Nigerians Report Online

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Nigerian Mobile News Innovation Shortlisted for 2014 FIRE Awards

Nigeria's multimedia news innovation project iPost Nigeria with a mobile video app for instant live streaming of news and information of events and incidents is among the top 10 projects shortlisted for the 2014 FIRE Awards http://www.fireafrica.org/projects/projects/index.

The iPost Nigeria project's mobile video app that will be available to all GSM users with camera phones and tablets in Nigeria will be used for mass communication 24/7 and does more than any other mobile video app in Nigeria, because it will do instant mobile video streaming of news, events and incidents live on both the Nollywood Digital and iPost Nigeria websites and also with pay per view of movies.
http://www.fireafrica.org/projects/projects/view/299

"Whether I win the prize or not, my mobile video app when activated will turn Nollywood into a billion dollar industry in the next 12 months," said Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, the innovator and Publisher/Editor of Nigerians Report Online.

About FIRE AWARDS
Internet development in Africa is critical. As such, penetration rates must be enhanced, and the impacts and factors that affect Internet adoption and development must be analyzed and addressed.

The FIRE programme seeks out for actors from the African region to provide solutions to such issues by:

Supporting the development of affordable and efficient Internet infrastructure;
Developing and promoting the adoption of innovative applications and services;
Supporting individual rights awareness and strength trust between organizations and individuals in the region.
The FIRE programme will be sharing lessons learned on our collaborative platforms as a way to spread the word about successful projects and experiences from which communities around the region can learn and replicate when facing similar problems. The FIRE programme, which provides small grants and awards, has been set-up to help local and regional projects designed to introducing, improving and applying Internet technology for the benefit of African users and communities.

Grants will be provided to project proposals to be implemented in a period of 6 to 12 months in the range of 7,500 to USD 10,000 that are aligned with the funding categories and eligibility criteria. Project proposals should provide clear and concrete information about the proposed initiative so the evaluation committee can properly assess it. Innovation and development should be an integral part of all project proposals received during the application process.

The FIRE Programm provides financial support for projects in the form of "small grants." Grants are not repayable as no money or interest must be paid back. Grants allocation is decided through a competitive process following a rigorous selection process. This funding mechanism allows the use of flexible and simple management tools.

The funding categories for 2014 are:
Innovation on access provision:[/b] ICT access is a prevalent issue in the African region, especially for services that require broadband connectivity. Innovative solutions offering low cost deployment, low power consumption and low maintenance that expanded fixed and mobile access to the internet through new forms of technical and organizational arrangements as well as improved the quality of access based on issues of accessibility, disability and linguistic diversity.

E-Development: The development, deployment and enhancement of content, applications and solutions to support timely and relevant information dissemination on a large scale using a range of network infrastructures through a variety of devices.

Freedom of expression: Initiatives related to freedom of expression, freedom of association, privacy, security, consumer’s rights, new forms of intellectual property in the digital environment, and a wider range of issues related to Internet and human rights.

People need to vote online for the final round on http://www.fireafrica.org/theme/default/files/communitychoiceannounce_final3.pdf .

Monday, July 7, 2014

Nigeria Among Top 10 Largest Importers of Goods from United States of America

President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and President Barack Obama of the United States of America.

Africa's largest economy Nigeria is also the largest importer of goods from the United States of America.

Panama (22.5 percent)
Russia (19.6 percent)
Peru (17.9 percent)
Colombia (17.4 percent)
Ecuador (17.3 percent)
Hong Kong (17.3 percent)
Argentina (16.3 percent)
Nigeria (15.1 percent)
Chile (14.8 percent)
Indonesia (14.6 percent).

The United States exported $195.5 billion of goods and services in May 2014, according to data released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Commerce Department.

"The numbers show that the world's consumers continue to value U.S. goods and services for their quality and reliability," said Export-Import Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. "Given a level playing field, U.S. exporters can compete with anyone in the world, and Ex-Im Bank is proud to support them abroad as they support jobs here at home."

Exports of goods and services over the last twelve months totaled $2.3 trillion, which is 45.7 percent above the level of exports in 2009, and have been growing at an annualized rate of 8.9 percent when compared to 2009. - See more at: http://www.nigeriansreport.com/2014/07/top-10-countries-with-largest-annual.html#sthash.hHLEmNH5.dpuf

Top 10 Countries With the Largest Annual Imports of U.S. Goods

Panama (22.5 percent)
Russia (19.6 percent)
Peru (17.9 percent)
Colombia (17.4 percent)
Ecuador (17.3 percent)
Hong Kong (17.3 percent)
Argentina (16.3 percent)
Nigeria (15.1 percent)
Chile (14.8 percent)
Indonesia (14.6 percent).

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United States exported $195.5 billion of goods and services in May 2014, according to data released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Commerce Department.

"The numbers show that the world's consumers continue to value U.S. goods and services for their quality and reliability," said Export-Import Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. "Given a level playing field, U.S. exporters can compete with anyone in the world, and Ex-Im Bank is proud to support them abroad as they support jobs here at home."

Exports of goods and services over the last twelve months totaled $2.3 trillion, which is 45.7 percent above the level of exports in 2009, and have been growing at an annualized rate of 8.9 percent when compared to 2009.

During the same time period among the major export markets (i.e., markets with at least $6 billion in annual imports of U.S. goods), the countries with the largest annualized increase in U.S. goods purchases, when compared to 2009, were Panama (22.5 percent), Russia (19.6 percent), Peru (17.9 percent), Colombia (17.4 percent), Ecuador (17.3 percent), Hong Kong (17.3 percent), Argentina (16.3 percent), Nigeria (15.1 percent), Chile (14.8 percent) and Indonesia (14.6 percent).

ABOUT EX-IM BANK:Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that creates and maintains U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working-capital guarantees, export-credit insurance and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services. In the past fiscal year alone, Ex-Im Bank earned for U.S. taxpayers more than $1 billion above the cost of operations.

In FY 2013, Ex-Im Bank approved more than $27 billion in total authorizations to support an estimated $37.4 billion in U.S. export sales and approximately 205,000 American jobs in communities across the country. For the year, the Bank approved a record 3,413 transactions-- or 89 percent--for small-businesses. Small business exporters can learn about how Ex-Im Bank products can help them increase foreign sales at http://go.usa.gov/ZVTd. For other information about Ex-Im, visit www.exim.gov.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110414/MM83673LOGO

SOURCE Export-Import Bank of the United States
CONTACT: Lawton King (202-565-3200)

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Nigeria: Women Continue To Be Targeted by Boko Haram

PARIS, 2 July 2014 / PRNewswire Africa / - More than two months after the abduction on April 14, 2014, of 223 schoolgirls at Chibok, the fundamentalist jihadist sect Boko Haram is pursuing its attacks – the last one took place in Maïduguri on the 1st of July and killed more than 15 people – and is continuing to target women. FIDH calls on the Government of Nigeria and the international community to place respect for women's and human rights at the heart of their strategy against Boko Haram and against terrorism in the Sahel.

During the week of June 16, the terrorist group Boko Haram attacked several isolated villages, including Kummabza (Damboa locality) in the State of Borno, in north-eastern Nigeria, and reportedly abducted around another 60 women and girls, and 31 young boys. With this new attack, the number of women abducted during the last two months reaches 250, over 300 persons in all. On June 7, 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped 8 more women in the same town, Chibok.

“The fact that they kidnap women is significant of the reactionary, sexist and domineering nature of Boko Haram. The group pushes to its extreme consequences an unacceptable vision of the role of women in society. Our organisation calls on the Government of Nigeria and the international community to include in its fight against Boko Haram political, social and Human Rights considerations” declared Karim Lahidji at the close of the FIDH International Board meeting in Paris.

Boko Haram is pursuing its campaign of terror with a succession of attacks in Nigeria: around twenty during the last two months, causing over 300 military and civilian deaths. Whereas Boko Haram's actions are increasing in frequency and intensity, the Nigerian military response remains inadequate. In addition to the very numerous violations of Human Rights committed by the Nigerian military in the framework of the fight against Boko Haram, a large number of popular militia have been set up to fight the terrorist sect, such as the Maïduguri Civil Joint Task Force (CJTF), which reportedly has committed over 2,000 violations.
“Respect for Human Rights in the fight against Boko Haram is essential for the long term elimination of the causes of terrorism. Ensuring respect for women's rights and the economic development of the regions where the sect is active would contribute to the eventual cessation of Boko Haram's activities”, declared Alice Mogwe, FIDH Secretary General.

FIDH will continue to raise the issue of Boko Haram's crimes with the Government of Nigeria and the whole of the international community.SOURCE International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH)

Top News Reports

Friday, July 4, 2014

IBB, Peter Obi, Flavour and other Dignitaries at the Requiem Mass for Lady Uche Ikebuilo

Retired General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) commiserating with the husband of the deceased Chief G.M. Ikebuilo, Ichie Okenyi.

Lady Uche Vero Ikebuilo, JP (Oduludinma) was laid to rest on Thursday 26th June at her husband’s country home in Ichi town, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra state. The requiem mass was officiated by The Rt .Rev.Prof G.I.N Okpala (JP.ON) Anglican Bishop of Nnewi Diocese and The RT Rev.Dr Samuel Ezeofor, Bishop of Ogbaru. Late lady Vero Ikebuilo is the mother in law of Chief (Sir) Bishop Okonkwo, OFR, Chairman, Ekulo Group of companies.

Lady Ngozi Okonkwo with her friend Mrs. Ngozi Udokoro.

Igwe Ka Igwe, Igwe Peter Anugwu of Mbaukwu exchanging pleasantries with Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra state.

Chief (Sir) Emma Bishop Okonkwo and Chief Vincent Obianodo, Chairman of Young Shall Grow Motors.

Tears for Late Lady Uche Vero Ikebuilo.

Sir Emma Bishop Okonkwo and his boys.

Sir Emma Bishop Okonkwo and Chief Vincent Obianodo, Chairman of Young Shall Grow Motors.

Senator Andy Uba condoling with the Ikebuilos.

Retired Comptroller of Customs and Member of the Federal House of Representatives, Chief Jerry Alagbaoso, Asiwaju and Chief Dennis Okafor, Chairman of Denca Services Limited.