UBER CEO, TRAVIS KALANICK, RESIGNS

Founder of popular ride-sharing service, Uber, Travis Kalanick stepped down Tuesday as chief executive. He helped found the Company in 2009. A shareholder revolt made it untenable for him to stay on at the company.

Mr. Kalanick’s exit came under pressure after hours of drama involving Uber’s investors, said confidential sources with knowledge of the situation.

Earlier on Tuesday, five of Uber’s major investors demanded that the chief executive resign immediately. The investors included one of Uber’s biggest shareholders, the venture capital firm Benchmark, which has one of its partners, Bill Gurley, on Uber’s board. The investors made their demand for Mr. Kalanick to step down in a letter delivered to the chief executive while he was in Chicago, said the people with knowledge of the situation.

In the letter, titled “Moving Uber Forward” and obtained by The New York Times, the investors wrote to Mr. Kalanick that he must immediately leave and that the company needed a change in leadership. Mr. Kalanick, 40, consulted with at least one Uber board member and after long discussions with some of the investors, he agreed to step down. He will remain on Uber’s board of directors.

 “I love Uber more than anything in the world and at this difficult moment in my personal life I have accepted the investors request to step aside so that Uber can go back to building rather than be distracted with another fight,” Mr. Kalanick said in a statement.

Uber’s board said in a statement that Mr. Kalanick had “always put Uber first” and that his stepping down as chief executive would give the company “room to fully embrace this new chapter in Uber’s history.” An Uber spokesman declined to comment further.

His resignation follows the company’s woes that started this year over allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination at the work place. His troubles began earlier this year after a former Uber engineer detailed what she said was sexual harassment at the company, opening the floodgates for more complaints and spurring internal investigations. 

Mr. Kalanick turned the company into the world’s dominant ride-hailing service and upended the transportation industry around the globe. He had said last week that he would take an indefinite leave of absence.

36TH EDITION OF START-UP SUNDAY JUST HELD IN PORT-HARCOURT AND IT WAS LIT!

Christmas arrived before December for PH Start-ups last Sunday as Kendall Ananyi, Founder of wifi.com.ng, in true Santa-Claus like fashion, came with a bag of tips to enable start-ups build their companies purely from their personal and operational finances. Kendall spoke on ‘Bootstrapping to a $1m run rate in Africa’ during his mentoring session at the 36th edition of Start-Up Sunday, held last Sunday in Port-Harcourt. 

Kendall Ananyi Credit- Parks Photo

It was eye-opening for some participants and start-up founders. Kendall spoke about how start-ups can self-finance first before seeking investment from venture capitalists or angel-investors. He shared his personal experience failing at setting up several start-ups prior to wifi.com.ng.

He also spoke about how he was able to run wifi.com.ng with his personal finances and from the operating revenues of the company before his company’s participation at Y-Combinator. It was highly interactive as participants were equally prepared with intelligent questions.

Photo Credit- Parks Photo

Photo Credit- Parks Photo

Start-Up Sunday's 36th edition was a bumper package as it also featured a Pitching exercise, Fireside chat, networking sessions, elevator pitch challenge and updates on the Port-Harcourt start-up guide project update. Perhaps the most exciting and inspiring highlight was the mentoring session with Kendall Ananyi, Founder wifi.com.ng.

Pitching Exercise-  Photo Credit- Parks Photo

Fireside Chat - Photo Credit- Parks Photo

The Pitching exercise featured two start-ups from students of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Tank Truck by Daniel Alisi and Tabanatech, a church data management software system by Samuel Adiela. They were also able to receive feedback from participants at the Start-Up Sunday. I was also graced by Start-Up Wizs in Port-Harcourt like Uche Aniche of Venuehero.co and convener Start-Up South and Mayple Dappa, CEO of Fayples.com

Photo Credit- Parks Photo

Photo Credit- Parks Photo

In all, Start-Up Sunday’s 36^th edition was fun and laughter but most importantly inspirational, educational and thought-provoking. Watch out for the next edition on the 3rd Sunday in July.

Access Bank, others, take over Etisalat Nigeria- Here's what went wrong

Etisalat Nigeria, Nigeria’s fourth largest telecom operator, ran into trouble with the consortium of banks, led by Access Bank PLC, following its failure to meet its obligations in respect of a $1.72 billion (about N541.8 billion) loan facility it obtained in 2015.

The loan, which involved a foreign-backed guarantee bond, was for the mobile telephone operator to finance a major network rehabilitation and expansion of its operational base in Nigeria.

After the repayment of the loan failed in 2016, the consortium, with the backing of their foreign partners, threatened to take over the company and its asset across Nigeria.

The intervention of the NCC and the CBN persuaded the banks to give Etisalat a chance to renegotiate the loan repayment schedule.But, the company also reneged on the pledge to pay up by May 31, resulting in a final default note and enforcement notice issued on June 9, 2017.

EMTS has already announced the commencement of the process to unveil a new shareholding structure and new trading name for the company during the transition phase.

Etisalat Group, the parent company of Etisalat Nigeria, on Tuesday announced the changes to Etisalat Nigeria’s shareholding in a letter filed to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate.

UAE’s Etisalat (Etisalat Group), with a 45 per cent stake in the Nigerian arm, also said it had been ordered to transfer its shares to a loan trustee by June 23, after negotiations failed, Reuters reported. It added it was carrying the stake at nil value.

The Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited, also known as Etisalat Nigeria, has up to June 23, 2017 to complete the transfer of 100 per cent of the company’s shares in Etisalat Nigeria to the United Capital Trustees Limited, the legal representative of the consortium of 13 banks.

While assuring its subscribers that the latest development would not affect its normal operations and the continued delivery of quality services, Etisalat Nigeria Vice President, Regulatory & Corporate Affairs, Ibrahim Dikko, said the company would mobilise its workforce to build a stronger business.

The NCC has reassured the over 21 million telephone subscribers on the Etisalat Nigeria network that it is committed to exercising its full regulatory powers to guarantee stable and quality services by the operator.

“The Commission has taken proactive steps to cushion the impact of the takeover,” Mr. Ojobo said. “This is without prejudice to the ongoing effort between Etisalat and the banks toward negotiated settlement.

“In view of the recent development, NCC wishes to reassure all stakeholders in the telecommunications sector in particular the subscribers on the Etisalat Network that the Commission will ensure that the integrity of Etisalat Network is not compromised.”

He also drew the attention of the consortium of banks involved in the planned takeover of the terms and conditions that guided the award of an operational license to Etisalat Nigeria, indicating that they would need the permission of the NCC before the license is assigned or a new operator comes on board in compliance with the NCC Act 2003.

Founder of Wifi.com.ng, Kendall Ananyi, to speak at Start-Up Sunday June Meetup in Port-Harcourt

Kendall Ananyi, CEO of Tizeti (wifi.com.ng) just got funding from Silicon Valley and he is willing to share a few tips with you in Port-Harcourt this Sunday. He is the guest at this month’s edition of Start-up Sunday. He will be speaking on “Boostrapping to a $1m run rate in Africa”. Kendall will also share his recent path to receiving investment. Such investments are the African Start-Up dream.

Wifi.com.ng offers high speed and unlimited internet access to customers using next generation wi-fi technology. Kendall recently graduated from Y-Combinator, an organisation in Silicon Valley involved in funding and mentoring early-stage start-ups. They have funded over 1,400 start-ups since 2005.

Start-up Sunday is convened by Netopps. It holds monthly in the garden city of Port Harcourt. It is a forum for start-ups to come together to share ideas, connect with potential partners, develop and nurture products.

It holds this Sunday, 18^th June at the Elkan Terrace (Conference Room), 12b Abacha link Road, GRA, Port Harcourt by 3pm.

3 things to learn from the Phyno-Pia-Mia Song theft controversy

Background story

Phyno is much loved by Nigerians because of his unique style of music and creativity. His song ‘I’m a fan’ featuring Mr. Eazi and Decarlo released in 2016 as part of his “The Playmaker” album was an instant hit. I personally like the song.

That song has however become the source of much controversy recently. American singer and songwriter, Pia Mia released a version of the song in May 2017 featuring singer Jeremih. Due to the striking similarity in Phyno and Pia Mia’s version of the song, there have been allegations of infringement of copyright by Pia Mia. Nigerians have taken to troll the American singer on social media.

You can listen to both versions here. Phyno is yet to give details on this and reacting to reports that he co-produced the song with Pia-Mia's producer, has said his lawyers are involved.

Arguments on who produced it and whether it was a fall out of co-owners of the song aside, here are 3 things you should take away from the Phyno-PiaMia controversy.

Establish your content is original

Original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, sound recordings, films and broadcasts are entitled to copyright protection. Your content has to be original not a copy of someone else’s song or artistical work. Where sufficient effort has been expended on making the work to give it an original character, it becomes the sole property of the Owner. Only the Owner can transmit the work by testamentary disposition or by operation of law. The Owner has an exclusive right over the work and it is unlawful for any other person to reproduce, publish, translate, perform in public, make, rent, lease, hire, broadcast, adapt or tamper with the work without the Owner's licence or assignment.

It also has to have been fixed in a definite medium. You need not have registered it as copyright unlike other forms of intellectual property does not require registration for validity.

Protection Is Key- Contact your lawyer

Negotiation is the first course of action. Owners may demand compensation for use of their work and the immediate cessation of the infringement. They can also demand delivery of all original and copies of the infringed work or an agreement for use of their work in future.However, if the other person is unwilling to stop the infringement or withdraw the infringing material despite notice, you may need to get an injunction from the courts or sue for damages.

Because of our reciprocity agreements with other countries, copyright recognised in Nigeria can be enforced internationally and vice versa in countries signed up to certain international agreements

Also, while registration for copyright protection is not a condition for the validity of your copyright as it exists the moment the work was created, it may go a mile in helping protect it in the event of infringement due to these reasons.

You can register your work with the Nigerian Copyright Commission. You also need to realise that you have a right against everyone else to reap the benefit from your work as long as it suits the criteria above. Do not hesitate to seek adequate remuneration for use of your material and compensation for infringement of your copyrights.

You can co-own copyright with others

Where you co-authored a work with someone else, it is important to keep records of it as you might be co-owners

To be co-owners of a copyrighted work, each author must contribute copyright-able subject matter to the work. Each contribution must comply with the originality requirement and other and must not be simply ideas, refinements and suggestions.  There has to be intention, at the time the writing is done, that the parts be absorbed or combined into a single, whole unit.

Each co-owner has an independent right to use or license the use of the copyright in an independently created work without the need to obtain the consent of the other co-owners. He may however need to render account to his co-owner

In the Phyno-Pia-Mia case, they would need to determine if the song was intended to be co-owned in terms of their contributions to the production.

TRENDING - SHOCKING CCTV FOOTAGE OF PHYSIOTHERAPIST ABUSING CEREBRAL PALSY CHILD

Bisola Abayomi-Ojo

A CCTV footage from a school in Lagos has revealed the shocking abuse of a child with cerebral palsy by her physiotherapist Anthonia Bisola Abayomi-Ojo.

The child’s mother, Bukola Ayinde, revealed the incident via a post on BellaNaija. This disturbing video has enraged a lot of Nigerians and there is currently an online petition for the deportation of the physiotherapist currently in the United States as a Madela Washington Fellow and also a revocation of her licence.

According to Bukola, she trusted her physiotherapist who came highly recommended and was well paid. However, her daughter’s school proprietress in June 2016 showed her and her husband a video of Bisola manhandling her daughter

According to Bukola, ‘I watched my daughter as she fell down several times hitting her head on the tiles. There were times she hit her head on the edge of the wooden bed before falling to the ground.

Her Physiotherapist slapped her three times; the third time with her cell phone. She left her head hanging upside for 5 minutes. She twisted my daughter’s hands several times; at a point she sat on her hands, at another point she tied her hands behind her head. I watched as my daughter fell from her chair while her neck was stuck in between the space at the vertical back rest and the flat wood used for sitting down. I watched on as this lady typed on her phone 90% of the time only taking some time off to torture my daughter. Did I mention that she took out time to take her selfie? Up to five times.’

The case was reported to the Police and the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board but Bukola is  unsatisfied with the punishment believing she was merely given a slap on the wrist by a mere Three months withdrawal of her practicing license, Three months work in a general hospital under supervision without pay and to undergo a psychiatric test. Upon further investigation, she alleges the case has gone cold at the Board and the Bisola Abayomi-Ojo is currently on a Mandela Washington Fellowship out of the country

Bukola wants justice and wants the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board to declare her unfit to work. Bukola says ‘ I was shocked beyond words that someone I trusted with my daughter could treat her worse than an animal. I believe that even an animal shouldn’t be treated that way.’

Read the full story here

Rivers at 50- Ten businesses maximising social media in Port-Harcourt

Rivers clocked 50 years on the 27th May 2017. In this age, social media is the new cash cow. A few businesses are cashing in and we decided to itemise ten businesses that are taking real advantage of social media platforms to create awareness of their business and increase sales.

  Dripples Cakes

 This is one brand that has been able to maximise social media to promote its business in Port-    Harcourt. It currently has about 49000 followers on Instagram and has started online cake making  classes. This is definitely one brand to watch with its engagement on social media

  Touch PH

 Touch PH is arguably one of Port-harcourt’s leading destination guides. Anyone who needs  information on where to find anything in PH s a tweet away courtesy of TouchPH and they receive  loads of tweets daily with such requests. They are also involved in promoting brands and events  online. It currently has about 65, 000 followers on twitter alone

Mudase Urban market Mudase is not your regular market. It’s located in the cosy environment of GRA PH where customers can shop fresh food items in a cosy environment. They have been able to successfully deploy twitter to promote their business, regularly showcasing meals and offers via that platform Pam Drive Positioned to be the ‘Uber’ of Port-Harcourt, Pam Drive is a taxi hailing service aiming to use the latest in technology to reduce stress and time in getting a cab within the garden city. They are massive on twitter and have been able to maximise it to their advantage Venue hero.co Africa's Venue Hero have been able to use twitter massively as one of its platforms to help individuals and corporate organisations find and book great venues for their events. It also helps event facility owners get in touch with potential clients. PH Tafia A social media promotion platform like Touch PH, PH Tafia is an online awareness creation platform. Makes major use of twitter to publish information on happenings in Nigeria and Port-Harcourt as well as promote brands and events. Palomino Body Shop Palomino Body Shop located in GRA, PH is one of Port-Harcourt’s oldest Spa and fitness center. It has decided to make use of modern technology to leverage on its place and constantly posts pictures and videos on Instagram to motivate people to fitness and also to create awareness of its retinue of fitness events and luxury spa treats and sessions Sisi Collection hair This weave and wig guru is making hair look sexy online. With continuous pictures on Instagram of its recent collections, sales and discounts, business will keep booming for this outlet

Exodus Cafe

Exodus Cafe and Lounge is one of the finest lounges and Clubs in the city. Located in GRA, this fun and relaxation spot for those with the finest of tastes is big on Instagram, constantly putting fun and cool pictures of their events

Coffee Shop PH

The Coffee Shop boasts of the Ultimate Coffee Experience in PH. The Coffee Shop offers Specialty Drinks such as Hot and Cold Coffee, Milkshakes, Smoothies, Frappacinos, and Snacks. They are making ample use of Instagram

Trending- #justiceforchisom Nigerians calls for justice for young woman who allegedly died of medical negligence in a Lagos Hospital

Family and friends of late Chisom Jane Anekwe (nee Okereke) are demanding for justice after her death at the Magodo Specialist Hospital, Lagos.  She died on April 30th, 2017, while giving birth to her third child. Her family and friends including members of the LEAP Africa alumni are alleging that she was left unattended for a long time in the midst of labour and pregnancy complications. The mother of two was laid to rest in Awka, Anambra state yesterday. 

Some medical practitioners have questioned certain aspects of the incident while others have joined in condemning her death. The Hospital is yet to share its side of the story on these allegations. Whichever way, one thing  is that Chisom's story will help to bring the thorny issue of medical negligence in Nigeria to the front burner again. There is currently an online petition being signed by concerned individuals

Here is a narration of a member of LEAP Africa alumni on the incident-

"Today we (LEAP Africa Alumni) bury one of our finest member and we can't help but to push out the story of how she died so individuals, families, and our society at large will perhaps take nothing for granted when it comes to women giving birth. Life is sacred and those who treat it with recklessness should be called to order.

So, this is Chisom Anekwe (nee Okereke), a young, vivacious, graceful, kind-hearted and intelligent woman who had devoted her life to helping indigent kids and giving their lives a meaning. She’s an alumna of LEAP Africa.

Two weeks ago, precisely April 30th 2017, Chisom died under questionable circumstances at Magodo Specialist Hospital in Lagos while trying to birth her third offspring. We believe strongly that the authorities need to ensure that lives are taken sacred in hospitals like Magodo Specialist Hospital.

Chisom was admitted in the hospital four days before she got into labour. She already had two daughters birthed in the same hospital and was there to birth her third child, a son. While at the hospital, no one attended to her when she needed help to be delivered of the long awaited baby. She was left for hours in labour. This happened until her husband created a scene, which eventually caused the doctors to go to her ward and on inspection they found out that the baby had struggled and died.

The husband at this point requested for a CS which he paid for and even signed the consent form presented by the hospital. He was then tricked out of the room to go prepare for blood transfusion and on getting back, he found out that the doctors had induced the wife and delivered the dead baby without operation not minding that the CS procedure had been paid for. This was without his consent

Call for Applications for the Health Meets Tech App Challenge

EpiAfric and Digital Health Nigeria proudly announce a call for applications for the Health Meets Tech Application Challenge, holding between June 30th and July 2nd, May 2017.

The challenge will bring existing health tech start-ups and new teams of 3–6 individuals to create, develop and pitch viable technological solutions to improve health outcomes for the average Nigerian. Solutions judged to be viable and promising will be supported with prizes and mentoring to improve clinical viability, exposure and market adoption. The Co-Creation Hub will deliver the Health Meets Tech App Challenge in Yaba, Lagos.

Who may apply?
 Interested persons may register to participate, with or without an idea, as your expertise will be used within a team to develop an application. We are looking for:

• Health care workers
• Health care users
• Software developers
• Ideators
• UI/UX designers
• Entrepreneurs
• Business people
• Start-ups
• You

Application Rules

• All participants must register in advance of the event. Registration closes 2 weeks prior to event and day-of registrations will not be allowed.
• All project teams must be comprised of 3–6 members. If team comprises of less than 3, additional members may be gotten via the event’s fb group.
• Existing teams/ businesses are allowed in this challenge. However, the work to be done during the challenge must be new in either the type of tech deployed or its application.
• No advance contact may be made with judges regarding projects, and knowledge of such communication may lead to a team’s removal from the competition.
• Solutions should be working demos and must be presented at the conclusion of the event.

How to Apply?

Please apply here.
 For more information on the challenge, please visit the website at http://www.futureofhealthconference.com/healthappchallenge/# or contact the EpiAfric team by emailing admin@epiafric.com

Note that the challenge begins on June 30th, 2017 and only applications received on or before June 15th, 2017 will be considered

 Originally published on Nigeria Health Watch

Nigeria issues guidelines on how to protect your system from global massive ransomware attack

Nigeria has issued an advisory on how to protect your computer from ransomware currently affecting over 99 countries globally. More than 45,000 attacks recorded in countries including the UK, Russia, India and China may have originated with theft of ‘cyber weapons’ from the NSA.

A ransomware cyber-attack that may have originated from the theft of “cyber weapons” from the National Security Agency (NSA) of the US government has been terrifying the globe. More than 45,000 attacks in 99 countries, including the UK, Russia, Ukraine, India, China, Italy, and Egypt were recorded. The attack has left devastating effects like crippling hospitals in England and major telecommunication companies like Telefónica in Spain.

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a user’s data, then demands payment in exchange for unlocking the data. In this incident, malicious software called “WanaCrypt0r 2.0” or WannaCry, that has the ability to exploit a weakness in Windows was used. Microsoft released a software update that fixes the problem (a patch) for the flaw in March, but computers that have not installed the security update remain vulnerable.

The malware was made available online on 14 April through a dump by A group called Shadow Brokers, claimed to have stolen a cache of “cyber weapons” from the National Security Agency (NSA) last year. This year they made it available online on April 14. The NSA was initially sceptical but has been criticised of acting too slow and for stockpiling these vulnerabilities instead of giving it to persons capable of fixing them. The attack is stated by cyber security experts not to target big institutions but ‘anyone that got it’

In Nigeria, the Director General, of NITDA, Ibrahim Pantami, issued guidelines on protection of personal and workplace computers from being affected by ransomware.

“Should your system be infected by ransomware, isolate the system from your network to prevent the threat from further spreading. In addition, the following actions can be taken immediately:

• Remove the system from Network.

• Do not use flash/pen drive, external drives on the System to copy files to other systems.

• Format the System completely and get fresh OS copy installed.

As a general precautionary measure, NITDA recommended that individuals and organisations should:

• Regularly update their operating systems with the latest patches.

• Regularly update their software applications with latest patches.

• Avoid downloading and opening unsolicited files and attachments.

• Adjust security software to scan compressed or archived files.

Avoid indiscriminate use of wireless connections, such as Bluetooth or infrared ports.

If in need of emergency assistance, contact NITDA Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT) on: 800-9988-7766- 5544 or e-mail: support@cerrt.ng.

UBER VS. TAXIFY – Mark Essien, Hotels.ng founder, believes Nigerians prefer lower prices over quality service? Tell us what you think

Mark Essien of hotels.ng recently predicted on his twitter page ‘Taxify will crush Uber in Nigeria. Uber cares about quality, but Nigerians care about price. Taxify is barely vetting cars, Uber is strongly.’ Its quite an interesting argument to make, because  while i love a good bargain, i definitely love quality too.

The genesis of the argument is the fact that Lagosians are not pleased with Uber, complaining about the quality of Uber’s pricing and service and comparing them to other competitors like Taxify and Oga Taxi. Even though some experts do not believe that other competitors can ever win Uber in the ride-sharing war, from other examples around the globe and based on peculiar industry issues. Read here

Uber recently tried to appease its customers by reducing its fares by 40% in Lagos. Uber’s price reduction was in response to the latest price rate slash by Taxify, an Estonian international transportation network company. According to Uber in a statement, “...you can now request a high-quality ride for the same price as small chops!”

So while still hoping Uber will set up shop in PH and let us into the mouth watering bargain, let’s find out what you think-  which would you rather choose in a ride, quality or low price?

Mark Zuckerberg apologises for Whatsapp temporary shut down, to add 3,000 staff to stop suicide, murder on facebook

Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg has apologized to all Whatsapp users who experienced a temporary shutdown of the services last week. WhatsApp, a popular messaging service owned by Facebook Inc, suffered a widespread global outage on Wednesday that lasted for several hours before being resolved. The apology reads: “Earlier today, WhatsApp users in all parts of the world were unable to access WhatsApp for a few hours. We have now fixed the issue and apologise for the inconvenience.” 

WhatsApp was down in parts of India, Canada, the United States and Brazil, according to Reuters. It affected people who use the service on Apple Inc’s iOS operating system, Alphabet Inc’s Android and Microsoft Corp’s Windows mobile OS. WhatsApp’s is used by more than 1.2 billion people around the world and is a key tool for communications and commerce in many countries. The service was acquired by Facebook in 2014 for $19 billion.

Zuckerberg has also beefed up the number of administrators on Facebook from 4500 to 7500. This is in order to enable adequate review of activities on the Platform especially in the light of live suicide and killings via Facebook  

Zuckerberg in a statement, said: “If we’re going to build a safe community, we need to respond quickly. We’re working to make these videos easier to report so we can take the right action sooner – whether that’s responding quickly when someone needs help or taking a post down. Over the next year, we’ll be adding 3,000 people to our community operations team around the world – on top of the 4,500 we have today – to review the millions of reports we get every week, and improve the process for doing it quickly. “These reviewers will also help us get better at removing things we don’t allow on Facebook like hate speech and child exploitation. And we’ll keep working with local community groups and law enforcement who are in the best position to help someone if they need it – either because they’re about to harm themselves, or because they’re in danger from someone else”.

According to Zuckerberg, these measures were because last week, he got a report that someone went Live on the platform to confess he was considering suicide. However, Zuckerber said he and his team immediately reached out to law enforcement, and they were able to prevent him from hurting himself. 

Port-harcourt Hubs host Facebook Head of Platform Partnerships in Middle East and Africa, Chukwuemeka Afigbo

Tech Hubs and Start-Ups in Port-Harcourt are still reeling from the recent visit of Facebook’s Head of Platform Partnerships in Middle East and Africa, Chukwuemeka Afigbo to the Garden City on the 28th of April. During the visit, he had several meet-ups with Port-Harcourt’s tech and start-up ecosystem. His purpose - To engage with start-up entrepreneurs and business owners on how Facebook can assist in developing the tech ecosystem in their communities.

He was hosted at the Skybar lounge at Genesis Galleria, GRA, where he interacted with developers, tech enthusiasts, bloggers and start-up founders. Emeka narrated his very interesting story of his sojourn into tech, first with SocketWorks and subsequently Google then Facebook. To Emeka, the biggest threat facing the tech ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East is the difficulty to scale product team as start-ups gains traction. He advised start-ups and techprenuers to be consistent in whatever they do irrespective of how small.  For startups training developers, he urged them to provide some form of incentive for the trainees like post- training hiring opportunities, similar to the Andela model.

Emeka also toured Port-Harcorut tech hubs like Ken Saro Wiwa hub, Bubbles, Olotu Square and KoWorkNg which are all hubs for start-ups and tech entrepreneurs in Port-Harcourt. His visit to Port-Harcourt was facilitated Uche Aniche of Venuehero.co / Start-Up South South and Bereni Fiberisima of Start-Up Port-Harcourt, both widely acclaimed start-up grandmasters in Port-Harcourt city.

AFTER 93 DAYS OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, INTERNET SERVICES RESTORED IN CAMEROON

Internet services have resumed in two English speaking regions of Cameroon after a 93 day blackout. President Paul Biya ordered the restoration of internet services yesterday April 20. 

The internet was cut off in January in the north-western and south-western regions, following protest from English speaking community against alleged discrimination by Cameroon's French-speaking majority. The government had alleged that social media was being used to spread false information. The government pressured mobile operators like MTN to shut down the internet by including suspension of internet connectivity as part of their license conditions. No prior notice was given before the internet shut down

Various regional internet and digital rights groups like Internet Sans Frontiers and Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) canvassed for a restoration of internet services in Cameroon using such hashtags like #bringbackourinternet and #keepiton. Top UN officials viewed it as a rights violation.

Sadly, African leaders are increasingly embracing internet shutdowns as tools to stifle spread of information on social media. Countries like Gambia, Congo, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe have all shut down the internet in their countries previously. Even though neighbouring Ghana did not shut down the internet during elections, its Police Chief advocated for it. According to reports, the internet in African countries was shut more than 50 times in 2016. This has spurred proposals to punish African governments if they shut down access to the internet

It is hoped that Nigeria would not join this negative trend

TBOSS AND KEMEN - SOCIAL MEDIA EXPOSES NIGERIAS RAPE CULTURE

One of the most controversial issues emanating from the Big Brother Naija 2017 house is the alleged sexual assault of Tboss by Kemen. During the competition, a video emanated of Kemen allegedly touching Tboss inappropriately while asleep presumably without her consent. The backlash that emanated from this video leading to Kemen’s disqualification and dismissal from the house was enormous. However, what will always go down in history are the chain of events and comments succeeding his disqualification. How some Nigerian men and women rose up to his defence, how some blamed Tboss, the victim, for being a ‘witch’ and cursing Kemen with her bed, how she was the reason for kemen’s misfortune in the house and most recently, how AY, a popular comedian who should know better, justified Kemen’s actions as one of the things that some men do.

Kemen has a right to move on, Tboss has a right to forgive him but what we do not have a right to do as a society is to trivialise such a matter. Justifying what may amount to sexual assault is by no means tasteful. AY saying it was something men or women can testify happens to them is uncouth. How can you compare what happens in consensual relationships or marriages to a girl who has not consented to you touching her while she is asleep. It just doesn’t make any sense to me and to think he should know better! I wonder if it was his daughter, he would still make such distasteful jokes.

Thankfully, social media has exposed just how deep our prejudices against sexual abuse victims are. It has exposed our rape culture which always blames the girl for the man’s inability to keep that thing in his pants or his fingers to himself. I only hope we will use this power of the social media to keep driving these conversations to restore sanity to our system and to bridge the gender divide. To all the women who have spoken out about this and all the men who have lent their voices in support, kudos to you. We shall not be silenced.