Leading Australian-headquartered, FirstWave has announced the signing of a three-year Level 1 Partner Agreement with Moja Access, part of CSquared Group, a pan-African technology company. FirstWave provides safety through the most accessible and adaptive cloud-based cybersecurity solutions that are affordable and easy to implement. Its unique proprietary cloudplatform orchestration is available for service providers and enterprises of any size, anywhere.

Moja Access is the Kenya-based operating company of CSquared, with a goal to make commercially driven investments to improve and increase connectivity and internet access in Sub-Saharan Africa. Internet users across the African nations can now be protected on CSquared’s network from cyber intruders, on a consumption basis, at an affordable monthly price.

In the initial phase of this partnership, FirstWave has deployed its recently launched FirstCloud WebProtect DNS platform for each of CSquared’s four territories for use by CSquared’s operating companies and Level 2 partners. The partnership builds on other recent signings opening further opportunity for FirstWave’s cybersecurity-as-a-service portfolio in Africa, first revenues to flow immediately under ‘opt-out’ path to market.

CSquared currently operates fibre and last mile WiFi networks in several cities across Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Liberia, with over 40 mobile operators and internet service providers relying on its infrastructure for serving mobile consumers and corporate customers. These four African nations had over 10 million Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and over 70 million internet users at the end of 2020.

FirstWave’s CEO, Neil Pollock, said, “I’m delighted to welcome CSquared Group’s Moja Access as our 8^th Level 1 partner and see initial revenues already flowing from the partnership. CSquared is a fast-growing pan- African service provider backed by two large global corporations Google LLC and Mitsui & Co. CSquared already delivers robust fibre connectivity and internet access to thousands of end-customers via its 40+ mobile operator and ISP clients. With revenues already delivered, the partnership has had a really positive start.”

In search for strategic initiatives that could lead to reduction of crashes and fatalities in south-western part of Africa, particularly Namibia, the Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mr Humphrey D Geiseb has expressed the highest level of satisfaction with the height of successes and technological drive achieved by Federal Road Safety Corps.

This is as he seeks for a veritable ground for the two countries to explore cooperation in the area of road safety and crash reduction.

In a statement by Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, the High Commissioner stated this during his visit to the national headquarters of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to him, Mr Humphrey revealed that Namibia has found FRSC as a model to be domesticated in their country, noting that his visit was to find out what the FRSC has put in place to mitigate crashes in Nigeria that has led to massive reduction in deaths and injuries on the road, so as to replicate this success story in Namibia.

“What we will learn from your success stories, I believe, will help reduce road traffic crashes in my country. Our supreme interest is not on the crash itself, but on how soon one can get rescued and urgent medical attention from the point of crash. I must say that I am honoured to be acquainted with the strategies put in place by the Corps to mitigate crashes in Nigeria”.

He added that the search for what Namibia should do to end all incidences of crashes in the country, particularly during festive seasons is the cardinal factor that informed the decision for the visit.

In his response, the Corps Marshal FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi commended the commitment of Namibian Government to the safety of lives and properties in their country and the existing mutual relationship between the two countries.

While explaining how herculean saving lives on Nigeria’s 204,000 km road network stretched across a land mass covering over 923,000 square metres could be, Oyeyemi noted that the Corps was able to achieve great successes through series of comprehensive support received from successive governments in Nigeria, beginning from 1988 when the Corps was established. He also pointed out other strategic interventions and supports from international donors, including the World Bank, European Union, United nations, World health Organization etc.

He urged the High Commissioner to emulate what is obtainable in Nigeria and ensure that the Agency saddled with the responsibility in Namibia is properly equipped for optimal performance, as he thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support and commitment to the safety of lives and properties of all road users in the country.

Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has appointed a Ministerial Committee to advice on the amendment of the Electoral Act.

This comes after a July 2020 Constitutional Court ruling found that the Electoral Act (Act 73 of 1998) was unconstitutional.

This was in regards to that the Act requires that adult citizens may be elected to the National Assembly and Provincial Legislatures only through their political parties.

Addressing reporters on Wednesday, the Minister said a programme was in February set out on how the matter would be taken forward after several meetings and briefings with the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs.

“This team includes lawyers, political scientists, social scientists, and architects of electoral systems who have extensive experience. We have also met this Committee and it too has started its work,” he said.

He said the committee was awaiting the confirmation of two more nominations, each from the Finance Minister and the SA Law Reform Commission (SALRC), through the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services.

“I am grateful to members of both Ministerial Committees for availing their collective skills and time as we build the South Africa we want,” he said.

The Committee consists of:

·        Mohammed Valli Moosa – Chairperson. He is the former Minister of Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development.

·        Advocate Pansy Tlakula – the former Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission and the longest serving Chief Electoral Office.

·        Advocate Vincent Maleka – a Senior Council with extensive experience in representing several clients up to the Constitutional Court.

·        Dr Mike Sutcliffe – former member of the Demarcation Board and former Ethekwini Municipal Manager.

·        Dr Sithembile Mbete – political scientist and senior lecturer at the University of Pretoria.

·        Norman du Plessis – former Deputy Chief Electoral Officer with extensive experience in electoral operations and electoral systems.

·        Prof Daryl Glaser – political scientist and Head of Department: Political Studies at Wits University. He has extensive international experience on electoral systems and electoral reforms.

·        Dr Nomsa Masuku – Commissioner of the Independent Electoral Commission, an academic and a champion of civic and democracy education. She is a former Deputy Chief Electoral Officer responsible for Outreach.

– SAnews.gov.za

Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has approved the appointment of Malam Danladi Sanusi Maiyamba as the Mai Tangle.

The Commissioner, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ibrahim Dasuki Jalo who conveyed the approval said the Governor exercises the powers vested in him under the Gombe state Chieftaincy Law, 2020 and based on the recommendation of the Kingmakers of the Tangale Chiefdom.

The approval letter presented to the new Mai Tangle in Poshiya, Billiri, said the appointment of Malam Danladi Maiyamba was informed by his personal qualities and suitability.

The presentation ceremony was witnessed by the Chairperson of Billiri Local Government Council, 9 Kingmakers of the Billiri Chiefdom, members of the traditional council and other functionaries.

A statement by the Director General Press Affairs, Usmaila Uba Misilli said the presentation of Staff of Office will be done in due course.

Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed Tuesday reconciled with his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom.

The face-off between the governors followed alleged comments credited to Bala Mohammed over the activities of Fulani herdsmen which drew counter reaction from Ortom .

Governors Wike of Rivers State and Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa facilitated the reconciliation between the two PDP Governors at the residence of Wike in Port Harcourt.

Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, Governor Bala thanked the Governors of Rivers and Adamawa  for leading the reconciliation.

He described their relationship as cordial despite the recent misunderstandings.

On his part, Governor Ortom who recalled his relationship with Governor Bala said the PDP Governors will continue to remain united more than ever before.

Ortom promised to continue to strengthen his togetherness  with Governor Bala to protect the lives and properties of their people.

Governor Wike and Governor Fintiri thanked the two Governors for accepting the dialogue, saying that, their earlier misunderstanding shows their commitment to protecting the interest of their people.