Four students of Christ the Cornerstone International School (CTCIS), Ikeja GRA, Lagos, have emerged as the latest additions of the Microsoft Certified Professionals.
They included 15-year old Ahmodu Steven Jnr, 12-year Taylor Olufemi Jnr, 13-year Adaeze Ugwu and Verissimo Isaac – 16.
Their emergence came after they passed the professional online examination in flying colours with three of them scoring 1000 over 1000, while one scored 960 per cent.
Disclosing this, at the weekend, the Managing Director, New Horizon, Mr. Tim Akano said the students took the examination in his school and they are proud to be associated with their school.
While congratulating CTCIS management, Akano urged them not to relent in nurturing young people to embrace Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
He stressed that the best way to rebrand a nation like Nigeria at this time, is to start with the pupils, so that when they grow, they would not depart from what they have learnt.
In her remark, CTCIS principal, Mrs. Bunmi Olusanya, said they appreciate the partnership with New Horizons, which has actually opened a new horizon for the school in ICT sphere.
“It is high level of efficiency that brought about the news of being Microsoft Professional by our students today. We never regretted the association we have with New Horizons,” she said.
Also, she said that three out of the four students scored 1000 over 1000, leaving one with just 960 per cent.
She looks forward to having all students of her school Microsoft Certified before leaving the Senior Secondary School (SSS).
“I always believed that a child should have a marketable skill by 16 or 18 years,” she declared.
For the students, they have made a mark in the history of Microsoft and hope to sustain the tempo.
Speaking to ITRealms Online, Adaeze Ugwu said she was delighted to have passed the professional examination, noting that two years ago, it would have been an impossible dream.
On his part, the 13-year Taylor Olufemi, “I am happy to have achieved being part of the global Microsoft community.”
For Isaac, his mum and proprietress encouraged him to go for it and today, he is proud to have heeded to their advice.
CTCIS was established over 10 years ago, with the objective to provide education that would made a difference in the country.
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Technology Distribution plans biggest ICT mall in Africa
The management of Technology Distribution (TD) West Africa Limited is planning to build a multi-million Information and Communications Technology (ICT) mall at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
The ICT mall touted to be biggest of its kind on the continent and Middle East has taken off.
Chairman of Zinox Group, the parent company of Technology Distribution, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, made this disclosure last week in Lagos at the official unveiling of TD partnership deal with Dell Corporation.
Also, he said, a new electronic learning (e-learning) suite would soon hit the market from the stables of TD to further advance education of Nigerians.
“TD is Number 1 in West Africa and plans to be Number 1 in Africa,” he asserted.
Equally speaking at the event, the Lagos State commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Hamza Kadri, described TD as a good company with integrity and commended Dell for the choice of TD.
He pointed out that the potential growth expected on the continent is actually in Nigeria, stressing that the challenge for Dell now is to bring down its factory here.
According to him, it is only those who saw the challenges in this environment as opportunities that it eventually harvest from it.
In order to better the environment, the commissioner revealed that Lagos State government is working hard to improve the security of its domain.
For this reason, he said, Lagos has commenced actions towards installing about 5,000 CCTV and is building a data centre to support the activities of the government.
He therefore, urged Dell to take the advantage of the country and Lagos precisely in taking a reasonable presence apart from coming to market its finished products.
In his speech, the country manager, Dell Corporation, Mr. Harold Anumihe, said the company has come to stay in Nigeria, as such it now has spare parts depots in five locations nationwide, namely Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kaduna.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
The ICT mall touted to be biggest of its kind on the continent and Middle East has taken off.
Chairman of Zinox Group, the parent company of Technology Distribution, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, made this disclosure last week in Lagos at the official unveiling of TD partnership deal with Dell Corporation.
Also, he said, a new electronic learning (e-learning) suite would soon hit the market from the stables of TD to further advance education of Nigerians.
“TD is Number 1 in West Africa and plans to be Number 1 in Africa,” he asserted.
Equally speaking at the event, the Lagos State commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Hamza Kadri, described TD as a good company with integrity and commended Dell for the choice of TD.
He pointed out that the potential growth expected on the continent is actually in Nigeria, stressing that the challenge for Dell now is to bring down its factory here.
According to him, it is only those who saw the challenges in this environment as opportunities that it eventually harvest from it.
In order to better the environment, the commissioner revealed that Lagos State government is working hard to improve the security of its domain.
For this reason, he said, Lagos has commenced actions towards installing about 5,000 CCTV and is building a data centre to support the activities of the government.
He therefore, urged Dell to take the advantage of the country and Lagos precisely in taking a reasonable presence apart from coming to market its finished products.
In his speech, the country manager, Dell Corporation, Mr. Harold Anumihe, said the company has come to stay in Nigeria, as such it now has spare parts depots in five locations nationwide, namely Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kaduna.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Onyekwere to preside @ Digital Sense forum
Executive chairman of the pioneer Internet Service Provider in the country, Linkserve Limited, Chief Chima Onyekwere, would preside over the affairs at the forthcoming Nigeria Digital Sense forum slated to hold in Lagos, on Thursday, November 5 at Golden Gate, Ikoyi-Lagos.
Affirming this position, Onyekwere applauded the leadership of Digital Sense Africa (DSA), the organizers under the watchful eyes of its Executive Director, Operations, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke.
Expressing excitement over the proposed forum, Onyekwere said its timely and charged stakeholders to be alert to the issues that could facilitate development of Internet in Nigeria and globe.
He pointed out that there is need for Nigeria’s voice to be adequately heard at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), scheduled to hold in Egypt, later in November and urged stakeholders and industry analysts to come up at the forum with propositions that would best mainstream Nigeria’s internet penetration.
Reacting to this development, DSA boss, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, said at the weekend that the choice of Onyekwere represents the quality of participants expected at the forum with the theme, Internet Governance: Creating Opportunities for All Nigerians.
She equally said that the choice apart from giving honour to whom it is due, would elucidate Onyekwere’s position as chieftain of the Nigerian Internet community, which is not in doubt.
Also, she said that Onyekwere who currently oversees a conglomerate under Linkserve would add value to the forum and share his personal experience with participants with regards to the theme to boost internet access and penetration in the country.
Reiterating that with the likes of Onyekwere in attendance, Nigeria’s position would be well articulated at the Nigeria Digital Sense forum for onward project at the IGF meeting in Egypt, while offering a position for the government to take its role more fervently.
She recalled that the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) had equally drummed support for the Nigeria Digital Sense forum; a one-day roundtable in Lagos.
Confirming this, the Acting Executive Secretary, ATCON, Mr. Ajibola Olude, said in the letter entitled ‘Endorsement for Nigeria Digital Sense forum’ that the ATCON was not biased in its rooting support for the event scheduled for Thursday, November 5 at Golden Gate, Ikoyi-Lagos.
According to him, ATCON’s National Executive Council has decided to collaborate with Digital Sense Africa on the project in three key areas.
These, he listed to include by way of endorsement of the initiative, provision of relevant data and information so as to make the project a success as well as creating a sustained awareness among its teeming membership of telecom companies either through the internet or short message service (SMS).
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Affirming this position, Onyekwere applauded the leadership of Digital Sense Africa (DSA), the organizers under the watchful eyes of its Executive Director, Operations, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke.
Expressing excitement over the proposed forum, Onyekwere said its timely and charged stakeholders to be alert to the issues that could facilitate development of Internet in Nigeria and globe.
He pointed out that there is need for Nigeria’s voice to be adequately heard at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), scheduled to hold in Egypt, later in November and urged stakeholders and industry analysts to come up at the forum with propositions that would best mainstream Nigeria’s internet penetration.
Reacting to this development, DSA boss, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, said at the weekend that the choice of Onyekwere represents the quality of participants expected at the forum with the theme, Internet Governance: Creating Opportunities for All Nigerians.
She equally said that the choice apart from giving honour to whom it is due, would elucidate Onyekwere’s position as chieftain of the Nigerian Internet community, which is not in doubt.
Also, she said that Onyekwere who currently oversees a conglomerate under Linkserve would add value to the forum and share his personal experience with participants with regards to the theme to boost internet access and penetration in the country.
Reiterating that with the likes of Onyekwere in attendance, Nigeria’s position would be well articulated at the Nigeria Digital Sense forum for onward project at the IGF meeting in Egypt, while offering a position for the government to take its role more fervently.
She recalled that the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) had equally drummed support for the Nigeria Digital Sense forum; a one-day roundtable in Lagos.
Confirming this, the Acting Executive Secretary, ATCON, Mr. Ajibola Olude, said in the letter entitled ‘Endorsement for Nigeria Digital Sense forum’ that the ATCON was not biased in its rooting support for the event scheduled for Thursday, November 5 at Golden Gate, Ikoyi-Lagos.
According to him, ATCON’s National Executive Council has decided to collaborate with Digital Sense Africa on the project in three key areas.
These, he listed to include by way of endorsement of the initiative, provision of relevant data and information so as to make the project a success as well as creating a sustained awareness among its teeming membership of telecom companies either through the internet or short message service (SMS).
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
ATCON outlines conditions for sale of NITEL, wants NCA reviewed
Ahead of this year’s international conference and exhibition, ComBIT-09, by the umbrella body of registered telecommunications firms in the country, under the aegis of Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), the group has outlined conditions to facilitate eventual successful disposing of the first national operator, the Nigerian Telecommunications Plc (NITEL) and M-Tel, the subsidiary.
This is coming as ATCON also called for immediate review of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) of 2003, so as to avoid the kind of controversy recently generated by the 2.3 Gega Hertz sale in the country.
According to ATCON president, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, the plans to sell NITEL within 60-day time frame as ordered by the Federal Government is welcome, but there is need to also recommend that the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) come up with a time-table for the implementation of any proposal by the potential winner of the NITEL bid.
ATCON outline included that a time frame must be given to the would-be buyer within which to turn the fortunes of NITEL around.
The content of this fortunes turn around, he said, must be clearly stated in the purchase agreement to include roll out, number reactivated fixed line telephone exchanges per month, new broadband infrastructure installations per month among other.
“In other words, there must be a time-table for the fortune turn-around,” he said, stressing that a private monopoly must not be created from NITEL that was a public monopoly.
“If a public monopoly is insensitive, slow to introduce new technologies, can dictate prices without commensurate high quality of service, can embark on anti-competitive and anti-trust activities, can emasculate, engulfs or edge out smaller companies, a private monopoly will be worse in the same practices,” he noted.
As said by him, small companies are by their very nature very creative and innovative while the big ones are reluctant to introduce new technologies and innovations; especially when the innovation will entail updating and upgrading of infrastructure.
“We cannot afford to stifle the continued growth of the industry by acts of institutionalized discouragement of the smaller companies,” he said.
Additionally, ATCON said that national security must be paramount in the conducting due diligence on the would-be buyers.
“No non-Nigerian company must have an undue or excessive access to and control of our national knowledge pipes. By Nigerian we mean companies whose ownership, political roots and techno-managerial anchors, research and development to name a few are Nigerians,” the group.
They further canvassed for the review of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) of 2003.
“A palpable fallout of the 2.3 GHz controversy was the need for certain provisions of the NCA to be stated much more clearly,” the group said, pointing out that grey areas should be avoided as much as possible.
“T’s should be crossed and i’s dotted. This is the best time for this review as the current board of NCC will be completing its term sometime next year. The review should be completed before the next board takes office,” he said, noting that in that manner, neither the outgoing board nor the incoming one will feel witch-hunted.
“We, therefore, call on the relevant committees of the National Assembly to convene the much awaited Public Hearing on the NCA,” he said.
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This is coming as ATCON also called for immediate review of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) of 2003, so as to avoid the kind of controversy recently generated by the 2.3 Gega Hertz sale in the country.
According to ATCON president, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, the plans to sell NITEL within 60-day time frame as ordered by the Federal Government is welcome, but there is need to also recommend that the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) come up with a time-table for the implementation of any proposal by the potential winner of the NITEL bid.
ATCON outline included that a time frame must be given to the would-be buyer within which to turn the fortunes of NITEL around.
The content of this fortunes turn around, he said, must be clearly stated in the purchase agreement to include roll out, number reactivated fixed line telephone exchanges per month, new broadband infrastructure installations per month among other.
“In other words, there must be a time-table for the fortune turn-around,” he said, stressing that a private monopoly must not be created from NITEL that was a public monopoly.
“If a public monopoly is insensitive, slow to introduce new technologies, can dictate prices without commensurate high quality of service, can embark on anti-competitive and anti-trust activities, can emasculate, engulfs or edge out smaller companies, a private monopoly will be worse in the same practices,” he noted.
As said by him, small companies are by their very nature very creative and innovative while the big ones are reluctant to introduce new technologies and innovations; especially when the innovation will entail updating and upgrading of infrastructure.
“We cannot afford to stifle the continued growth of the industry by acts of institutionalized discouragement of the smaller companies,” he said.
Additionally, ATCON said that national security must be paramount in the conducting due diligence on the would-be buyers.
“No non-Nigerian company must have an undue or excessive access to and control of our national knowledge pipes. By Nigerian we mean companies whose ownership, political roots and techno-managerial anchors, research and development to name a few are Nigerians,” the group.
They further canvassed for the review of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) of 2003.
“A palpable fallout of the 2.3 GHz controversy was the need for certain provisions of the NCA to be stated much more clearly,” the group said, pointing out that grey areas should be avoided as much as possible.
“T’s should be crossed and i’s dotted. This is the best time for this review as the current board of NCC will be completing its term sometime next year. The review should be completed before the next board takes office,” he said, noting that in that manner, neither the outgoing board nor the incoming one will feel witch-hunted.
“We, therefore, call on the relevant committees of the National Assembly to convene the much awaited Public Hearing on the NCA,” he said.
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Fibre Without Borders initiative excites ITU
The Fibre Without Borders (FWB), an initiative of the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, for achieving telecom connectivity for African continent without stress, took the centre stage at the just ended International Telecommunication Union (ITU) organized Telecom World 2009, which held in Geneva, Switzerland.
The idea, muted by the foremost telecom engineer from Nigeria about two months ago, may become a topic for discussion when African heads of states and governments meet in early 2010 to discuss how to improve the economies and lives of the citizens in the African continent.
Speaking during the Nigeria’s Day at the event, which held at the Ramada Park Hotel, Ndukwe emphasized the need for the continent to evolve a solution that would ensure seamless connectivity across the continent, as encapsulated in the FWB initiative.
He enjoined African governments to support the initiative which holds the key for intra-traffic exchange for telecommunications within the continent, and would enable Africa benefit maximally from the existing and future undersea optics fibre cable infrastructure that may otherwise, not be accessible to landlocked African countries.
The EVC also said at the event attended by senior officials of ITU, including the Secretary General of the Union, Dr. Hamadoun Toure, Director, Telecom Standards Bureau, Mr. Malcom Johnson, Director of ITU’s Telecom Development Bureau, Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Mohamed Jamil Mulla, policy makers and regulators across the African continent among others, that FWB is a proposal endorsed by the leaders to achieve the desired African connectivity in the nearest future.
ITU Television, which transmitted live broadcasts of events at the ITU World 2009, also featured Dr. Ndukwe who discussed the import and potentials of the FWB concept.
He pointed out that this idea is to encourage the leaders and decision makers to relax any barriers that will not encourage cross border operators.
This, he said, does not affect or encroach on their sovereignties, but will only allow for information flow which will even make telecommunications delivery even cheaper for the citizens of these countries.
He emphasized that this initiative is receiving a lot of attention at the moment and would be taken up at various regional summits in the continent and the meeting of African leaders in early 2010.
As it concerns the West Africa Telecom Regulators Assembly (WATRA), founded by Ndukwe in early 2000, he said this organization is very important as regional integration is very critical for socio-economic development in the region and what operators will like to see is that as they set up business in different countries within the region that they see some form of commonality in terms of policy and regulation.
“That will enable the operators to see the region as a market and we will therefore enjoy some form of economy of scale,” he said.
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The idea, muted by the foremost telecom engineer from Nigeria about two months ago, may become a topic for discussion when African heads of states and governments meet in early 2010 to discuss how to improve the economies and lives of the citizens in the African continent.
Speaking during the Nigeria’s Day at the event, which held at the Ramada Park Hotel, Ndukwe emphasized the need for the continent to evolve a solution that would ensure seamless connectivity across the continent, as encapsulated in the FWB initiative.
He enjoined African governments to support the initiative which holds the key for intra-traffic exchange for telecommunications within the continent, and would enable Africa benefit maximally from the existing and future undersea optics fibre cable infrastructure that may otherwise, not be accessible to landlocked African countries.
The EVC also said at the event attended by senior officials of ITU, including the Secretary General of the Union, Dr. Hamadoun Toure, Director, Telecom Standards Bureau, Mr. Malcom Johnson, Director of ITU’s Telecom Development Bureau, Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Mohamed Jamil Mulla, policy makers and regulators across the African continent among others, that FWB is a proposal endorsed by the leaders to achieve the desired African connectivity in the nearest future.
ITU Television, which transmitted live broadcasts of events at the ITU World 2009, also featured Dr. Ndukwe who discussed the import and potentials of the FWB concept.
He pointed out that this idea is to encourage the leaders and decision makers to relax any barriers that will not encourage cross border operators.
This, he said, does not affect or encroach on their sovereignties, but will only allow for information flow which will even make telecommunications delivery even cheaper for the citizens of these countries.
He emphasized that this initiative is receiving a lot of attention at the moment and would be taken up at various regional summits in the continent and the meeting of African leaders in early 2010.
As it concerns the West Africa Telecom Regulators Assembly (WATRA), founded by Ndukwe in early 2000, he said this organization is very important as regional integration is very critical for socio-economic development in the region and what operators will like to see is that as they set up business in different countries within the region that they see some form of commonality in terms of policy and regulation.
“That will enable the operators to see the region as a market and we will therefore enjoy some form of economy of scale,” he said.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
ICANN explains commitment
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has explained the Affirmation of Commitments.
A press statement made available to ITRealms Online entitled ‘The Affirmation of Commitments – What it means, ICANN said that it entails the completion of a transition that started 11 years ago.
“When ICANN was created in 1998, with the assistance of the United States Government, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) process was started with the objective of achieving a noble goal: the coordination of the Internet’s unique identifiers by the private sector through a not-for-profit organization where policies were developed from the bottom up,” official said, stressing that the signing of the affirmation determines once and for all that this model works.
The Joint Partnership Agreement (JPA) was the seventh amendment of the original MOU.
Over the years there have been thirteen report cards on performance of responsibilities to the US Department of Commerce alone.
ICANN also said the Affirmation of Commitments is a further step in progress and internationalization of its models.
“It commits ICANN to remaining a private not for profit organization. It declares ICANN is independent and is not controlled by any one entity. It commits ICANN to reviews performed by the community – a further recognition that the multi-stakeholder model is robust enough to review itself,” part of the press statement read.
The Affirmation, ICANN said, is of long standing and is not limited to the three years for which previous agreements operated.
The Government Advisory Committee’s role is reaffirmed. And the GAC is a key participant in selecting the membership of the review teams.
There is a certain timetable as to when those reviews will take place, pointing out that in summary, the Affirmation of Commitments places beyond doubt that the ICANN model is best equipped to coordinate this vital resource and places reviews of ICANN’s performance in the hands of the community.
That provides a stable, secure platform into the future that can adapt to changes to the Internet itself.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
A press statement made available to ITRealms Online entitled ‘The Affirmation of Commitments – What it means, ICANN said that it entails the completion of a transition that started 11 years ago.
“When ICANN was created in 1998, with the assistance of the United States Government, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) process was started with the objective of achieving a noble goal: the coordination of the Internet’s unique identifiers by the private sector through a not-for-profit organization where policies were developed from the bottom up,” official said, stressing that the signing of the affirmation determines once and for all that this model works.
The Joint Partnership Agreement (JPA) was the seventh amendment of the original MOU.
Over the years there have been thirteen report cards on performance of responsibilities to the US Department of Commerce alone.
ICANN also said the Affirmation of Commitments is a further step in progress and internationalization of its models.
“It commits ICANN to remaining a private not for profit organization. It declares ICANN is independent and is not controlled by any one entity. It commits ICANN to reviews performed by the community – a further recognition that the multi-stakeholder model is robust enough to review itself,” part of the press statement read.
The Affirmation, ICANN said, is of long standing and is not limited to the three years for which previous agreements operated.
The Government Advisory Committee’s role is reaffirmed. And the GAC is a key participant in selecting the membership of the review teams.
There is a certain timetable as to when those reviews will take place, pointing out that in summary, the Affirmation of Commitments places beyond doubt that the ICANN model is best equipped to coordinate this vital resource and places reviews of ICANN’s performance in the hands of the community.
That provides a stable, secure platform into the future that can adapt to changes to the Internet itself.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Telecom World ’09: Switzerland snubs ITU over visa
Plans by the Nigerian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professionals to set the city of Geneva agog as the 2009 edition of the Telecom World forum and exhibition opened on Monday at the Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland, may have suffered a set back as many of them were denied entry visas for the event.
Indications also emerged that Switzerland embassy in Nigeria may have snubbed the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Dr. Hamadoun Toure by denying some Nigerians entry visa to attend the 2009 ITU organized Telecom World, despite his intervention.
This is coming as some of the intending participants to the ICT show, and who were denied visas have Note Verbale; an instrument of engagement between embassies, usually issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the government of the resident state to an ambassador within a given country.
International relations experts defined a note verbale as “an unsigned diplomatic note written in the third person, of the nature of a memorandum but sometimes considered to be more formal. It is also known as Third Party Note and Third Person Note, with the abbreviation (TPN).”
However, some Nigerian ICT professionals, numbering over 20 may have lost out in their bids to be part of the groove at the 2009 edition of the Telecom World forum and exhibition, due to visa denial by Switzerland embassy to facilitate their participation.
ITRealms Online investigations gathered that even the intervention of the office of the ITU Secretary General, who is the chief regulator of ICT sector globally under the United Nations’ classification and chief host of the Telecom World, could not save the situation.
In addition, it was gathered that the consular officer, ‘whiteman - Christ’ had insisted that even interventions by officials of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which is the coordinating agency for the event in the country could not pacify his position, as he rebuffed every entreaty.
ITRealms Online learnt that a note verbale was obtained last week and sent to the Switzerland embassy situated at Adetokumbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2 at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, where some Nigerians took ‘refuge’ in order to meet up with the time for registration every working day, Monday through Thursday for submission of applications without success.
Equally, even those who reportedly were at the embassy as early as 7am, even though the official opening time is 9am, still have their names missing when the official list came out.
However, the Nigerian ICT community had planned to storm the city of Geneva for the 2009 edition of the Telecom World forum and exhibition, which opened on Monday at the Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland.
A sizeable number of ICT professionals had arranged to be at this year’s edition given the plans by NCC to have a Nigerian pavilion strategically located and adorned in the national colours of green-white-green.
Nigeria’s delegate to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) organized show is being led by the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili and the chief executive officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, while key top industry professionals from both public and private sector form part of the delegation.
The ITU Telecom World 2009 with the theme: Open Networks – Connected Minds, would last till Friday, October 9, 2009 and has been identified as an opportunity for the Nigerian government to showcase her achievements in the ICT sector and create multi-national platform for investors to explore immense business opportunities in the ICT sector in Nigeria.
ITRealms Online recalled that while receiving the Secretary General of ITU, Dr. Hamadoun Toure recently in Abuja, Prof. Akunyili had noted that telecom revolution has been successful on Africa continent, mainly because it touches ground with African values for community and staying in touch. So, she was not surprised that Nigeria alone generates over 67 million subscribers via Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) on the continent.
“Our people like to stay in touch. The digital divide is being effectively bridged by telecom” she asserted.
Equally speaking during the visit Dr. Hamadoun Toure noted that Nigeria has been playing a significant role in the global ICT community and the Nigeria Pavilion would be one of the focal points at the Telecom World.
In his message at the opening session on Monday, Toure said, ITU Telecom World, is the leading global ICT showcase that encompasses the full reach of the ICT industry, thus a premier networking platform where top-ranking industry leaders engage in a strategic dialogue with Heads of State, Ministers, policy-makers and international experts to address the role of ICTs in economic recovery and stimulating future investment and growth.
This global leaders’ summit, he said, focuses on the role and positioning of the ICT industry to chart the road ahead, offering a dynamic and truly global cutting edge exhibition that showcases futuristic technologies and applications.
A significant number of national pavilions, are providing the platform for the ICT industry from around the world to participate in ITU Telecom World 2009.
“And the Forum offers an opportunity to Connect Minds by examining the impact of the global economic downturn; its commitment to connect the world, ITU facilitates dialogue in a solutions-oriented environment. Bridging both public and private sectors, key decision-makers actively participate to advance workable solutions and forge far-reaching impact in ICTs,” he said.
In the context of the current economic crisis, Toure said, this world-class event is a must on the calendar of all stakeholders from across the ICT community: industry executives, vendors, operators, manufacturers, service providers, administrations, ministers, regulators, policy advisors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and academics.
The thematic underpin of the entire event, ‘Open Networks - Connected Minds’, he said, sets the aspirational ambitions of world 2009, therefore, linking the concepts open and connected convey diversity in approaches to innovation, problem solving, collaboration and cooperation across all stakeholders.
Particularly, Toure also noted that in these times of economic strain and complexity, these notions of openness and connection are more than a reference to technical standards, and focus most importantly on the modes of dialogue that bring peoples of the world together. The theme conveys common purpose, as well as the ability and willingness of stakeholders to listen, share, experiment and learn from the broader community,” he said.
Over 30 Heads of States and governments, in addition to over 70 Ministers and key chief executive officers (CEOs) have begun to explore the future of ICT industry through discourse, interaction and debates at the conference.
As said by the Head, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka, the forum is for stimulation of economic growth, sustainability and development of emerging markets.
“With its focus on development opportunities, the event is ready to bring together corporate social responsibility and cases to promote for best practices,” he said.
The exhibition consists of world’s latest innovations in ICT – including broadband or Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled services, new broadcasting services, mobile and wireless technologies, next-generation networks, computer hardware and software, ICT applications, satellites and spanning the full reach of the ICT industry.
Nigeria awaits the outcome of the conference to reposition its market as the fastest growing ICT hub in the Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Nigeria, 10 others to benefit from World Bank N31.3bn backbone project
Eleven African countries including Nigeria will benefit from the World Bank assisted Central African Backbone Programme (CAB) worth $215 million, about N31.3 billion, under a 10-year initiative.Even as the initial phase covers three countries, namely Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic (CAR) and is worth $26.2 million (about N3,825,200,000.00).
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According to officials of World Bank, Tuesday, Nigeria is eligible to participate in the programme, which included Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Niger, São Tomé and Principe, and Sudan.
Even as the initial phase covers three countries, namely Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic (CAR) and is worth $26.2 million (about N3,825,200,000.00).
Press officer, World Bank, Ian Larsen, made this disclosure in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online, Tuesday.
Larsen explained that the programme will support the countries of the Central African region in developing their high-speed telecommunications backbone infrastructure to increase the availability of high-speed Internet and reduce end-user prices.
The CAB programme, official said, will also help countries to harmonize the laws and regulations that govern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector to strengthen private sector investment and improve competition.
The CAB programme, World Bank official disclosed is being supported through a partnership between the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Also, the programme is aimed at leveraging on an additional US$98 million from the private sector.
In conjunction with the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), the African Union Commission (AUC) is expected to play an important role in facilitating inter-governmental cooperation and policy harmonization.
Additionally, it was gather that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will assist governments in structuring Public Private Partnerships under the programme.
ITRealms Online recalled that Information and Communications for Development 2009: Extending Reach and Increasing Impact, the World Bank had found that for every 10 percentage-point increase in high speed Internet connections there is an increase in economic growth of 1.3 percentage.
Director, Global Information and Communications Technologies at the World Bank Group, Mohsen Khalil, noted that report also identified mobile platform as the single most powerful way to reach and deliver public and private services to hundreds of millions of people in remote and rural areas across the developing world.
“Ultimately, our goal is to develop regional and national broadband backbones and significantly reduce the cost of ICT services in Central Africa. Through better and affordable connectivity, the aim is to leverage the transformational powers of ICTs to support economic growth, SME development, employment creation, productivity gains and trade integration in the region,” he said.
Khalil was quoted as saying that addition to infrastructure development, the CAB programme will strengthen the capacity of public institutions such as the sectoral ministries and regulatory authorities and will promote a competition-friendly environment by liberalizing the sector and restructuring telecommunications operators.
Further, the programme, he said, is meant to be a model of regional integration and successful public-private partnerships.
“Its design and implementation require the cooperation of several countries and international and regional organizations. Design goals will be to maximize the use of private financing or minimize the use of public financing ensure feasibility and attractiveness of the transaction, and secure open access to regional connectivity infrastructure and ensure competitive, reasonable tariff of international, regional and national capacity,” he outlined.
For the Acting Director for Regional Integration in Africa at the World Bank, Mr. Rick Scobey this programme is a great example of the World Bank’s increasing emphasis on regional infrastructure as part of Africa’s development.
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Balancing communication act by Skybank
The recent partnership between Skybank Plc and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is an effort at balancing communication act between developed and developing nations, reports REMMY NWEKE.Over the years, disparity in global communication has been of concern to well meaning individuals and organizations in most developing nations of the world, especially in Africa and precisely Nigeria.
From the focus on the theory that ‘Bad news’ is ‘good news’ for media organizations such as the multi-national broadcasting entity like the United Kingdom (UK) based British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Reuters, Associated Free Press (AFP) to name a few, have faced criticisms in the past over this attitude.
DM MacKay in submission of document to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on ‘Communication and meaning: A Functional Approach’ described communication as having the advantage of application equally based on what ‘flows’ along the artificial communication lines and what ‘passes’ between human beings.
Communication, therefore, according to UNESCO experts, is the transmission of data or information from one actor to another. “One could attempt to communicate by sending a message or a piece of information, or by sharing a thought with someone. Such an act satisfies the definition of ‘communication’, provided there is reasonable assurance that the message has been received, just as every communication have a purpose and the degree to which this purpose has been satisfied determines the success or failure of the communication.
Fundamentally, the issue of imbalances in global communication has been described as a major issue militating against economic growth in Least Developing Countries (LDCs), most of which are located on African continent and Nigeria’s removal from being part of the LDCs remain in contention; for merely exceeding 75 million population, the exclusion by United Nations (UN) agency categorization, has not reflected in the lives of the citizenry in Nigeria. Currently, 33 countries in Africa out of the 52 have been listed as incumbents LDCs.
The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which played a leading role in organizing the three United Nations Conferences on the Least Developed Countries, (Paris, 1981 and 1990; Brussels, 2001), in circular (E/2004/33) outlined the criteria for LDCs consisting “a low-income criterion, based on a three-year average estimate of the gross national income (GNI) per capita (under $750 for inclusion, above $900 for graduation); a human resource weakness criterion, involving a composite Human Assets Index (HAI) based on indicators of: nutrition, health, education and adult literacy.”
Additionally, the criteria was defined as “an economic vulnerability criterion, involving a composite Economic Vulnerability Index (EVI) based on indicators of the instability of agricultural production, exports of goods and services, economic importance of non-traditional activities; share of manufacturing and modern services in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), merchandise export concentration and the handicap of economic smallness as measured through the population in logarithm; and the percentage of population displaced by natural disasters.
As such, the communication disparity took centre stage recently at a function where communication scholars and researchers noted that the flow of news among nations has remained ‘thin,’ while arguing that much attention is given to developed countries in positive developments, whereas little is given to less-developed nations, especially on the assumption that ‘bad news sells the paper,’ therefore media giants thrive on showcasing bad news in developing countries than the positive outlooks.
Hence, Communication scholars opined that important events within the continent of Africa, for instance, are ignored and reality distorted because foreign global media like BBC and Reuters are looking for saleable ‘stories.'
ITRealms Online recalls that in the 1970s, inequality in global communication gave rise to collaboration by the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and debated within the United Nations as well as UNESCO.
Another instance is that a wide range of these issues were deliberated upon as part of the New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO) debates, consisting long-standing issues of media coverage of the developing world and imbalance flow of media influence, new technologies with important military and commercial usage, thus, developing countries were likely to be marginalized at this computer age.
Notable among issues of concern against old information order included news reporting on the LDCs that reflected the priorities of news agencies in London, Paris and New York; reporting of natural disasters and military coups rather than the fundamental realities. At a time four major news agencies controlled over 80 per cent of global news flow.
Others include an imbalance flow of mass media from the developed world, especially in the United States to the underdeveloped countries. Similarly, advertising agencies in the developed world have indirect but significant effects on mass media in the developing countries. Some observers also judged the messages of these ads to be inappropriate for the Third World countries.
Yet, the features of the old information order comprised an unfair division of the radio spectrum. A small number of developed countries controlled almost 90 per cent of the radio spectrum. Much of this was for military use.
Also, there were similar concerns about the allocation of the geostationary orbit parking spots in space for satellites. At the same time only a small number of developed countries had satellites and it was not possible for developing countries to be allocated a space that they might need ten years later, which means eventually getting a space that was more difficult and more expensive to operate.
Satellite broadcasting of television signals into Third World countries, for instance, without prior permission was widely perceived as a threat to national sovereignty. Although the UN voted in the early 1970s against such broadcasts, a major step forward is yet to be witnessed.
Another issue analysts pointed out is the use of satellites to collect information on crops and natural resources in the Third World at a time when most developing countries lacked the capacity to analyse this data.
Obviously, the aforementioned and many more must have given rise to the desire of one of the nation’s financial institutions, Skye Bank Plc, reputed for its commitment to development of Africa to recently consummate partnership with British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in its bid to project Africa to the rest of the globe.
This commitment which comes in terms of sponsorship of ‘Africa Business Report’ by the bank, is another plus for Pan African initiative, especially with an estimated global listenership of over 150 million, the partnership is to project the continent to millions of people through the BBC network.
The programme to be aired every Saturday and Sunday at 1.30pm and 8.00 pm respectively on BBC, is proposed to showcase the economic potentials and developments on the African continent as part of effort at correcting the negative reporting of Africa in the international news media.
The partnership talk which commenced last August would see BBC correspondents within each country reporting on the growing trends and latest business developments in the region to the worldwide audience thereby positively projecting Africa to the rest of the world.
Speaking at the launch of the programme recently in Lagos, the Group Managing Director, Sky Bank Plc, Mr. Akinsola Akinfemiwa, explained that Africa had often been negatively reported by the powerful foreign media, giving scant regard to the positive developments on the continent.
“The idea behind the sponsorship of this programme is not primarily for publicity and visibility; rather, our intention is to add value and positively impact on the economic development of the African continent and the social wellbeing of its populace,” he said, stressing that as a proudly Nigerian bank with a Pan African ambition, Sky Bank sees the need to tell the world about the various good initiatives and business opportunities that abound on the continent, thereby connecting Africa to the world and the world to Africa.
In his comment, BBC’s Executive Director, Sean O’Hara, said the programme would be viewed by over 150 million people across the world, emphasizing that it would tell the other side of Africa by showcasing entrepreneurial spirit in Africans.
The presenter of the programme, Komlar Dumor, said it is a privilege for him to present African Business Report during a time the continent is developing its economic growth and business future. Pointing out that Africa has a new generation of energetic entrepreneurs who are determined to compete on the global stage. He declared, “Africa Business Report is designed to capture the energy and diversity of business life in Africa.”
Industry observers have the opinion that the programme could escalate into nourishing the entrepreneurial spirit among Africans as well as setting in motion a healthy competition for innovation, job creation and the ultimate economic transformation of the continent, even as foreign investors are likely to understand the change and key into the new process that is unfolding in Africa by bringing in their capital and expertise, thereby furthering economic productivity and the national income accruable to the respective countries in the continent.
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Experts demand implementation of e-health policy
EXPERTS at the recently concluded two-day 2009 conference on Telemedicine and eHealth under the aegis of Society for Telemedicine and eHealth in Nigeria (SFTeHIN), which held in Lagos, have demanded for the implementation of the national e-health policy in the country.
Participants at the conference made this call in a communiqué endorsed by the President, Society for Telemedicine and eHealth in Nigeria, Dr. Olajide Joseph Adebola, and made available to ITRealms Online.
They said that if decision makers in the Health sector implement eHealth within the framework of the national health policy, benefits of telemedicine and eHealth would become more visible in the lives of the people.
The experts outlined some of the benefits of e-Health to include the reduction in healthcare cost to individuals, families and communities; while increasing accessibility of hard–to-reach population to quality healthcare.
Also, they noted that the implementation of the ehealth policy to the letter, would drastically reverse “brain drain” in the sector, improve capacity building for the health workforce and enhance efficiency as well as utilization of scarce resources.
Participants equally recognized inherent opportunities for Telemedicine and eHealth in the country.
These they said consist of optimization of the existing mobile telephony like the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) with over 67 million subscriber-base, saying it would facilitate delivery of eHealth services.
They pointed out that numerous examples of the successful implementation of telemedicine and eHealth programmes have shown that it is a veritable option health care delivery in a place like Nigeria.
The on-going pilot projects on telemedicine in the country, the group said, would give a lead to the final take-off of telemedicine in the most populated nation on the African continent, stressing that government’s efforts at upgrading the power generation to 6000 Megawatts by December, 2009 is expected to boost ehealth.
Further, they outlined some of the challenges militating against Telemedicine and eHealth development in the country insisting that a few health centers in the public and private sectors have commenced implementation of some eHealth solutions in Nigeria, but there are challenges to its wider implementation.
Some of these challenges the group said, include lack of public funding, licensing provider, reimbursement, fear of malpractice, high bandwidth telecommunications cost, and inadequate power supply.
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Participants at the conference made this call in a communiqué endorsed by the President, Society for Telemedicine and eHealth in Nigeria, Dr. Olajide Joseph Adebola, and made available to ITRealms Online.
They said that if decision makers in the Health sector implement eHealth within the framework of the national health policy, benefits of telemedicine and eHealth would become more visible in the lives of the people.
The experts outlined some of the benefits of e-Health to include the reduction in healthcare cost to individuals, families and communities; while increasing accessibility of hard–to-reach population to quality healthcare.
Also, they noted that the implementation of the ehealth policy to the letter, would drastically reverse “brain drain” in the sector, improve capacity building for the health workforce and enhance efficiency as well as utilization of scarce resources.
Participants equally recognized inherent opportunities for Telemedicine and eHealth in the country.
These they said consist of optimization of the existing mobile telephony like the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) with over 67 million subscriber-base, saying it would facilitate delivery of eHealth services.
They pointed out that numerous examples of the successful implementation of telemedicine and eHealth programmes have shown that it is a veritable option health care delivery in a place like Nigeria.
The on-going pilot projects on telemedicine in the country, the group said, would give a lead to the final take-off of telemedicine in the most populated nation on the African continent, stressing that government’s efforts at upgrading the power generation to 6000 Megawatts by December, 2009 is expected to boost ehealth.
Further, they outlined some of the challenges militating against Telemedicine and eHealth development in the country insisting that a few health centers in the public and private sectors have commenced implementation of some eHealth solutions in Nigeria, but there are challenges to its wider implementation.
Some of these challenges the group said, include lack of public funding, licensing provider, reimbursement, fear of malpractice, high bandwidth telecommunications cost, and inadequate power supply.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
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