Largest Yellow Fever Vaccination Campaign in Nigeria's History Under Way – UN Health Agency

Largest Yellow Fever Vaccination Campaign in Nigeria's History Under Way – UN Health Agency

NEW YORK, 25 January 2018 / PRN Africa / -- The Nigerian Government launched a mass vaccination campaign in alliance with the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday, aiming to immunize more than 25 million people before the end of this year.

More Flee Cameroon's English-Speaking Areas To Nigeria

More Flee Cameroon's English-Speaking Areas To Nigeria

UN concerned over safety of women and children

NEW YORK, 19 January 2018 / PRN Africa / -- As swelling numbers of people flee English-speaking areas of Cameroon for Nigeria, the United Nations on Friday expressed concern over the precarious situation of women and children, which make now up about 80 per cent of the approximately 10,000 registered refugees in eastern Nigeria's Cross River state.

“Some of these are boys and girls who fled to Nigeria  alone,” William Spindler, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told reporters at the regular press briefing in Geneva, adding that unaccompanied and separated children are particularly vulnerable.

KBR Awarded Contract by Indorama for Ammonia Plant in Nigeria

KBR Awarded Contract by Indorama for Ammonia Plant in Nigeria

HOUSTON, Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR) announced today that it has been awarded a contract from Indorama Eleme Fertilizer & Chemicals Limited (Indorama) and Toyo Engineering Corporation (Toyo) for the Train 2 ammonia plant at Indorama's Port Harcourt site in Nigeria.

Official Launching of Fans Time as the First Blockchain Project of Global Fan Economy

Official Launching of Fans Time as the First Blockchain Project of Global Fan Economy
       
NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2017, the gross output of global pan-entertainment industry reached more than USD 300 billion, of which, the movie box office market exceeded USD 40 billion (the gross output in China and the United States accounted for 50%); the performing market exceeded USD 10 billion; the TV drama market exceeded USD 30 billion. Among the global e-commerce markets with values up to USD 25 trillion, net economic benefits driven by the Internet celebrity exceed USD 15 billion. These economic figures are inseparable from the shaping of core IP value and the driving effect of various "fan" consumers. With the era of global fan economy 2.0 arriving, IP value and the scale of fan economy industry will also increase rapidly.

Producers Deserve 70% of Revenues from Film Distribution of their Movies

Producers Deserve 70% of Revenues from Film Distribution of their Movies

I have been saying that indie producers of movies deserve 70% of all revenues from the distribution of their content on OTT streaming platforms, cable TV and cinemas.
 

Film distributors and exhibitors make a lot money from:
√ Millions of subscribers of VOD platforms
√ Cable TV channels
√ Cinemas
√ Advertisements
√ Movie Merchandising

They become millionaires and billionaires while majority of the indie producers remain poor.
In Nigeria, making enough to buy a second hand SUV and live in a duplex does not mean you have arrived to hobnob with the Joneses as many Nigerian filmmakers and actors think; posing and posturing as "Big Boys" and "Big Girls" in Nollywood and Kannywood.
Who is fooling whom?

The famous Nigerian child celebrity, 7 year-old Emmanuella of Mark Angel Comedy on YouTube is making more money than many of the producers, actors and "slay queens" in Nollywood and Kannywood. And the popular Nigerian hip hop artistes are richer than them, because they are making more money from the revenues of their singles, mixtapes, LPs and music videos on YouTube while the producers and actors in Nollywood and Kannywood are lamenting and whining about poor returns and movie piracy.

A beach scene in "Lagos in Motion" romantic documentary film by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima.

MainOne Partners with WACREN To Boost Connectivity in Research and Education Institutions

PRESS RELEASE

MainOne partners with West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) to boost connectivity in research and education institutions

The reliable internet connectivity solution provided by MainOne guarantees a sustainable high-capacity data network that serves higher education and research institutions across the region

LAGOS, Nigeria, January 24, 2018/ -- Following a highly competitive and non-discriminatory bidding process involving leading communications operators in Africa, leading Connectivity and Data Center solutions provider, MainOne (www.MainOne.net) has emerged winner of a 15-year contract with the West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) (www.WACREN.net) to provide high-speed bandwidth services. WACREN, the regional research and education network (REN) that facilitates interconnections between national RENs in West and Central Africa will use MainOne to provide high-speed backbone data services including internet access to schools, colleges and universities, research and the general academic community across West and central Africa.

Dangote’s Multi-Million Naira Unibadan Business School Ready Soon

PRESS RELEASE



Dangote’s Multi-Million Naira Unibadan Business School Ready Soon

This venture is part of a N2 billion investment by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, across various institutions, in support of Tertiary education in Nigeria

LAGOS, Nigeria, January 23, 2018/ -- Foremost entrepreneur, Aliko Dangote has assured that the N250 million University of Ibadan Business School being constructed by him would soon be ready for commissioning.

The business mogul is also constructing same type of project in the Bayero University Kano (BUK) and will be ready for hand over to the university management anytime from now.

Bitcoin Does Not Grow On Trees

Bitcoin does not grow on trees.
~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

The price of #Bitcoin crashed to below $10,000 days ago from the record high $20, 000 in December 2017 and many investors panicked!  Fears of suicide circulated as more than $200 billion was reported wiped off the cryptocurrency markets.

When Bitcoin’s price increased by over 1,100% last year, investors with foresight knew the price would crash.
It is logical.

How Federal Government, AfDB are Working Together to Reduce Poverty, Create Jobs and Overcome Fallouts of Insurgency – VP Osinbajo

PRESS RELEASE

How Federal Government, AfDB are Working Together To Reduce Poverty, Create Jobs and Overcome Fallouts of Insurgency – VP Osinbajo

Address by His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, The Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria at The Commissioning of the AfDB Nigeria Country Office, Abuja on Thursday, 18th January, 2018.

ABUJA, Nigeria, January 18, 2018/ -- ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, THE VICE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE COMMISSIONING OF THE AfDB NIGERIA COUNTRY OFFICE, ABUJA ON THURSDAY, 18TH JANUARY, 2018:

Excerpt:

“While Africa has made significant strides in economic growth and in poverty reduction, much remains to be done. The goal is clear - to eradicate poverty, create more inclusive socio-economic development and to integrate the continent.

“I am particularly delighted that the Bank is working closely with this administration in addressing the challenges faced by communities and people emerging from the insurgency in the North East and some of the militancy in the Niger Delta Region.

“With its large market of over 185 million people, Nigeria will continue to be an important player in the Bank's work, advancing efforts to boost regional integration within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in particular and Africa as a whole.”

Analysts Predict Bullish Future for Nigeria’s Real Estate Investment Trust (REITs) Market

Nigeria: Analysts Predict Bullish Future for Nigeria’s Real Estate Investment Trust (REITs) Market

PRESS RELEASE

Analysts Predict Bullish Future for Nigeria’s Real Estate Investment Trust (REITs) Market

Nigerian REITs market is underdeveloped with only three established and with a combined market capitalisation of $151 million, or 0.36% of the local stock market

LAGOS, Nigeria, January 19, 2018/ -- The globally recognised real estate-focused West African Property Investment (WAPI) Summit (www.WAPIsummit.com) which recently took place between the 28th and 29th of November 2017 provided delegates with insight into a real estate sector that is set to rebound strongly in 2018.

2018 African Economic Outlook: African Development Bank Makes a Compelling Case for Africa’s Industrialization

Africa: 2018 African Economic Outlook: African Development Bank makes a Compelling Case for Africa’s Industrialization

PRESS RELEASE

2018 African Economic Outlook: African Development Bank makes a compelling case for Africa’s industrialization

The Bank would organise the Africa Investment Forum on November 7-8, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa, to mobilise funds for infrastructure development, to bridge an estimated funding gap of $130-$170 billion a year

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, January 19, 2018/ -- The President of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org), Akinwumi Adesina, has made a compelling case for accelerating Africa’s industrialization in order to create jobs, reduce poverty and promote inclusive economic growth.

Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank.

Citing data from the Bank’s 2018 African Economic Outlook (http://APO.af/GHTmei) launched in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on Wednesday, Adesina said infrastructure projects were among the most profitable investments any society can make as they “significantly contribute to, propel, and sustain a country’s economic growth. Infrastructure, when well managed, provides the financial resources to do everything else.”

Scramble for African Real Estate to Reach A Fever Pitch

PRESS RELEASE

Scramble for African Real Estate to Reach A Fever Pitch

Africa's leading provider of real estate development and investment conferences, API Events, will continue to set the agenda for the property industry

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, January 17, 2018/ -- Demand for investment in African real estate is expected to reach a fever pitch in 2018, and beyond, as the continent’s markets turn to growth after years of trying trading conditions. Following a successful year in which it launched new conferences in challenging economic conditions, Africa's leading provider of real estate development and investment conferences, API Events (www.APIevents.com), will continue to set the agenda for the property industry as we enter what many property experts are calling the ‘second scramble for Africa’.

Japan Approves Bitcoin As Legal Currency

Japan's decision to legalize Bitcoin as legal currency is enough validation of cryptocurrency.
~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima.
@Orikinla Osinachi,
CEO, International Digital Post Network Limited (IDPNL), author of "#Bitcoins for #Nollywood"

In April, 2017, Japan passed a law recognizing bitcoin as legal tender. 

In September, 2017, Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) officially recognized 11 companies as registered cryptocurrency exchange operators. officially recognized 11 companies as registered cryptocurrency exchange operators. 

American billionaire, Warren Buffett said he regrets not investing in @Google and @Amazon when they launched. And I am afraid he is also going to regret not investing in Bitcoin now. The last time I checked, Warren Buffet called Bitcoin a "scam" and I chuckled at him. Well, he is a bricks and mortar business man who made his billions by being a smart investor and not by being a genius like any of younger Silicon Valley billionaires and one of them, Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO of Amazon.com is richer than him with current net worth of US$110 billion.

Bitcoin is money in digital currency.

Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency and worldwide payment system. It is the first decentralized digital currency, as the system works without a central bank or single administrator. The network is peer-to-peer and transactions take place between users directly, without an intermediary. These transactions are verified by network nodes through the use of cryptography and recorded in a public distributed ledger called a blockchain.

A blockchain is a global online database that anyone with an internet connection can use. Unlike traditional databases — which are typically owned by big institutions — a blockchain doesn't belong to anyone; and with an entire network of people monitoring it, cheating the system by faking documents, transactions and other information is nearly impossible.
#Bitcoin
#Blockchain
#Ethereum
#Ether
#Crypto
#Cryptocurrency

Stephanie Linus Visits The Rescue Ship “Aquarius” in Italy as She Advocates Against Human Trafficking

Stephanie Linus Visits The Rescue Ship “Aquarius” in Italy as She Advocates Against Human Trafficking

It’s another day of Stephanie Linus’ visit to Italy where she is advocating against human trafficking.

In partnership with international medical humanitarian organization - Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and European Organization for the Rescue of Lives in the Mediterranean - SOS Mediterranee, she visited the rescue ship “Aquarius” today.

Her visit was a very productive one. Mrs Linus and her team were given a tour of the ship, and afterwards, discussions on the overall need to educate people on the dangers of being trafficked and integrating the rescued victims back into the society followed.

200 Migrants Died or Gone Missing in the Mediterranean Sea Since January 1st

Some of the rescued migrants aboard a Libyan Coast Guard vessel. Photo: IOM Libya/Eshaebi/2018.

Tragic start to New Year for migrants as hundreds feared dead in Mediterranean – UN

NEW YORK, 10 January 2018 / PRN Africa / -- A little more than a week into the New Year, close to 200 migrants or refugees have reportedly died or gone missing in the Mediterranean Sea – with up to 100 unaccounted for since Saturday, the United Nations migration agency said Wednesday.

Stephanie Linus in Italy To Advocate Against Human Trafficking in Partnership with Doctors Without Borders

Stephanie Linus Arrives Italy To Advocate Against Human Trafficking in Partnership with Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontières)

In the wake of the increased rate of human trafficking being experienced by Nigerians trying to migrate to Europe via Libya, Actress and Producer Stephanie Linus has recently arrived in Italy to give support to rescued people and raise her voice against such human rights violations.

This timely intervention is in partnership with the world-renowned international medical humanitarian organisation "Doctors Without Borders" (MSF). Over the next few days, Mrs Linus will visit the rescue ship "Aquarius" to witness their activities and operations. Later she will have meetings with some of these vulnerable women;  participate in rehabilitation exercises for the rescued women, media parleys and stakeholder meetings with the aim of alleviating their sufferings and preventing more girls and women from falling prey.

There's a Need for Quicker Progress on Ogoni Land Clean-Up

There's a Need for Quicker Progress on Ogoni Land Clean-Up

LONDON, 05 January 2018 / PRN Africa / --

More needs to be done to combat the devastating effects on clean air, water and agriculture

Good morning everyone. I would like to thank the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People for inviting me to give a short goodwill address to mark the 26th anniversary of Ogoni Day.

My name is Harriet Thompson, and I am the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria. I am delighted to be here with you to open this 3-day event to “highlight the importance of building better communities in critical times: social movement's role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies”. In this day and age it is clear that violent protest is not the answer and I commend the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People for its longstanding promotion of non-violent advocacy. In the last year we have seen oil production levels rise as Federal Government and militant groups have engaged in dialogue to find a peaceful solution to the issues in the Niger Delta. Although progress has been slow and we would all like to see more achieved in 2018, this is a good example of how non-violent methods can achieve better, more sustainable solutions.

Blockchaining Movie Piracy

A Blockchain is a publicly accessible and decentralised database that is distributed over the Internet. It maintains transaction records publicly in cryptographic form. Transactions are trustless, meaning they can be computed, verified and recorded using automated consensus methods, across a peer to peer network of computers, which eliminates the need for an intermediary or third party to manage or control information.

President Muhammadu Buhari's New Year 2018 Message To Nigerians

President Muhammadu Buhari's New Year 2018 Message To Nigerians

I join my fellow citizens this morning to welcome and celebrate the New Year 2018. This year promises to be pivotal in our quest for CHANGE.

Unfortunately, I am saddened to acknowledge that for many this Christmas and New Year holidays have been anything but merry and happy. Instead of showing love, companionship and charity, some of our compatriots chose this period to inflict severe hardship on us all by creating unnecessary fuel scarcity across the country.