way to close the sale.”

“Netcom Africa has been using the On-Premise Avaya (contact center) since 2012. While that delivered reliability and a range of features, particularly for the inbound operation, the Company’s felt they needed to outsource the infrastructure while giving their distributed contact center operators the ability to have equal access to inbound calls and customer information from a managed service partner. This facilitated their move away from On-Premise to IP based cloud telephony for internal and outbound calls”

“We were working in a single location and at the mercy of a single point of failure. Our Sales Agents were not able to respond effectively to local needs, while our customer data was disconnected from our customer service agents”, Charles Harrington – VP, Corporate Development & Marketing.

On the manufacturing sub sector, Netcom has robust solution for this sector. Netcom Africa added that “The frequent need for innovation and adaptability is amplified by strong economic pressures, resulting in the need for cost-effective and robust IT environments ready to meet today’s fast-paced changes head-on. our solutions provide the Manufacturing and distribution sector with the technology they need to support their business goals.”

Netcom Africa has been known to be the industry leader in various IT solution such as Managed Cyber Security, Disaster Recovery And Backup, Firewall, Enterprise technology/solutions such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Productivity Applications and Unified Communications.

Netcom is Nigeria’s leading Managed Service Provider. Since 2004, companies across Nigeria have been relying on Netcom to ensure that they are connected to the world. Over time, Netcom has transformed to meet their clients demands with a host of leading solutions by partnering with local and global experts and OEM’s. Today they are the leading MSP (Managed Service Provider) in Nigeria with hundreds of companies relying on our expertise and leading solutions to help them navigate their digital transformation.

“The technology landscape is complex and ever changing, and we have a solid understanding of the problems today and the solutions that will drive your business into the future. We not only have the expertise and solutions to bring about fundamental change in the way you do business, but we have also taken that journey ourselves.”

Netcom Africa has provided world-class solutions to various blue-chip firms in Nigeria such as Actis, Hennessy, BW Offshore, Dana, Air France, Emirates Airline, AMCON, Leventis and a host of others.

ANTHONY NWOSU .E.

“For a leading Nigerian Financial Institution, the contact center is a vital part of its customer-focused operations. The inbound side takes around One hundred and fifty thousand calls a month, while the outbound team makes over 30,000 calls per month. The outbound calls are a combination of sales activity and customer support follow up calls. To sell successfully, reaching a targeted number of customers at a time convenient to communicate effectively is the best way to close the sale.”

CHRIST EMBASSY’S PARALLEX MICRO-FINANCE BANK TRANSFORMS TO FULL BLOWN COMMERCIAL BANK

CHRIST EMBASSY’S PARALLEX MICRO-FINANCE BANK TRANSFORMS TO FULL BLOWN COMMERCIAL BANK

The latest entrant into the commercial banking industry in Nigeria, Parallex Bank has officially launched on Friday, January 14, 2022, with the promise to redefine the banking landscape in Nigeria and Africa at large. According to Church Gist sources, the bank launch was graced by several dignitaries from both the private and public sector. Also in attendance were several celebrities who witnessed the unveiling of the bank’s logo.

Introducing the bank to the gathering at the bank’s headquarters in Victoria Island Lagos, the chairman of the bank, Dr. Pastor Adeola Phillips, CEO of Loveworld Nation said Parallex Bank is here to make a unique statement about what innovation can do in an industry that is constantly reinventing. She further stated that the bank will operate broadly with a competitive mindset, to disrupt the market and delight customers with very attractive offers. The goal is to empower the banking public and to drive convenient and efficient commerce through the bank digital platforms.

She added that the Parallex mobile app offers customers the freedom to do much more. The app will eliminate inconveniencies and hardships often faced by customers while carrying out transactions.

Corroborating the Chairman’s claims, the Managing Director of Parallex Bank, Mr. Olufemi Bakre, popularly known as Mayor, said the bank’s promise to its customers is to be an enabler of limitless banking. He established that Parallex Bank is the first bank in Nigeria to migrate from a microfinance bank to a commercial bank. He is convinced that Parallex Bank limited will achieve more as the bank partners with customers to explore more business opportunities.


Mr Olufemi said the vision of Parallex Bank is to be the preferred financial solution provider redefining customer experience through innovation. He assured customers of excellent banking products and services stating that the bank offerings are designed to address the yearnings of Nigerians. With a strong ecosystem anchored around the customer, Mr Femi informed the guests that the bank has a robust product portfolio that is customer focused, innovative and simple.


According to him, the Parallex mobile app has unique features and benefits that are quite rare in this market. On the app, customers can choose to create their unique account numbers, increase their transfer limits, make five free transfers per day to any bank in Nigeria. They can request for free debit cards, which will be delivered to them for free. They will receive prompt responses to enquiries.
Beyond the app, Mayor added that customers will enjoy zero maintenance fees while current account holders will further enjoy up to 5% interest rate provided, they maintain a minimum average balance of N100,000 ($200).

The bank which began as a micro-finance bank is now a full blown commercial bank.

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