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Re-Ignite PA Congratulates Badejo-Okusanya on re-election as President of PR Continental Body

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The entire management and staff of Re-Ignite Public Affairs Limited congratulate their Group Managing Director Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya on his re-election as the President of African Public Relations Association (APRA) for two-year tenure at the just concluded 2018 annual conference of the association in Gaborone, Botswana.

In a statement signed by the Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer of Re-Ignite Public Affairs in Abuja Mr. Franklyn Ginger-Eke, the management also commends the flagship firm in the group, CMC Connect Burson-Marsteller for winning a competitive laurel of the Holmes Report’s continental SABRE Awards at the conference.

Badejo-Okusanya‘s re-election by the delegates to the annual congress of member nations of Africa Public Relations Association is a show of confidence on the capacity and tremendous values he has brought to the association. His re-lection is also a mark of honor and recognition of Nigeria as one of the few nations propelling the frontiers of growth for the professional practice of public relations in Africa.

YBO as he is fondly called by friends and professional colleagues has for over a decade been flying Nigeria’s flag at the continental body. His highly inspiring and remarkable works in public relations over the years have indeed made him to stand out as a national, continental and global PR icon.

Speaking on this outstanding feat, deputy director of Re-Ignite Public Affairs, Mr Adetola Odusote who is also the Secretary General of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria, PRCAN, exalted the newly re-elected President. “YBO”, he said, “has done so much for PR profession not only in Nigeria but across Africa. When he was the Secretary General of APRA, he was able to get Africa’s heads of governments to recognise and affiliate with APRA through the African Union [AU]. That was why he was able to get the AU to host the 26th edition of the APRA Conference at the newly constructed AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2014. The conference was flagged off by the then AU Chairperson and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemaeian Desalegn.

“We also wish to congratulate the entire management of our sister firm CMC Connect Burson-Marsteller for beating other public relations firms across Africa to emerge winners of the coveted Holmes Reports’ 2018 SABRE Awards Africa in the Public Sector/Government category; and for receiving a Certificate of Excellence on its entry for Airtel Touching Lives Season 3 in the Corporate Social Responsibility category”, Odusote stated.

“While wishing the APRA President a successful new tenure in office, we want to encourage APRA not to waiver in its determination to change the African narrative and reposition the continent for global appreciation as the new investment destination of choice with young and talented population,” Ginger-Eke concluded.

Re-Ignite Public Affairs is Nigeria’s first full service public affairs consulting firm that deploys innovative trends in providing research based, strategic solutions aimed at enhancing democracy, good governance and effective stakeholders engagement.

Re-Ignite empowers organizations with tools that enhance governmental and legislative relationships; shape public policy and public opinion towards achieving their business goals.

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IBEDC records 1,459 energy theft cases in January, February

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The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company said it has recorded 1,459 cases of energy theft by its subscribers between January and February 2024.

This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the firm’s Chief Key Accounts Officer, Mr. Johnson Tinuoye, on Tuesday.

IBEDC added that it is actively pursuing investigations and legal actions against individuals and businesses involved in the theft in collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences.

Identifying the cases, IBEDC said they included various offences such as meter bypass and illegal meter tampering, which resulted in significant financial losses amounting to hundreds of millions of naira for the company.

The statement read, “We want to send a clear message to our customers that energy theft will not be tolerated. Our collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences underscores our commitment to ensuring a fair and just electricity distribution system.

“Energy theft not only undermines the integrity of our operations but also deprives IBEDC of the revenue necessary to provide quality services to our customers.”

Tinuoye emphasised that under the Electricity Act, energy theft is now recognised as a criminal offense, carrying severe penalties including imprisonment stressing, “In the Osun region, two individuals were apprehended for stealing energy through meter bypass and illegal connections. Their cases have been formally charged in court for prosecution.”

IBEDC further urged customers to refrain from engaging in any form of energy theft, emphasising that the consequences can be severe, as there is no room for negotiation with the SIPTEO Task Force team, which is actively patrolling and investigating instances of energy theft for prosecution.

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Copyright Breach: NCC Drags MTN, Others To Court Over Musician’s Works

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The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has filed criminal charges against MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. and four others over alleged copyright infringement.

The charge with number FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024 filed in the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court was obtained by journalists on Monday.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the four other defendants in the case include the chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola; Nkeakam Abhulimen, Fun Mobile Ltd.; and Yahaya Maibe.

In the three-count charge, NCC alleged that the defendants, between 2010 and 2017, “offered for sale, sold and traded for business’’, infringed the musical works of an artiste, Maleke Idowu Moye, without his consent and authorisation.

The commission alleged that the defendants used musical works and sound recordings of Mr Maleke with subsisting copyright as caller ringback tunes without the authorisation of the artiste.

The musician’s musical works and sound recordings allegedly infringed upon included 911, Minimini-wanawana, Stop Racism, Ewole, 911 instrumental, Radio, Low Waist, and No Bother.

The defendants were also alleged to have distributed the musical works to their subscribers without authorisation, thereby infringing on the rights of the artiste.

In the third count, the defendants were alleged to have in their possession, other than for their private or domestic use, the artiste’s musical works and sound recordings.

According to NCC, the alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under section 20 (2) (a) (b) and (c) of the Copyright Act, Cap. C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The case has yet to be assigned to any judge, and no date has been fixed for the mention.

Meanwhile, no official statement has been released by any of the defendants as at the time of filing this report, while all efforts to get reactions from MTN by New Telegraph proved abortive.

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LASG, LCC ANNOUNCE REOPENING OF LEKKI CONSERVATION CENTRE AFTER REPAIRS

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Following the completion of extensive routine maintenance works on the Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC), the Lagos State Government and the Management of the Centre have announced that the Walkway will be reopened for public use with effect from Friday, 29th March 2024.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe confirmed this on Friday during a visit to the Centre in Lekki alongside some officials of the Ministry.

Aregbe said that he was happy to see that all repairs and renovations on the facility, including the Walkway, have been completed and would be accessible for tourism during the Easter celebration.

The Special Adviser appreciated Lagosians and tourists across the world for their patience during the thorough maintenance works carried out at the Centre in Lekki.

The Director-General of the Centre, Prof Mathew Onoja also appreciated the State Government for its intervention following the viral video, which first circulated in December as well as the swift response and efforts towards making the repairs and renovations seamless.

He noted that the Centre being a major tourism asset in Lagos State has played host to tourists from all over the world as it offers a serene environment for nature tourism and also boasts of the longest canopy walkway in Africa.

Recall that the facility has been undergoing routine maintenance since January following apprehensions arising from the damaged section of the Canopy Walkway, which had been repaired before the viral video was posted on social media platforms.

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