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Friday, August 29, 2014

MasterCard-branded National eID Card Launched in Nigeria

 Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan (left) makes a transaction on a MasterCard Point of Sale device using his National eID card, at the official launch of the eID card in Abuja, Nigeria today. He is joined by Daniel Monehin, Division President, Sub-Saharan Africa, MasterCard (top left) and Barr. Chris E. Onyemenam, Director General and CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (right).
 
MasterCard-branded National eID Card Launched in Nigeria

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan receives his National eID card, signaling the start of Africa's largest financial inclusion program
To tweet this news: Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan launches innovative MasterCard-branded National eID card in Nigeria http://mstr.cd/1qL9tp5


ABUJA, Nigeria, 28 August 2014 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan today received his National eID card, heralding the official launch of the eID pilot program. In the pilot phase, the Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC) will issue MasterCard-branded identity cards with electronic payments functionality to 13 million Nigerians. This initiative is the largest rollout of a biometric-based verification card with an electronic payment solution in the country and the broadest financial inclusion program in Africa.

The eID card forms a key component of the Nigerian Identity Management System, deployed by NIMC as part of its mandate to create, maintain and operate the country's first central National Identity Database and provide proof of identity to Nigerians 16 years and older.


With 13 applications, including MasterCard's prepaid payment technology and Cryptovision's biometric identification technology, the eID card will provide millions of Nigerians - the majority of whom have never had access to a banking product - with the security, convenience and reliability of electronic payments.

At a celebratory event held in Abuja, His Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan said: "I am happy that this important milestone of the rollout of the National Identity Management System has been realized today. I am impressed with the quality of the eID card and the work of the corporate partners that made it possible. I commend especially MasterCard, and Access Bank Plc, as well as the Commission [NIMC] for achieving a world-class product."

He said the card builds a window to a social security benefit system and therefore, it is a card every Nigerian should get.

NIMC is working with several government agencies to integrate and harmonize all identity databases including the Driver's License, Voter Registration, Health Insurance, Tax, SIM and the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) into a single, shared services platform.

"The National eID program enables us to create an optimized common platform for Nigerian citizens to easily interact with the various government agencies and to transact electronically," says Barr. Chris 'E Onyemenam, Director General and CEO of NIMC. "There are many use cases for the card, including the potential to use it as an international travel document, which will have significant implications for border control in Nigeria and West Africa."

"In close collaboration with both the public and private sectors to achieve the full potential of this program, NIMC is focused on inclusive citizenship, more effective governance, and the creation of a cashless economy, all of which will stimulate economic growth, investment and trade," he adds.

Through the collaborative efforts of NIMC (the project lead), MasterCard (payments technology provider), Unified Payment Services Limited (payments processor), Cryptovision (Public Key Infrastructure and Trust Services Provider), and pilot issuing banks including Access Bank Plc, 13 million Nigerians will gain access to state-of-art financial services as part of the pilot program.

"This is a memorable occasion for MasterCard as we witness the start of a financial inclusion program that is unprecedented in scale and scope," says Daniel Monehin, Division President of Sub-Saharan Africa, MasterCard. "Combining an identity card with MasterCard's prepaid payment capability creates a game changer as it breaks down one of the most significant barriers to financial inclusion - proof of identity - while simultaneously enabling Nigerians to access the global economy."

He said the broader economic impact of the card will be felt as the previously unbanked and under-banked are able to gain access to the mainstream economy, and the visibility of their assets allows them to build a financial history and establish credit-worthiness with financial institutions.

Using the card as a payment tool, Nigerians can deposit funds, receive social benefits, save, or engage in many other financial transactions that are facilitated by electronic payments with the extra security assurance that biometric verification provides. They can also pay for goods and services and withdraw cash at millions of merchants and ATMS that accept MasterCard payment cards in Nigeria and in more than 210 countries and territories globally. MasterCard has unsurpassed merchant acceptance; no other brand is more widely accepted. The card also has the added safety and security benefits offered by the EMV Chip and Pin standard.

Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc Herbert Wigwe, said: "Access Bank is a supporter and promoter of innovative ideas that would improve the quality of lives of Nigerians. This initiative provides another opportunity to highlight our commitment to national development and nation building."

To receive the eID card, Nigerians aged 16 and above need to register at one of the hundreds of NIMC enrollment centers nationwide. The enrollment process involves the recording of an individual's demographic data and biometric data (capture of 10 fingerprints, facial picture and Iris) to authenticate the cardholder and ensure that there are no duplicates on the system. Upon registration, NIMC issues each Nigerian with a unique National Identification Number (NIN), followed by the national eID card.

Upon completion of the pilot program, NIMC plans to introduce more than 100 million cards to Nigeria's 167 million citizens.

"By supporting the Nigerian Government in the implementation of a world-class and innovative electronic payments program, we are helping them to reduce the costs of cash to the economy and society, improve efficiencies and prevent fraud and corruption. More importantly, we are opening up a world of financial inclusion to millions of Nigerians and improving lives," says Monehin.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of MasterCard Worldwide.


 About MasterCard
MasterCard (NSYE: MA), www.mastercard.com is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world's fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard's products and solutions make everyday commerce activities - such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances - easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter: @MasterCardMEA and @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Cashless Pioneers Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the MEA Engagement Bureau.

About NIMC
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was established by the NIMC Act No.23, 2007 as the primary legal, regulatory and institutional mechanism for implementing a reliable and sustainable national identity management system that will enable Nigerian citizens and legal residents assert their identity. The Act mandates the NIMC to create, own, operate and manage a national identity database, issue national identification numbers to registered individuals, provide identity authentication and verification services, issue multipurpose smartcards, integrate identity databases across government agencies and foster the orderly development of the identity sector in Nigeria. The Act also empowered the NIMC to collaborate with any public and or private sector organization to realize its objectives.

About Access Bank
Access Bank Plc is a full service commercial Bank operating through a network of over 300 branches and service outlets located in major centres across Nigeria, Sub Saharan Africa and the United Kingdom. Listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the Bank has over 800,000 shareholders and has enjoyed what is arguably Africa's most successful banking growth trajectory in the last ten years ranking amongst Africa's top 20 banks by total assets and capital in 2011. As part of its continued growth strategy, Access Bank has made sustainable business core to all its operations. The Bank strives to deliver sustainable economic growth that is profitable, environmentally responsible and socially relevant.

For media inquiries please contact:
Birgit Deibele
Communications Manager, Africa, MasterCard
Birgit_deibele@mastercard.com
+27 71 464 0983

Ben Alofoje
Assistant Director/Head Research and Strategy, NIMC
ben.alofoje@nimc.gov.ng
+234 80 2321 16450

Abdul Imoyo, Head: Media Relations Access Bank Plc
Adbul.imoyo@accessbankplc.com
+234 8032011590




 
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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

The Best Friends of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan



The best friends of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan are not the sycophants flattering him with half-truths and outright lies, but those who are not afraid to report and tell him the bitter truth. For only the truth can help him and not lies.

 ~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima. 



  
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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Mobile Cloud Market Worth $46.90 Billion by 2019


The report forecasts the market sizes and trends for mobile cloud in the following sub-markets:
On the basis of applications:
  • Gaming
  • Entertainment
  • Utilities
  • Education
  • Productivity
  • Business and finance
  • Social networking
  • Healthcare
  • Travel and navigation
  • Others
On the basis of users:
  • Enterprises
  • Consumers
On the basis of regions:
  • North America (NA)
  • Europe
  • Asia-Pacific (APAC)
  • Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Latin America (LA)

DALLAS, August 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
The report "Mobile Cloud Market by Application (Gaming, Entertainment, Utilities, Education, Productivity, Business & Finance, Social Networking, Healthcare, Travel & Navigation), & by User (Enterprise User, Consumer) - Worldwide Market Forecast and Analysis (2014 - 2019)" by MarketsandMarkets, defines the global Mobile Cloud Market based on applications with an in-depth analysis and forecasting of market sizes. The report also identifies the factors driving this market, various restraints, and opportunities impacting it along with the adoption trends.
Browse 46 market data tables and 48 figures spread through 147 pages and in-depth TOC on "Mobile Cloud Market - Worldwide Market Forecast and Analysis (2014 - 2019)"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/mobile-cloud-market-9888285.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.
With the rise in demanding times, cloud computing has evolved to give space for the upsurge in the mobile cloud era which provides continual access to the cloud-based applications and services merely through one's mobile device such as Smartphone and Tablets. The Mobile Cloud Market has significantly amalgamated the comprehensive offerings from the cloud vendors, telecom network operators, and application developers and merchants to substantially benefit its users comprising enterprises and consumers. The escalating demands from the users and the ease in provision of competent mobile cloud-based apps are in turn driving the growth in the Mobile Cloud Market. Major vendors of the global Mobile Cloud Market are Amazon Web Services, Salesforce.com, Google, Inc., Apple, Inc., and Microsoft Corporation. The major forces driving this market are the manifold usage of Smartphone, enhanced network connections, evolving needs for centralized data management and the rising use of HTML5 technology.

The rapid advancements in the mobile cloud-based applications have been the prime reason for significant expansions in this market. Mobile cloud-based apps have leveraged the users with convenient apps that facilitate required vital information enhancing their productivity. This real-time information accessed through the apps on mobile devices can be used for personal or professional purpose, thereby, enabling flexibility in work. Hence, mobile cloud has substantially redefined the usage of mobile phones with the incorporation of cloud services to provide users with an enhanced experience through the provision of varied favorable applications.

Speak to Analyst @http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=9888285
MarketsandMarkets broadly segments the Mobile Cloud Market by regions: North America (NA), Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Latin America (LA); by applications: gaming, entertainment, utilities, education, productivity, business and finance, social networking, healthcare, travel and navigation, and others; and by users: enterprises and consumers.

MarketsandMarkets forecasts the global Mobile Cloud Market to grow from $9.43 billion in 2014 to $46.90 billion by 2019, at a CAGR of 37.8%. In terms of regions, Europe is expected to be the biggest market in terms of market size, while Latin America (LA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC) are expected to experience increased market traction, during the forecast period.

Browse Related Reports
Mobile Device Management Market by Solutions (Device Management, Application Management, Security Management, Network Service Management), Deployment Type (Cloud and On-premise) - Global Advancements, Market Forecast and Analysis (2014 - 2019)
http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/mobile-device-management-market-105562389.html
Cloud Computing in Education Market by Service Model (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS), by Deployment Model (Private Cloud, Public Cloud, Hybrid Cloud, and Community Cloud), by User Type (K-12, Higher Education) - Worldwide Market Forecasts and Analysis (2014-2019)
http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cloud-computing-education-market-17863862.html

About MarketsandMarkets
MarketsandMarkets is a global market research and consulting company based in the U.S. We publish strategically analyzed market research reports and serve as a business intelligence partner to Fortune 500 companies across the world.

MarketsandMarkets also provides multi-client reports, company profiles, databases, and custom research services. MarketsandMarkets covers thirteen industry verticals; including advanced materials, automotives and transportation, banking and financial services, biotechnology, chemicals, consumer goods, telecommunications and IT, energy and power, food and beverages, industrial automation, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, semiconductor and electronics, aerospace & defense.
We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository.

Contact:
Mr. Rohan
North - Dominion Plaza
17304 Preston Road
Suite 800, Dallas, TX 75252
Tel: +1-888-600-6441
Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com
Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog @ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/telecom-it


SOURCE MarketsandMarkets

TRENDING MOBILE CLOUD PROJECT IN NIGERIA.

 



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Two Nigerians in Contest for $75,000 Anzisha Prize for Young Entrepreneurs


 Chukwuwezam Obanor.

Two young Nigerians Chukwuwezam Obanor, 22, working in Nigeria and Chineye Okoro Onu, 19, working in Ghana are among the 12 finalists shortlisted for the 2014 Anzisha Prize sponsored by African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation.

 Chineye Okoro Onu.

The following is a detailed report on the 12 finalists.



$75,000 Anzisha Prize for Young Entrepreneurs Announces 2014 Finalists

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, August 26, 2014/ -- For the first time ever, African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation are delighted to have Anzisha Prize finalists from Togo and Ivory Coast (http://www.anzishaprize.org), revealing strong growth in entrepreneurship activity amongst youth in West Africa. Five young women are among the 12 finalists in the running for the $75,000 prize money that will be awarded on 23 September 2014, and will fly to Johannesburg from DRC, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria.


Photos (file name contain name of each country):https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hoaswlejkdcy4zi/AABJBh2_HBFrL56von3XGGK3a

The Anzisha prize scours the continent seeking to find entrepreneurial youth between the ages of 15 and 22, who have identified opportunities to better their communities and done so inclusively. This year’s finalists have started ventures in a diverse range of economic sectors including energy, health care, tourism and hospitality.

Sam Kodo (Togo), 22, began designing robots at the age of eight and now runs an IT hardware company that assembles low cost computers that he sells to students. He has six employees and plans to expand the rest of Togo and neighbouring countries. Gabriel Kombassere (Ivory Coast), 17, runs a farming association geared to eradicated poverty in his community. Annually, he produces maize and cassava feeding the association’s 30 members and their families.

“2014 has been an exciting one for the Anzisha Prize search team. We brokered partnerships with key local organisations enabling them to play a primary role in evangelising the Anzisha Prize in their country. This has led to not only a stronger pool of applications but also more female applicants than ever before.” said Chi Achebe, Program Manager, Anzisha Prize. 

"We are excited to see such a talented cohort of innovative and entrepreneurial young people join the Anzisha prize community," said Deepali Khanna, Director of Youth Learning at The MasterCard Foundation.  "This Pan-African prize has had tremendous success over the past four years and is inspiring other young entrepreneurs across Africa to develop their own businesses or social innovation ventures."   

Now in its fourth year, the Anzisha Prize received 339 applications this year from 32 countries for Africa’s premier youth entrepreneurship award.

The 2014 finalists are:

-       Benedicte Mundele, 20, DRC. Founder of Surprise Tropical, an organic local produce canteen to promote a healthy lifestyle in her community.
-       Gabriel Kombassere, 17, Ivory Coast. Founder of Rible Neda, a farming association that produces 20 bags of maize and 1 cargo of cassava per year feeding its members and their families.
-       Noah Walakira, 21, Uganda. Founder of Namirembe Sweater Makers, a community based organization that provides school uniform sweaters to over 40 schools across the country.
-       Nteff Alain, 22, Cameroon. Founder of the gifted Mom project, an e-content platform for pregnant women to combat the high mother and infancy deaths.
-       Winifred Selby, 19, Ghana. Founder of the Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative, a bamboo bike making technology to manufacture affordable multi-purpose bikes suitable for the Ghanaian terrain.
-       Tom Osborn, 18, Kenya. Founder of Greenchar, a clean energy project that produces smokeless charcoal briquettes and distributes clean cook stoves throughout Kenya.
-       Martha Chumo, 19, Kenya. Founder of Nairobi Developer School, an institution that provides the youth with computer programming knowledge and skills to build sustainable solutions using technology.
-       Chineye Okoro Onu, 19, Ghana. Founder of the Mosaicpiration Project, an initiative that uses recycled material to create art and impact entrepreneurial skills to young people through training and mentorship.
-       Chukwuwezam Obanor, 22, Nigeria. Founder of Prepclass, an online platform that provides study content (past tests, answers etc.) for local Nigerian schools in preparation for national exams. 
-       Thato Kgatlhanye, 21, South Africa. Founder of Repurpose Schoolbags, an initiative that designs school bags made from up-cycled plastic shopping bags that integrate solar technology, charging up during the day and transforming into light for learners to study after dark.
-       Jeffrey Mulaudzi, 22, South Africa. Founder of Mulaudzi Bicycle Tours, a lifestyle tour in Alexandra township that engages members of the community by telling their stories and enveloping them into the business, creating a socio-economic transformation.
-       Sam Kodo, 22, Togo. Founder of LC-COM (Low cost-Computer) / Infinite Loop, a company that produces low cost personal computers for students.

The Anzisha Prize is a partnership between African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation. Our 12 finalists will be flown to Johannesburg, South Africa for the 2014 Anzisha Week taking place from 18 – 25 September where a panel of judges from across the entrepreneurial sphere will convene to select the grand prize winners. They will receive training from African Leadership Academy’s renowned Entrepreneurial Leadership faculty and engage with industry leaders, mentors as well as engage with change agents from across the continent.

The Anzisha Prize team is running a social media campaign where members of the public can rally behind the young entrepreneurs and offer words of support and encouragement on their Anzisha journey. For more information on the Anzisha Prize and the campaign, go to:

 Twitter: @anzishaprize

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of the Internet Corporation for the Anzisha Prize.


Media contact:
Lydia Byarugaba - lbyarugaba@africanleadershipacademy.org or +27 84 375 1222
Should you write an article using this press release, Anzisha Prize would like to link to the article on its website. Please email any articles to lbyarugaba@africanleadershipacademy.org    

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Anzisha Prize
The Anzisha Prize is managed out of African Leadership Academy’s Centre for Entrepreneurial Leadership, which was established through a multi-year partnership with The MasterCard Foundation. Through the Anzisha Prize, the organisers seek to catalyse innovation and entrepreneurship among youth across the continent.

About African Leadership Academy
African Leadership Academy (ALA) seeks to transform Africa by developing a powerful network of entrepreneurial leaders who will work together to achieve extraordinary social impact. Each year, ALA brings together the most promising young leaders from all 54 African nations for a pre-university program in South Africa with a focus on leadership, entrepreneurship and African studies. ALA continues to cultivate these leaders throughout their lives, in university and beyond, by providing on-going leadership and entrepreneurial training and connecting them to high-impact networks of people and capital that can catalyse large-scale change. For more information, visit http://africanleadershipacademy.org.

About The MasterCard Foundation
The MasterCard Foundation is an independent, global organization based in Toronto, Canada, with more than $9 billion in assets.  Through collaboration with partner organizations in 49 countries, it is creating opportunities for all people to learn and prosper.  The Foundation's programs promote financial inclusion and advance youth learning, mostly in Africa. Established in 2006 through the generosity of MasterCard Worldwide when it became a public company, the Foundation is a separate and independent entity. The policies, operations and funding decisions of the Foundation are determined by its own Board of Directors and President and CEO.  For more information on the Foundation, please visithttp://www.mastercardfdn.org.

SOURCE 
Anzisha Prize

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TECH PROJECT TO WATCH.
iPost Nigeria from Indiegog With Love.

 

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I Have Worked with the Best in Nollywood - Chris Orioha-Marcus


Chris Orioha-Marcus, the first Assistant Director of Lancelot Imasuen’s epic “Invasion 1897” is one of the few good directors in Nollywood and he believes more in his works speaking for him than making noise about them.
 “All works have their peculiar interests. Creativity is exciting when one overcomes its challenges,” he said in a chat with him after the press preview of “Invasion 1897” on Thursday 14, 2014, at the Silverbird Cinemas, Silverbird Galleria on Victoria Island, Lagos.


“The excitement about co-directing ‘Invasion 1897’ was the cross-cultural creativity I impacted since I am from the Igbo tribe working on an Edo historical film.  Though it was done in English language, but the cultural understanding of the job was quite challenging, but I pulled through.

 Chris with Lancelot Imasuen at the news media unveiling of "Invasion 1897" on Thursday August 14, 2014, at the Silverbird Galleria on Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
"As a director, ‘Connecting the Dots’ was challenging. An ExxonMobil job dealing with professional security issues as related to the job. I barely did have a technical professional idea of the job, but I scaled through consultations and research."

"Moreover, the most outstanding challenge was working with a cast of forty non-artistic professionals whose primary concern was their desk office assignment than the film ‘Connecting the Dots' which to them at that time was a secondary work. Squeezing out that needed artistic juice out of them was challenging, but I pulled through successfully. And at the end, my greatest joy was when the management honoured all the participants with awards and cash rewards in appreciation of their artistic excellence on the job."



"Another challenging work was the stage play ‘Victims of Cultism’, a story that exposed the dangers of cultic initiation on campus. Parents actually shed tears, knowing the deadly implications and the realities of cultism.”
“I have worked with the best actors and actresses in Nollywood, including Genevieve Nnaji, Nonso Diobu, Mike Ezuruonye, Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha, Charles Inojie, Victor Osuagwu, Hanks Anuku, Olu and Joke Jacobs, Bimbo Akintola and the late veterans Sam Loco, Justus Esiri and Enebeli Enebuwa. And the best cameras I have used so far are Red and Canon digital cinema cameras. '




Education:
A graduate of Theatre Arts ,
University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Actor:
* RATTLE SNAKE
* CHECKMATE
* FACES OF FIRE
* ANOTHER CAMPUS TALE
* PLEASE COME BACK
* AFRICAN HEROS
* FRIENDS OF MINE
* JANGO
* LAUGH PATTERNS ( comedy series)
* MY DAUGHTER MY JEWEL
* HIDDEN CROWN....etc.
Assistant Director:
* JANGO
* BRUTAL HEARTS
* MAMUSH
* GOLDEN JEWEL
* BENT ARROW
* VISA LOTTERY
* IN BETWEEN THE LINES
* EVERYDAY PEOPLE
* MID-NIGHT BLUES
* INVASION 1897....etc.
Director:
* CONNECTING THE DOTS
* EVERYDAY PEOPLE
* RED ALERT...etc.
Stage Productions: Playwright/Director.
* VICTIMS OF CULTISM
* THE DARKER THE BRIGHTER
* ANCIENT OF DAYS
* BEYOND BELIEF
* SINS OF YESTERDAY
* NOTHING LASTS FOREVER...etc.
Contact:
+234 8023187310; +234 8167982112; +234 8167303800.
Email: coxswainolly@gmail.com.



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