THE annual African Information Society Initiative (AISI) media awards for 2005 have been swept by group of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) journalists in the country, snatching four out of the eight categories in the continental contest.
ITrealms gathered that four ICT journalists from Nigeria have distinguished themselves at this year's edition of the awards, which commenced in 2003 with four main categories subdivided into eight categories with first and runner-ups.
ITrealms calls back that at inception, a Nigerian-based ICT magazine, IT&Telecom Digest clinched the award by emerging a winner, and in 2004, another medium, Technology Times online and Mr. Abiola Tokunbo also took possession at two different categories.
This year, an ICT medium and three journalists, namely Bayero Agabi of African Independent Television (AIT), Remmy Nweke of Champion Newspapers Limited, Godfrey Ikhemuemhe of Vanguard Newspapers and Ade Ojo of NewAge Newspapers, took their turn to represent the nation in AISI awards at various categories yet to be disclosed.
The 2005 awardees would join their colleagues at this year's Highway Africa conference holding at the Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa, where the presentation has been slated to hold on Tuesday, September 13 at the Guy Berger Auditorium.
AISI is organized as an outreach programme of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) based in Addis Ababa, to encourage more informed coverage of the information society and ICT for development issues on the continent.
Aimed at individual journalists and media institutions in Africa, the awards promote journalism that contributes to a better understanding of the information society in Africa.
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Saturday, September 03, 2005
Thursday, September 01, 2005
MTN Nigeria denies mass sack
Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operator, MTN Nigeria, has denied reports that mass sack looms in the organisation, saying it is only repositioning.
This came at the wake of reports that the telco has penciled some of its employees for sack following an outsourcing arrangement, beginning with its MTN Friendship Centers personnel and was anticipated to be redeployed into other departments of the organisation.
MTN Nigeria at an interactive session with newsmen Thursday in Lagos, said all the allegations were unfounded, according to Head, Corporate Communications MTN Nigeria, Ms Funmilayo Omogbenigun, who was accompanied by the Human Resource Executive, Mr. Mutari Wada.
"I wish to state categorically that these stories were not factual," she declared, adding that MTN as a responsive telco does not have such plans for its operations, rather there have been some on-going re-organisation that were focused at various departments within MTN Nigeria.
She explained that due to efficiency of its dealer and distribution network, MTN decided that customers could now easily purchase their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) packs directly through dealers and distributors as well as subdealers.
This, she said, has led to less reliance on "our service stores and centres".
Stressing that due to wide spread of GSM usage in the country, customers could also purchase handsets and accessories from several shops and business outlets.
MTN she said, is not even retrenching or rightsizing, but is re-aligning, which includes moving staff from the service center function to call centers to face teeming subscribers.
‘This realignment has created good career opportunities in the service environment among some categories of staff," she said.
In addition, this movement of staff would cut across regions in order to satisfy new customer requirements, even as the realignment exercise has brought promotion to the management level about eight (8) employees, whereas others have remained in their former positions.
In respect to allegations on outsourcing, Ms Omogbenigun said, MTN’s dream has been to ensure that Connect Stores are an affective means of reaching out to consumers through service.
"Connect stores are not taking over service centers, neither would the activities of the centers be outsourced to third parties. Connect stories are complementary to our operations," she insisted.
Connect stores are owned by dealers while Friendship or services centers.
Corroborating Ms Omogbenigun, Human Resource Executive, Mr. Mutari Wada, said, "Nobody in the last few months in the service centers have been sacked, but if there is it may be of disciplinary action, and definitely not as a result of downsizing".
According to him, MTN has 180 staff in all its service centers, out of which, 78 would be reabsorbed in other areas while others are expected to remain in their areas of operation within the network group.
He also denied that virtually all the Nigerian employee of the GSM company are on contract which entails that lay-offs are done at random, saying, "We have almost 2,000 staff as permanent staff" even as those who have to leave the company are not rewarded with mere one month compensation.
Maintaining that it is not in the company’s best interest to lose any staff, because they have been trained to be versatile and to be the best of what they do.
This came at the wake of reports that the telco has penciled some of its employees for sack following an outsourcing arrangement, beginning with its MTN Friendship Centers personnel and was anticipated to be redeployed into other departments of the organisation.
MTN Nigeria at an interactive session with newsmen Thursday in Lagos, said all the allegations were unfounded, according to Head, Corporate Communications MTN Nigeria, Ms Funmilayo Omogbenigun, who was accompanied by the Human Resource Executive, Mr. Mutari Wada.
"I wish to state categorically that these stories were not factual," she declared, adding that MTN as a responsive telco does not have such plans for its operations, rather there have been some on-going re-organisation that were focused at various departments within MTN Nigeria.
She explained that due to efficiency of its dealer and distribution network, MTN decided that customers could now easily purchase their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) packs directly through dealers and distributors as well as subdealers.
This, she said, has led to less reliance on "our service stores and centres".
Stressing that due to wide spread of GSM usage in the country, customers could also purchase handsets and accessories from several shops and business outlets.
MTN she said, is not even retrenching or rightsizing, but is re-aligning, which includes moving staff from the service center function to call centers to face teeming subscribers.
‘This realignment has created good career opportunities in the service environment among some categories of staff," she said.
In addition, this movement of staff would cut across regions in order to satisfy new customer requirements, even as the realignment exercise has brought promotion to the management level about eight (8) employees, whereas others have remained in their former positions.
In respect to allegations on outsourcing, Ms Omogbenigun said, MTN’s dream has been to ensure that Connect Stores are an affective means of reaching out to consumers through service.
"Connect stores are not taking over service centers, neither would the activities of the centers be outsourced to third parties. Connect stories are complementary to our operations," she insisted.
Connect stores are owned by dealers while Friendship or services centers.
Corroborating Ms Omogbenigun, Human Resource Executive, Mr. Mutari Wada, said, "Nobody in the last few months in the service centers have been sacked, but if there is it may be of disciplinary action, and definitely not as a result of downsizing".
According to him, MTN has 180 staff in all its service centers, out of which, 78 would be reabsorbed in other areas while others are expected to remain in their areas of operation within the network group.
He also denied that virtually all the Nigerian employee of the GSM company are on contract which entails that lay-offs are done at random, saying, "We have almost 2,000 staff as permanent staff" even as those who have to leave the company are not rewarded with mere one month compensation.
Maintaining that it is not in the company’s best interest to lose any staff, because they have been trained to be versatile and to be the best of what they do.
Nigeria ready for Software Freedom Day-05
STAKEHOLDERS in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the country said all is now set for the world Software Freedom Day (SFD) come Saturday, September 10, 2005.
SFD is a global grassroots effort to promote the use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) with the goal to raise public awareness of the benefits of using high quality FOSS in education, government, homes and businesses and other aspects of life.
It is a date set aside for this year’s celebration by the non-profit organization propagating the penetration and usage of FOSS under the aegis of Software Freedom International (SFI), which provides guidance in organizing SFD.
He said the event would take place at the Lagos Digital Village, 46 Coattes Street, Ebute Metta, Lagos on Saturday, the 10th of September this year.
Already volunteer teams around the world would organise their own SFD events to impart accordingly to their own communities.
This year’s SFD, according to the coordinator of the nation’s team, and Executive Secretary, Knowledgehouseafrica.org, Mr. Sunday Olukayode Akanni, is the second of its kind and is significant because 2005 marks the 20th anniversary of the FOSS.
Champion Infotel calls to mind that FOSS was initiated by Mr. Richard Stallman from Massachuset Institute of Technology (MIT) when he started the Free Software Foundation in 1985.
It is also on record that more than 70 volunteer teams worldwide registered last year for the implementation of the SFD, which was the inaugural celebration.
This year, Mr. Akanni said SFD website has recorded over 191 volunteer teams, whereas over 25 of this figure are Africans.
Some of the African countries include Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Benin Republic, Cote ‘D Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Mali, Cameroon and Burundi.
He also enlightened that SFD is targeted at effectively involving focused team drawn from families, government, small business, big business and educational institutions.
SFD is a global grassroots effort to promote the use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) with the goal to raise public awareness of the benefits of using high quality FOSS in education, government, homes and businesses and other aspects of life.
It is a date set aside for this year’s celebration by the non-profit organization propagating the penetration and usage of FOSS under the aegis of Software Freedom International (SFI), which provides guidance in organizing SFD.
He said the event would take place at the Lagos Digital Village, 46 Coattes Street, Ebute Metta, Lagos on Saturday, the 10th of September this year.
Already volunteer teams around the world would organise their own SFD events to impart accordingly to their own communities.
This year’s SFD, according to the coordinator of the nation’s team, and Executive Secretary, Knowledgehouseafrica.org, Mr. Sunday Olukayode Akanni, is the second of its kind and is significant because 2005 marks the 20th anniversary of the FOSS.
Champion Infotel calls to mind that FOSS was initiated by Mr. Richard Stallman from Massachuset Institute of Technology (MIT) when he started the Free Software Foundation in 1985.
It is also on record that more than 70 volunteer teams worldwide registered last year for the implementation of the SFD, which was the inaugural celebration.
This year, Mr. Akanni said SFD website has recorded over 191 volunteer teams, whereas over 25 of this figure are Africans.
Some of the African countries include Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Benin Republic, Cote ‘D Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Mali, Cameroon and Burundi.
He also enlightened that SFD is targeted at effectively involving focused team drawn from families, government, small business, big business and educational institutions.
FINTEX-05: Propelling finance sector with IT
Features of the week:
First edition of the Financial Internet Technology (FINTEX-05) ended in Lagos, recently with eulogies for the organisers, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), reports REMMY NWEKE.
IN April this year, when the first-ever Financial Internet Technology Expo (FINTEX-05) was shifted to August, skeptics were doubtful over the seriousness of the event, but the leadership of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), organisers of the event, led by Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, went back to the drawing board to restrategise.
NIG, a non-profit organisation was founded in March 1995 and dedicated to fostering growth of the Internet community in the country. Its membership is open cutting across all those interested in the growth of Internet technology, irrespective of educational background and current field of employment.
This includes the academia, non-governmental organizations, government parastatals, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), private organizations and individuals.
FINTEX-05, an annual conference and exhibition organized by NIG with this year’s theme as “Mainstreaming IT in Banking and Finance,” was initially scheduled to hold from April 28-29 and later shifted to August 8 and 9.
The reason given then by NIG was to offer exhibitors value for their money, and due to collision of the event date with others within the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry, of which over five different events took place within the slated two days chosen for FINTEX-05 both in Lagos and Abuja. Held at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Center Onikan-Lagos, FINTEX-05 attracted ministers and high-profile professional participation.
According to Dr. Ekuwem, NIG as an advocate of best practices in the ICT service delivery endeavours to elevate the nation to an enviable height in the use of Internet and other ICT tools, which would boost productivity in every sector of the economy. Pointing out that efficiency starts by knowing what to do and doing it right at the right time.
“With FINTEX-05 as conceptualized, NIG seeks to provide an enduring legacy by assembling those who are professionals in different ICT sub-disciplines with evolving practical experiences to do it right and share expertise with others,” he asserted, stressing, it tends toward enhancing productivity and sustainable economic development.
”It is expected that at the end of the day, both the government and the organized private sector (OPS) would have learnt how to deploy Internet and other ICT tools appropriately,” he said, in addition to exhibition of financial hi-tech solutions by manufacturers, vendors, software engineers, finance automation system integrators, cyber security providers, data center/warehousing service providers, ISPs, telecom operators, banks, insurance companies among others.
With the sponsorship line-up including Zenith International Bank Plc, Oceanic Bank Plc, Equity Bank and Teledom Group, the event came to a close on Tuesday, August 9, a success according to Dr. Ekuwem, who also is the Executive Vice Chairman, Teledom Group.
Welcoming participants to the event, Prof. Pat Utomi of the Lagos Business School/Pan African University, who presided the expo opening ceremony lauded NIG for coming up with FINTEX and charged participants to explore ICT for the benefit of the sector and the nation in general.
List of exhibitors included all core sponsors, IGI, ipNX Ltd, Mweb Nigeria, Omatek Limited, Chams Limited, Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), Maxgate, DOPC Ltd, Progenics Ltd, Naira.com, Entegration Solutions Limited, Intercellular, BT Ltd, Linkserve, Nigeria Online limited and General Telecoms.
This came as over 20 presentations were made at the occasion led by the chief executive of Oceanic Bank Plc, Dr. (Mrs) Cecilia Ibru, who delivered a special address tagged, The ICT platform for effective bank mergers. She said that for an effective bank mergers to take place, ICT must support post-consolidation, currently on-going in the nation’s evolving banking and finance industry.
Mrs. Ibru also said that ICT must be adequate to support future operations of the banking sector, despite accommodation of current platform, emphasising that it would engender transparency, which translates to better business practices as well as better dividends for the shareholders.
Pointing out that for this to occur, there must also be strategic focus by relevant banks which she recognised, varies, but involves computing and communications facilities, equipment and infrastructure.
Automated work load, she said, is the ultimate in banking sector, noting that in effective integration, there must be two steps to be taken, which include identifying appropriate hardware and security features which could be in-built, even as organisations must ensure availability of skills to support the application locally, while business focus of the application adopted must be examined to the extent of its retail, investment and trade finance and so on.
Director-General (DG), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Prof. Cleopas Officer Angaye, in his address lamented non-patronage of locally developed software by the nation’s banking and finance industry as well as lack of facilities to support developers in sustaining initiatives.
The DG, noted that NIG has positioned itself as the foremost NGO involved in Internet development and penetration in the country. Therefore, whenever the nation’s internet history is written, it would be incomplete without NIG.
He noted that issues concerning software, hardware, and infrastructure, network security and cyber crime, electronic payment (e-payment) solutions and regulatory frameworks outlined for the two-day conference, could not be richer at any other time in the history of the nation as the bank’s consolidation and recapitalisation as directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He described the selection of the finance sector as the main focus, as a “wise choice indeed” declaring that banks are to electronic commerce (e-commerce) what the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is to university education in the country.
“As far as I can recall, FINTEX is the first main attempt by stakeholders to comprehensively discuss IT in the finance industry, even though the industry blazed the trail of Internet technology in business many years ago,” NITDA boss represented by the Head, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Inye Kemabonta, asserted. Highlighting, “There is a great deal of indigenous expertise and potential, which the finance industry needs to begin to develop and take advantage of”.
Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isoun, who was represented by DG, NITDA, Prof. Angaye, tasked participants to realise that as the migration of business operations and processes to the online and electronic environment, is relevant to ensure that not only are online contracts enforceable.
“But also that the processes and critical infrastructure are secure, or that redress and remedy are available in the cases of breach and misuse,” he said, disclosing, it was for this reason the federal government instituted the Nigerian Cyber-Security Initiative (NCI), being implemented under the auspices of the Nigerian Cybercrime Working Group (NCWG).
The most remarkable aspect of the event according to industry watchers was the indication that the IT umbrella body, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), expressed interest on partnering with NIG on subsequent editions of FINTEX-05, given its potential values to the industry and growth of the nation’s economy.
This indication was given by the first vice president, NCS, Chief Anthony Olaide Ayodele of Labyet Polaris Ltd, in a goodwill message presented on behalf of NCS President, Dr. Chris Nwannenna, among other eulogies to the organisers for the programme.
He said, NCS would be glad to partner with NIG on subsequent editions of FINTEX, considering its focus which is leveraging on development and exploration of ICT specifically for the good of banking and financial sector.
The proposal received thunderous applause from participants at the event, which the NCS boss said, was a signal that this kind of collaboration has been long expected by the stakeholders.
In his opening message to welcome participants, NIG President, Dr. Ekuwem said FINTEX has been positioned as a forum that promises to provide answers to the applications of ICT in the financial sector of the nation’s economy and that the group pioneered the expo as a leapfrogging platform to boost productivity in institutions within the sector.
Excited Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, while evaluating the event, said the two-day expo recorded great success in terms of participation and calibre of personalities that graced the expo.
In relation to this, he said, FINTEX-05 attracted two ministers, Prof. Turner Isoun of Science and Technology and Chief Cornelius Adebayo of Communications, despite their being represented by high profile directors from the ministries.
He also said, this was no mean achievement for an event that just made its debut, even at the kind of experts drawn from professional bodies within the ICT community is definitely not a small feat either.
Industry analysts, therefore, lauded FINTEX-05 for becoming a propelling force for the banking sector growth based on Information Technology.
First edition of the Financial Internet Technology (FINTEX-05) ended in Lagos, recently with eulogies for the organisers, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), reports REMMY NWEKE.
IN April this year, when the first-ever Financial Internet Technology Expo (FINTEX-05) was shifted to August, skeptics were doubtful over the seriousness of the event, but the leadership of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), organisers of the event, led by Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, went back to the drawing board to restrategise.
NIG, a non-profit organisation was founded in March 1995 and dedicated to fostering growth of the Internet community in the country. Its membership is open cutting across all those interested in the growth of Internet technology, irrespective of educational background and current field of employment.
This includes the academia, non-governmental organizations, government parastatals, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), private organizations and individuals.
FINTEX-05, an annual conference and exhibition organized by NIG with this year’s theme as “Mainstreaming IT in Banking and Finance,” was initially scheduled to hold from April 28-29 and later shifted to August 8 and 9.
The reason given then by NIG was to offer exhibitors value for their money, and due to collision of the event date with others within the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry, of which over five different events took place within the slated two days chosen for FINTEX-05 both in Lagos and Abuja. Held at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Center Onikan-Lagos, FINTEX-05 attracted ministers and high-profile professional participation.
According to Dr. Ekuwem, NIG as an advocate of best practices in the ICT service delivery endeavours to elevate the nation to an enviable height in the use of Internet and other ICT tools, which would boost productivity in every sector of the economy. Pointing out that efficiency starts by knowing what to do and doing it right at the right time.
“With FINTEX-05 as conceptualized, NIG seeks to provide an enduring legacy by assembling those who are professionals in different ICT sub-disciplines with evolving practical experiences to do it right and share expertise with others,” he asserted, stressing, it tends toward enhancing productivity and sustainable economic development.
”It is expected that at the end of the day, both the government and the organized private sector (OPS) would have learnt how to deploy Internet and other ICT tools appropriately,” he said, in addition to exhibition of financial hi-tech solutions by manufacturers, vendors, software engineers, finance automation system integrators, cyber security providers, data center/warehousing service providers, ISPs, telecom operators, banks, insurance companies among others.
With the sponsorship line-up including Zenith International Bank Plc, Oceanic Bank Plc, Equity Bank and Teledom Group, the event came to a close on Tuesday, August 9, a success according to Dr. Ekuwem, who also is the Executive Vice Chairman, Teledom Group.
Welcoming participants to the event, Prof. Pat Utomi of the Lagos Business School/Pan African University, who presided the expo opening ceremony lauded NIG for coming up with FINTEX and charged participants to explore ICT for the benefit of the sector and the nation in general.
List of exhibitors included all core sponsors, IGI, ipNX Ltd, Mweb Nigeria, Omatek Limited, Chams Limited, Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), Maxgate, DOPC Ltd, Progenics Ltd, Naira.com, Entegration Solutions Limited, Intercellular, BT Ltd, Linkserve, Nigeria Online limited and General Telecoms.
This came as over 20 presentations were made at the occasion led by the chief executive of Oceanic Bank Plc, Dr. (Mrs) Cecilia Ibru, who delivered a special address tagged, The ICT platform for effective bank mergers. She said that for an effective bank mergers to take place, ICT must support post-consolidation, currently on-going in the nation’s evolving banking and finance industry.
Mrs. Ibru also said that ICT must be adequate to support future operations of the banking sector, despite accommodation of current platform, emphasising that it would engender transparency, which translates to better business practices as well as better dividends for the shareholders.
Pointing out that for this to occur, there must also be strategic focus by relevant banks which she recognised, varies, but involves computing and communications facilities, equipment and infrastructure.
Automated work load, she said, is the ultimate in banking sector, noting that in effective integration, there must be two steps to be taken, which include identifying appropriate hardware and security features which could be in-built, even as organisations must ensure availability of skills to support the application locally, while business focus of the application adopted must be examined to the extent of its retail, investment and trade finance and so on.
Director-General (DG), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Prof. Cleopas Officer Angaye, in his address lamented non-patronage of locally developed software by the nation’s banking and finance industry as well as lack of facilities to support developers in sustaining initiatives.
The DG, noted that NIG has positioned itself as the foremost NGO involved in Internet development and penetration in the country. Therefore, whenever the nation’s internet history is written, it would be incomplete without NIG.
He noted that issues concerning software, hardware, and infrastructure, network security and cyber crime, electronic payment (e-payment) solutions and regulatory frameworks outlined for the two-day conference, could not be richer at any other time in the history of the nation as the bank’s consolidation and recapitalisation as directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He described the selection of the finance sector as the main focus, as a “wise choice indeed” declaring that banks are to electronic commerce (e-commerce) what the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is to university education in the country.
“As far as I can recall, FINTEX is the first main attempt by stakeholders to comprehensively discuss IT in the finance industry, even though the industry blazed the trail of Internet technology in business many years ago,” NITDA boss represented by the Head, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Inye Kemabonta, asserted. Highlighting, “There is a great deal of indigenous expertise and potential, which the finance industry needs to begin to develop and take advantage of”.
Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isoun, who was represented by DG, NITDA, Prof. Angaye, tasked participants to realise that as the migration of business operations and processes to the online and electronic environment, is relevant to ensure that not only are online contracts enforceable.
“But also that the processes and critical infrastructure are secure, or that redress and remedy are available in the cases of breach and misuse,” he said, disclosing, it was for this reason the federal government instituted the Nigerian Cyber-Security Initiative (NCI), being implemented under the auspices of the Nigerian Cybercrime Working Group (NCWG).
The most remarkable aspect of the event according to industry watchers was the indication that the IT umbrella body, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), expressed interest on partnering with NIG on subsequent editions of FINTEX-05, given its potential values to the industry and growth of the nation’s economy.
This indication was given by the first vice president, NCS, Chief Anthony Olaide Ayodele of Labyet Polaris Ltd, in a goodwill message presented on behalf of NCS President, Dr. Chris Nwannenna, among other eulogies to the organisers for the programme.
He said, NCS would be glad to partner with NIG on subsequent editions of FINTEX, considering its focus which is leveraging on development and exploration of ICT specifically for the good of banking and financial sector.
The proposal received thunderous applause from participants at the event, which the NCS boss said, was a signal that this kind of collaboration has been long expected by the stakeholders.
In his opening message to welcome participants, NIG President, Dr. Ekuwem said FINTEX has been positioned as a forum that promises to provide answers to the applications of ICT in the financial sector of the nation’s economy and that the group pioneered the expo as a leapfrogging platform to boost productivity in institutions within the sector.
Excited Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, while evaluating the event, said the two-day expo recorded great success in terms of participation and calibre of personalities that graced the expo.
In relation to this, he said, FINTEX-05 attracted two ministers, Prof. Turner Isoun of Science and Technology and Chief Cornelius Adebayo of Communications, despite their being represented by high profile directors from the ministries.
He also said, this was no mean achievement for an event that just made its debut, even at the kind of experts drawn from professional bodies within the ICT community is definitely not a small feat either.
Industry analysts, therefore, lauded FINTEX-05 for becoming a propelling force for the banking sector growth based on Information Technology.
Four firms endorse ‘WOW’ purchase
ACKNOWLEDGED leading Information Technology (IT) company, Hewlett Packard (HP), wireless Internet Service Provider, NetNearU, major distributor of HP products, Redington, and leading financial institution, First Bank Nigeria Plc, have jointly endorsed ‘With-Out-Worry’ (WOW) purchase promotion through partnership.
The promo which afforded Nigerians to buy HP-Compaq NX6110 business notebook, under a scheme that enables them to pay an initial start-up of N30,000 and monthly installment of N9,999 for a period of two years.
Unveiling this scheme to newsmen in Lagos, Small and Medium Business (SMB) country manager at HP, Ms Chioma Iwuchukwu, said, the promo was in response to the calls for international IT entities like HP to help in closing the digital gap in the country, under a new scheme that makes available spare parts and labour specific warranty.
She also said that as a Notebook offer, this system do not have much to do with national electricity power supply, even as the company have in stock spare parts worth over a million naira, just as she reassures that there is nothing wrong with this particular product.
Head, Consumer Finance at First Bank Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Stella Ofong-Ekpe said the scheme is innovative and that was what propelled the bank to buy into it, explaining that the initial payment is N30,000 to be followed by payment of N9,999 for the next 24 months.
According to her, any Nigerian who has a verifiable income of about N500,000 annually is qualified to participate in the scheme, even as the individual is expected to back this up with bank statement, official corporate introduction and three passport photos.
This promotion, she said, is beneficial to both individuals and corporate organisations, who wish to provide Notebook for employees by buying in bulk.
Thus, it affords Nigerians the opportunity to capitalize on the flexible and cost convenient opportunity to own HP-Compaq NX6110 notebook, Mrs. Ofong-Ekpe said.
Interested public, she said, could also make use of the FBN’s Consumer Finance Services (FBCFS), which provides access to mortgage loans, even as this is not limited to account holders with the bank.
“In this promotion, people would not only have the opportunity to own Notebooks with warranty at affordable prices in a ‘pay as you earn scheme’ but also enjoy two years of wireless internet access at Wi-Fi hotspots, and an insurance policy that covers theft or damage” Mrs. Ofong-Ekpe said.
Chief executive of NetNearU, Mr. Kaycee Kennedy, said the offer is a delightful one considering that high profile companies like FBN, and HP are staking their names to it.
NetNearU, he said, is facilitating the scheme by providing the Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) hotspots through the duration of the warranty, which is two years.
He also disclosed that his firm specifically picked on NX6110 notebook due to its versatility, which is good for the nation’s environment.
In addition, his firm has hotspots in several locations within Lagos and is ready to deploy this technology wherever it is needed as far as there are upto 20 patronages from the scheme.
“NetNearU is committed to set up hotspots within 72 hours with about 20 people signing up,” he declared.
The promo which afforded Nigerians to buy HP-Compaq NX6110 business notebook, under a scheme that enables them to pay an initial start-up of N30,000 and monthly installment of N9,999 for a period of two years.
Unveiling this scheme to newsmen in Lagos, Small and Medium Business (SMB) country manager at HP, Ms Chioma Iwuchukwu, said, the promo was in response to the calls for international IT entities like HP to help in closing the digital gap in the country, under a new scheme that makes available spare parts and labour specific warranty.
She also said that as a Notebook offer, this system do not have much to do with national electricity power supply, even as the company have in stock spare parts worth over a million naira, just as she reassures that there is nothing wrong with this particular product.
Head, Consumer Finance at First Bank Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Stella Ofong-Ekpe said the scheme is innovative and that was what propelled the bank to buy into it, explaining that the initial payment is N30,000 to be followed by payment of N9,999 for the next 24 months.
According to her, any Nigerian who has a verifiable income of about N500,000 annually is qualified to participate in the scheme, even as the individual is expected to back this up with bank statement, official corporate introduction and three passport photos.
This promotion, she said, is beneficial to both individuals and corporate organisations, who wish to provide Notebook for employees by buying in bulk.
Thus, it affords Nigerians the opportunity to capitalize on the flexible and cost convenient opportunity to own HP-Compaq NX6110 notebook, Mrs. Ofong-Ekpe said.
Interested public, she said, could also make use of the FBN’s Consumer Finance Services (FBCFS), which provides access to mortgage loans, even as this is not limited to account holders with the bank.
“In this promotion, people would not only have the opportunity to own Notebooks with warranty at affordable prices in a ‘pay as you earn scheme’ but also enjoy two years of wireless internet access at Wi-Fi hotspots, and an insurance policy that covers theft or damage” Mrs. Ofong-Ekpe said.
Chief executive of NetNearU, Mr. Kaycee Kennedy, said the offer is a delightful one considering that high profile companies like FBN, and HP are staking their names to it.
NetNearU, he said, is facilitating the scheme by providing the Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) hotspots through the duration of the warranty, which is two years.
He also disclosed that his firm specifically picked on NX6110 notebook due to its versatility, which is good for the nation’s environment.
In addition, his firm has hotspots in several locations within Lagos and is ready to deploy this technology wherever it is needed as far as there are upto 20 patronages from the scheme.
“NetNearU is committed to set up hotspots within 72 hours with about 20 people signing up,” he declared.
MTel kicks off Connect2Talk, offers N500 free airtime
Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) arm of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), has kicked off its Connect2Talk campaign, dangling N500 free airtime on any new line purchased on the network.
This is coming as MTel has enhanced its validity days for subscribers.
MTel in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel, said the promotion which began weekend, would last till September 31 this year.
The statement quoted the chief executive, Mr. Edwin Moore Momife as saying that it has also slashed the price of the Subscriber Identity Modular (SIM) from N2,500 to N1,000 as further incentive to new subscribers.
This, he explained, comes along with the N500 free airtime already bundled into the SIM for instant connection on the network.
According to him, potential customers should catch-in on the slash during the on-going Connect2Talk campaign by buying it from any of the MTel’s distribution outlets.
Meanwhile, MTel said it has enhanced validity window which the company is using to place emphasis on customer satisfaction.
Mr. Momife also said this step would afford customers the opportunity to take pleasure in extended active period on the network.
With the new validity structure, MTel’s subscribers who recharge to the tune of N2,000 would henceforth enjoy three months, approximated 90 days active period, while each N1000 airtime recharge comes along with 45 days validity from its 30 days validity previously.
For those subscribers recharging with N400, he said, they now have 20 days validity period from the 15 days offered before now on the network, as well as those using N250 airtime could now enjoy 10 days validity from 7 days hitherto offer, even as all the recharge regime have equal dormancy period of 120 days each.
This is coming as MTel has enhanced its validity days for subscribers.
MTel in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel, said the promotion which began weekend, would last till September 31 this year.
The statement quoted the chief executive, Mr. Edwin Moore Momife as saying that it has also slashed the price of the Subscriber Identity Modular (SIM) from N2,500 to N1,000 as further incentive to new subscribers.
This, he explained, comes along with the N500 free airtime already bundled into the SIM for instant connection on the network.
According to him, potential customers should catch-in on the slash during the on-going Connect2Talk campaign by buying it from any of the MTel’s distribution outlets.
Meanwhile, MTel said it has enhanced validity window which the company is using to place emphasis on customer satisfaction.
Mr. Momife also said this step would afford customers the opportunity to take pleasure in extended active period on the network.
With the new validity structure, MTel’s subscribers who recharge to the tune of N2,000 would henceforth enjoy three months, approximated 90 days active period, while each N1000 airtime recharge comes along with 45 days validity from its 30 days validity previously.
For those subscribers recharging with N400, he said, they now have 20 days validity period from the 15 days offered before now on the network, as well as those using N250 airtime could now enjoy 10 days validity from 7 days hitherto offer, even as all the recharge regime have equal dormancy period of 120 days each.
Rainbownet flags off anniversary promo
South-East-based Private Telecom Operator (PTO), Rainbownet Limited, has commenced what it described as a unique third anniversary promotion.
Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications at Rainbownet, Mr. Tom Njoku, said the highlights of the offer allows customers to buy the Rainbownet Tabletop telephone at a concessionary price of N12,000, in addition to get free N2,000 airtime and plus a free N2,000 redemption coupon.
He described the promo as “unique”, especially because of the redemption coupon which is a novelty in the nation’s telecoms marketing.
Mr. Njoku explained that the redemption coupon is a kind of discount voucher that comes with every welcome pack, which enables the customer to enjoy a discount of N2,000 on the next Rainbownet line purchased.
According to him, the uniqueness is the way N2,000 free airtime has been structured, just as the free airtime does not come in the form of a regular recharge card.
He explained that rather, it is a voucher with a special Personal Identification Number (PIN) number, which activates the free airtime only when a regular recharge card is loaded on the phone.
“In other words, as soon as the customer loads a recharge card, he gets its full value plus the free N2,000 worth of airtime,” he said.
Customers, he further said, who buy new Rainbownet lines during the anniversary period will also be entitled to free, unlimited on-net (Rainbownet to Rainbownet) Short Messaging Service (SMS), as well as other gifts such as umbrellas.
Mr. Njoku said that the anniversary offer, which would last till the September 15, 2005, is one of the company’s ways of celebrating three years of being a successful PTO and rewarding its customers.
Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications at Rainbownet, Mr. Tom Njoku, said the highlights of the offer allows customers to buy the Rainbownet Tabletop telephone at a concessionary price of N12,000, in addition to get free N2,000 airtime and plus a free N2,000 redemption coupon.
He described the promo as “unique”, especially because of the redemption coupon which is a novelty in the nation’s telecoms marketing.
Mr. Njoku explained that the redemption coupon is a kind of discount voucher that comes with every welcome pack, which enables the customer to enjoy a discount of N2,000 on the next Rainbownet line purchased.
According to him, the uniqueness is the way N2,000 free airtime has been structured, just as the free airtime does not come in the form of a regular recharge card.
He explained that rather, it is a voucher with a special Personal Identification Number (PIN) number, which activates the free airtime only when a regular recharge card is loaded on the phone.
“In other words, as soon as the customer loads a recharge card, he gets its full value plus the free N2,000 worth of airtime,” he said.
Customers, he further said, who buy new Rainbownet lines during the anniversary period will also be entitled to free, unlimited on-net (Rainbownet to Rainbownet) Short Messaging Service (SMS), as well as other gifts such as umbrellas.
Mr. Njoku said that the anniversary offer, which would last till the September 15, 2005, is one of the company’s ways of celebrating three years of being a successful PTO and rewarding its customers.
Our mission for e-inclusion – Emelife
Managing Director, Hewlett Packard (HP) Nigeria, Mr. Maduka Emelife has explained the firm’s worldwide mission for e-inclusion initiative, saying it provides access to the people.
This, he said facilitates greatly on the social and economic opportunities available to the populace through closing the digital gap.
Mr. Emelife who made this disclosure while throwing light on HP’s philanthropy initiative in setting up two major projects in the country recently, namely the Micro Enterprise Acceleration Program (MEAP) and HP+IEEE Telecenter.
While MEAP is located at the Lagos Business School Victoria Island through HP’s partnership with Pan African University’s department of Enterprise Development Services (EDS), HP is also partnering with the department of Electrical Electronics Engineering at the University of Ibadan for the telecenter.
Mr. Emelife said that HP has long believed that doing good is good business based on the firm’s worldwide mission on e-inclusion initiative, empowerment through provision of access to close the gap between technology-empowered and technology-excluded communities.
“With the end result to enable sustainability for the communities and HP,” he asserted.
The two projects estimated to be over $200,000 about N26,310,000, the company said, were aimed at empowering micro entrepreneurs and students in the country so as to be more useful to the entire society.
According to Marketing Consultant at HP, Ms Chizoba Nwaobia in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel, in order to actualise the set objectives, HP is collaborating with Pan African University to create a MEAP Center, which would enable enterprises in underserved communities access to technology, training and business coaching.
This would also accelerate and sustain business growth and economic opportunity for participants.
Towards this programme, she said, HP has donated equipments and services worth over $120,000.
Mr. Emelife was further quoted as saying that by partnering with local training and business development service providers, like the Pan-African University “who are already working with micro enterprises, HP would more immediately and directly help micro enterprises learn how to apply the power of information and communications technology to grow and sustain their businesses through its MEAP.”
For the second program, identified as HP+IEEE Telecenter, the leading IT solution provider said its partnership with the department of Electrical Electronics Engineering at the University of Ibadan was to enable the building of an advanced computing and telecenter, for the university community.
This, he explained, would promote computer education at the University of Ibadan, and nearby communities.
The center which is costing HP over $80,000 in equipments and services is a state of the art facility, 60-seat computer centre.
Mr. Emelife noted it would change the way they study at the institute, even as it will also provide students and the community countless new educational opportunities to prepare them for the demands of the 21st century.
The centre is complete with full connectivity, generators, specialised software, access to a digital laboratory, and other HP knowledge centers for the training of young Nigerian engineers.
“The equipment provided to IEEE by HP will open up many doors for our students,” affirmed Dr. Adeboye Olatunbosun of the University of Ibadan, stressing that with this, “our students, faculty, alumni and our surrounding community will have greater access to knowledge and opportunities from around the world”.
This, he said facilitates greatly on the social and economic opportunities available to the populace through closing the digital gap.
Mr. Emelife who made this disclosure while throwing light on HP’s philanthropy initiative in setting up two major projects in the country recently, namely the Micro Enterprise Acceleration Program (MEAP) and HP+IEEE Telecenter.
While MEAP is located at the Lagos Business School Victoria Island through HP’s partnership with Pan African University’s department of Enterprise Development Services (EDS), HP is also partnering with the department of Electrical Electronics Engineering at the University of Ibadan for the telecenter.
Mr. Emelife said that HP has long believed that doing good is good business based on the firm’s worldwide mission on e-inclusion initiative, empowerment through provision of access to close the gap between technology-empowered and technology-excluded communities.
“With the end result to enable sustainability for the communities and HP,” he asserted.
The two projects estimated to be over $200,000 about N26,310,000, the company said, were aimed at empowering micro entrepreneurs and students in the country so as to be more useful to the entire society.
According to Marketing Consultant at HP, Ms Chizoba Nwaobia in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel, in order to actualise the set objectives, HP is collaborating with Pan African University to create a MEAP Center, which would enable enterprises in underserved communities access to technology, training and business coaching.
This would also accelerate and sustain business growth and economic opportunity for participants.
Towards this programme, she said, HP has donated equipments and services worth over $120,000.
Mr. Emelife was further quoted as saying that by partnering with local training and business development service providers, like the Pan-African University “who are already working with micro enterprises, HP would more immediately and directly help micro enterprises learn how to apply the power of information and communications technology to grow and sustain their businesses through its MEAP.”
For the second program, identified as HP+IEEE Telecenter, the leading IT solution provider said its partnership with the department of Electrical Electronics Engineering at the University of Ibadan was to enable the building of an advanced computing and telecenter, for the university community.
This, he explained, would promote computer education at the University of Ibadan, and nearby communities.
The center which is costing HP over $80,000 in equipments and services is a state of the art facility, 60-seat computer centre.
Mr. Emelife noted it would change the way they study at the institute, even as it will also provide students and the community countless new educational opportunities to prepare them for the demands of the 21st century.
The centre is complete with full connectivity, generators, specialised software, access to a digital laboratory, and other HP knowledge centers for the training of young Nigerian engineers.
“The equipment provided to IEEE by HP will open up many doors for our students,” affirmed Dr. Adeboye Olatunbosun of the University of Ibadan, stressing that with this, “our students, faculty, alumni and our surrounding community will have greater access to knowledge and opportunities from around the world”.
Omatek emerges Microsoft’s best builder-05
MICROSOFT Corporation at its just ended world summit in South Africa, has awarded home grown computer manufacturer, Omatek Computers Limited, the best system builder of the year, 2005.
Disclosing this to Champion Infotel in Lagos, the managing director, Omatek, Mrs. Florence Seriki, said the award was announced at the annual world summit of the corporation where its partners and employees converged to chart a new course for the corporation.
The award, she said, came despite the immense challenges facing computer manufacturers locally in the country.
Omatek boss said the company has repositioned its brand with foreign brands as it now uses the same ingredients its competitors use in developed nations.
To this end, Omatek said that currently it has some of the firm’s technical partners working locally with the company.
The award which is for the West, Central and East Africa otherwise known as WECA within the Microsoft family, is encouraging to the company.
Champion Infotel also calls to mind that the Presidency, recently requested progress report on Omatek computers through the Ministry of Industries, even as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in recognition of the company effort, bought a set of Personal Computer (PC) from Omatek at the Telecom Africa held in Egypt earlier in the year.
In addition, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), commended Omatek Computers for its high quality computer products.
NCS led by Dr. Chris Nwannenna, stated this while leading officials of the group to Omatek factory at Oregun-Ikeja. He said the inspection tour was a way of rallying support for local entrepreneurship by the group.
He also said, “This step was also to boost the morale of NCS members occupying strategic decision making positions in both public and private sectors of the economy, and their organisations”.
NCS’ visit coincided with the Omatek Computers’ factory connection to the national grid of the public electricity company, the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) in over a year of its existence.
The group, the largest association for IT professional in the country, said, it was heart-warming to see the kind of Omatek factory growing.
“It’s a thing of pride not only to Nigeria, but Africa, that such a factory could actually exist to meet the growing market for computers,” Dr. Nwannenna said.
Disclosing this to Champion Infotel in Lagos, the managing director, Omatek, Mrs. Florence Seriki, said the award was announced at the annual world summit of the corporation where its partners and employees converged to chart a new course for the corporation.
The award, she said, came despite the immense challenges facing computer manufacturers locally in the country.
Omatek boss said the company has repositioned its brand with foreign brands as it now uses the same ingredients its competitors use in developed nations.
To this end, Omatek said that currently it has some of the firm’s technical partners working locally with the company.
The award which is for the West, Central and East Africa otherwise known as WECA within the Microsoft family, is encouraging to the company.
Champion Infotel also calls to mind that the Presidency, recently requested progress report on Omatek computers through the Ministry of Industries, even as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in recognition of the company effort, bought a set of Personal Computer (PC) from Omatek at the Telecom Africa held in Egypt earlier in the year.
In addition, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), commended Omatek Computers for its high quality computer products.
NCS led by Dr. Chris Nwannenna, stated this while leading officials of the group to Omatek factory at Oregun-Ikeja. He said the inspection tour was a way of rallying support for local entrepreneurship by the group.
He also said, “This step was also to boost the morale of NCS members occupying strategic decision making positions in both public and private sectors of the economy, and their organisations”.
NCS’ visit coincided with the Omatek Computers’ factory connection to the national grid of the public electricity company, the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) in over a year of its existence.
The group, the largest association for IT professional in the country, said, it was heart-warming to see the kind of Omatek factory growing.
“It’s a thing of pride not only to Nigeria, but Africa, that such a factory could actually exist to meet the growing market for computers,” Dr. Nwannenna said.
130 exhibitors for GITEX-05
ESTIMATED 130 exhibitors and companies have been confirmed to grace the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX 2005) in Dubai.
Officials said that the event which is slated to open new opportunities for Asian, African investors would be attracting about 130 Chinese and Indian companies are exhibiting at GITEX 2005this year.
Organisers Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) announced that with less than a month to the show, the premier IT event in the Middle East has earned for itself, reputation in the last 25 years as the window to ICT growth.
The event to hold from September 25 to 29, 2005, officials said, would witness Egypt leading other African countries with a strong Egyptian contingent at the show spurred by consistent growth in IT revenues in Egypt over the last two years.
Director General of DWTC Helal Saeed Khalfan Al Marri said, “IT revenues in Egypt are projected to grow by 7.63 per cent to exceed $ 613 million in 2005 as we gear up to receive a delegation of ICT professionals from Egypt to participate at GITEX this year.”
He said, with African burgeoning market witnessing tremendous growth in the last few years and an increasingly strong presence by over Asian companies, GITEX 2005 promises to be new partnership and consolidation points for businesses in the region.
According to him, Samsung. LG, Hitachi, and Sony are leading other Asian big players particularly from China and India to spearhead the Asian participation at the occasion, with these emerging markets riding high on a robust IT demand growth rate ranging between 21 per cent and 28 per cent for the years 2003 and 2004.
“This year’s GITEX, in its 25th edition, will offer multiple opportunities for businesses to take advantage of the tremendous growth in emerging markets over the past couple of years,” said Al Marri. West Africa’s leading business technology magazine IT Edge is in partnership with the organisers of GITEX 2005 to promote the event in the West African region.
IT Edge, published in English and French by Knowledge Media International (KMI) Limited is exhibiting at Stand No C1-J, Concourse 1 near Sony, Fujitsu-Siemens and Hitachi. IT Edge magazine is published in English and French by Knowledge Media International (KMI) Limited. IT Edge editorial coverage extends over all of the West Africa’s fledgling ICT industry.
It also reports South Africa’s ICT industry because of the increasing volume of ICT businesses between West Africa and South Africa. A tech-biz news portal www.itedgenews.com, with minimum of 25, 000 hits weekly, is updated Every Monday with reports on the industry.
The magazine in only one year has won respect for its extensive editorial content as sub-regional voice fostered on a network of reporters drawn from across the entire region with Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria, Togo, Sierra Leone, Senegambia (Gambia and Senegal) featuring extensively in most print and online editions.
The Chinese government has led the centrally planned economy to a more market-oriented structure in recent years. The result has been an express growth of GDP. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis, China in 2004 stood as the second-largest economy in the world after the US. Chinese players including ZTE and Huawei have gained prominent position in West Africa’s telecom sector in the last three years.
“Both India & China have registered high growth in recent years and have emerged as the bright spots in IT demand, with India overtaking China to achieve a 28 per cent growth rate as compared to China’s 24 per cent growth,” said Mr. Al Marri, quoting figures from leading research firm IDC.
“GITEX is ideally placed to tap into that growth.” ICT growth across the globe this year will be mostly consumer-driven, with the notable regional exception being China, where commercial sales have been strengthened by the nation’s booming economy, IDC said.
GITEX 2004 welcomed over 939 exhibitors representing more than 2,428 companies from 41 countries. The record-breaking exhibition took up all the available halls at the DWTC including a tented enclosure and attracted 116,346 visitors.
This year’s show is expected to pull a higher number of participants and already an additional 3,900 square metres of space has been created representing a 9 per cent increase in gross floor space.
“The response from exhibitors has been tremendous this year as we celebrate 25 years of serving the needs of the IT industry,” said DWTC International Project Manager, Claire Winfield.
“The success of GITEX in attracting top exhibitors from around the world is a clear reflection of the phenomenal growth of the IT market in the MENA region that is set to grow by almost 94 per cent from current levels to US$ 13.4 billion in 2008,” she said.
“With 25 years of international experience in serving the needs in every aspect of the information technology sector, GITEX is established as a ‘permanent fixture’ in the calendar of IT professionals worldwide that account for the event’s 100,000+ visitor count. The importance of GITEX cannot be overstated, given the critical role that the event plays in bringing together key exhibitors from the regional and international IT industry into direct contact with technology professionals and decision makers from the GCC, Middle East and Africa, India, Iran, Levant, Pakistan, Asia, America and Europe,” added Winfield.
Officials said that the event which is slated to open new opportunities for Asian, African investors would be attracting about 130 Chinese and Indian companies are exhibiting at GITEX 2005this year.
Organisers Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) announced that with less than a month to the show, the premier IT event in the Middle East has earned for itself, reputation in the last 25 years as the window to ICT growth.
The event to hold from September 25 to 29, 2005, officials said, would witness Egypt leading other African countries with a strong Egyptian contingent at the show spurred by consistent growth in IT revenues in Egypt over the last two years.
Director General of DWTC Helal Saeed Khalfan Al Marri said, “IT revenues in Egypt are projected to grow by 7.63 per cent to exceed $ 613 million in 2005 as we gear up to receive a delegation of ICT professionals from Egypt to participate at GITEX this year.”
He said, with African burgeoning market witnessing tremendous growth in the last few years and an increasingly strong presence by over Asian companies, GITEX 2005 promises to be new partnership and consolidation points for businesses in the region.
According to him, Samsung. LG, Hitachi, and Sony are leading other Asian big players particularly from China and India to spearhead the Asian participation at the occasion, with these emerging markets riding high on a robust IT demand growth rate ranging between 21 per cent and 28 per cent for the years 2003 and 2004.
“This year’s GITEX, in its 25th edition, will offer multiple opportunities for businesses to take advantage of the tremendous growth in emerging markets over the past couple of years,” said Al Marri. West Africa’s leading business technology magazine IT Edge is in partnership with the organisers of GITEX 2005 to promote the event in the West African region.
IT Edge, published in English and French by Knowledge Media International (KMI) Limited is exhibiting at Stand No C1-J, Concourse 1 near Sony, Fujitsu-Siemens and Hitachi. IT Edge magazine is published in English and French by Knowledge Media International (KMI) Limited. IT Edge editorial coverage extends over all of the West Africa’s fledgling ICT industry.
It also reports South Africa’s ICT industry because of the increasing volume of ICT businesses between West Africa and South Africa. A tech-biz news portal www.itedgenews.com, with minimum of 25, 000 hits weekly, is updated Every Monday with reports on the industry.
The magazine in only one year has won respect for its extensive editorial content as sub-regional voice fostered on a network of reporters drawn from across the entire region with Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria, Togo, Sierra Leone, Senegambia (Gambia and Senegal) featuring extensively in most print and online editions.
The Chinese government has led the centrally planned economy to a more market-oriented structure in recent years. The result has been an express growth of GDP. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis, China in 2004 stood as the second-largest economy in the world after the US. Chinese players including ZTE and Huawei have gained prominent position in West Africa’s telecom sector in the last three years.
“Both India & China have registered high growth in recent years and have emerged as the bright spots in IT demand, with India overtaking China to achieve a 28 per cent growth rate as compared to China’s 24 per cent growth,” said Mr. Al Marri, quoting figures from leading research firm IDC.
“GITEX is ideally placed to tap into that growth.” ICT growth across the globe this year will be mostly consumer-driven, with the notable regional exception being China, where commercial sales have been strengthened by the nation’s booming economy, IDC said.
GITEX 2004 welcomed over 939 exhibitors representing more than 2,428 companies from 41 countries. The record-breaking exhibition took up all the available halls at the DWTC including a tented enclosure and attracted 116,346 visitors.
This year’s show is expected to pull a higher number of participants and already an additional 3,900 square metres of space has been created representing a 9 per cent increase in gross floor space.
“The response from exhibitors has been tremendous this year as we celebrate 25 years of serving the needs of the IT industry,” said DWTC International Project Manager, Claire Winfield.
“The success of GITEX in attracting top exhibitors from around the world is a clear reflection of the phenomenal growth of the IT market in the MENA region that is set to grow by almost 94 per cent from current levels to US$ 13.4 billion in 2008,” she said.
“With 25 years of international experience in serving the needs in every aspect of the information technology sector, GITEX is established as a ‘permanent fixture’ in the calendar of IT professionals worldwide that account for the event’s 100,000+ visitor count. The importance of GITEX cannot be overstated, given the critical role that the event plays in bringing together key exhibitors from the regional and international IT industry into direct contact with technology professionals and decision makers from the GCC, Middle East and Africa, India, Iran, Levant, Pakistan, Asia, America and Europe,” added Winfield.
APC’s UPS now for homes
American Power Conversion (APC) has announced the introduction of its Back-UPS HS 500VA, a wall or rack-mountable power management uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for home and office environments.
Back-UPS HS 500, the company said, provides availability to critical home networking equipment by protecting data lines.
The unit also offers battery backup to home networking devices such as routers and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephones.
APC’s patent-pending Back-UPS HS 500 is one of the only UPS solutions with user controlled plug outlets and a management interface allowing the user to manage the unit remotely over a network or via the Web.
Country General Manager for Africa at APC, Mr. Carl Kleynhans, said, that with the convergence of networking products in a centralised location in homes, has been on the increase.
Stressing it paves the way to protect these systems from power anomalies as well as monitor the systems prior, during, and after a power disruption.
“The APC Back-UPS HS 500, which provides high quality power protection for home networks, also gives the user the ability to remotely monitor their unit efficiently,” he said.
The manager also said that this feature allows the user to choose what critical applications, via the Web, they want on battery backup when at another location.
He explained that the product has four battery backup outlets offering up to 51 minutes runtime for critical applications.
“The device notifies the user through visual alarm LED indicators of the power supply’s condition and status,” he said, which includes notification of communication status and if the battery is in use, needs replacing, as well as low, missing or not properly connected.
The new Back-UPS also offers surge protection for cable modems, cable television converters or Digital Satellite System (DSS) receivers.
In addition, he said, it protects equipment connected via 10/100 Base-T Ethernet lines as well as fax, phone, Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL) and modem lines.
The UPS, he further said, is designed to be wall mounted next to the building’s panel box or used with a shelf mount (2U).
Therefore, the unit allows a user to remotely manage the unit by turning the three Web-controlled outlets not in use on and off, thus preventing overloads, which helps to maximise battery performance and reliability.
“It also allows the user to recycle power to locked equipment minimising downtime and travel time to the equipment. Up to five Back-UPS HS 500 units can be controlled through the included management utility,” Mr. Kleynhans said.
Back-UPS HS 500, the company said, provides availability to critical home networking equipment by protecting data lines.
The unit also offers battery backup to home networking devices such as routers and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephones.
APC’s patent-pending Back-UPS HS 500 is one of the only UPS solutions with user controlled plug outlets and a management interface allowing the user to manage the unit remotely over a network or via the Web.
Country General Manager for Africa at APC, Mr. Carl Kleynhans, said, that with the convergence of networking products in a centralised location in homes, has been on the increase.
Stressing it paves the way to protect these systems from power anomalies as well as monitor the systems prior, during, and after a power disruption.
“The APC Back-UPS HS 500, which provides high quality power protection for home networks, also gives the user the ability to remotely monitor their unit efficiently,” he said.
The manager also said that this feature allows the user to choose what critical applications, via the Web, they want on battery backup when at another location.
He explained that the product has four battery backup outlets offering up to 51 minutes runtime for critical applications.
“The device notifies the user through visual alarm LED indicators of the power supply’s condition and status,” he said, which includes notification of communication status and if the battery is in use, needs replacing, as well as low, missing or not properly connected.
The new Back-UPS also offers surge protection for cable modems, cable television converters or Digital Satellite System (DSS) receivers.
In addition, he said, it protects equipment connected via 10/100 Base-T Ethernet lines as well as fax, phone, Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL) and modem lines.
The UPS, he further said, is designed to be wall mounted next to the building’s panel box or used with a shelf mount (2U).
Therefore, the unit allows a user to remotely manage the unit by turning the three Web-controlled outlets not in use on and off, thus preventing overloads, which helps to maximise battery performance and reliability.
“It also allows the user to recycle power to locked equipment minimising downtime and travel time to the equipment. Up to five Back-UPS HS 500 units can be controlled through the included management utility,” Mr. Kleynhans said.
Ikoyi Club 1938 commends Starcomms
Ikoyi Club 1938 Lagos, has Starcomms, Nigeria’s leading Private Telecommunications Operator, has commended Starcomms for its outstanding corporate social responsibility in the country.
The club’s Entertainment Chairman, Mr. Femi Nuna, said, Starcomms has distinguished itself as a socially responsible corporate citizen, due to its classic and consistent sponsorship of the club’s events over time.
He particularly made reference to its monthly Happy Hour, saying that Starcomms has been the major sponsor of the event for some time now.
Mr. Nuna, also gave kudos to Starcomms services as being above board, a position that was corroborated by Mr. Augustine Okonkwo, the star prize winner of the July edition of the Happy Hour raffle draw.
Mr. Okonkwo won a Tricom Station phone, loaded with a N2,500 credit and free internet access for one month.
Mr. Okonkwo said that in the last one month, he has been enjoying quality service from Starcomms and called on other Ikoyi Club 1938 members to “come and taste quality service delivery by Starcomms.”
At the August edition of the Ikoyi Club 1938 Happy Hour, Mr. Bayo Shadare, a distinguished member of the club, emerged the star prize winner of the raffle draw.
He won another Tricom phone loaded with a free internet access for one month and N2,500 worth of credit.
Tricom phone has the unique ability to offer Internet service, mobile and table top functions.
Responding after the draw, Mr. Shadare, expressed appreciation to the management and staff of Starcomms for their corporate affiliations with social events.
“Starcomms has shown by this gesture that it is a truly responsible corporate citizen,” he declared.
Starcomms’ Public Relations Manager, Ms. Laura Johnson, said the company was grateful for the opportunity to serve the club and thanked entire management, staff and members of the prestigious Ikoyi Club 1938, for creating an avenue to connect the club members with Starcomms’ world of innovativeness and possibilities.
The club’s Entertainment Chairman, Mr. Femi Nuna, said, Starcomms has distinguished itself as a socially responsible corporate citizen, due to its classic and consistent sponsorship of the club’s events over time.
He particularly made reference to its monthly Happy Hour, saying that Starcomms has been the major sponsor of the event for some time now.
Mr. Nuna, also gave kudos to Starcomms services as being above board, a position that was corroborated by Mr. Augustine Okonkwo, the star prize winner of the July edition of the Happy Hour raffle draw.
Mr. Okonkwo won a Tricom Station phone, loaded with a N2,500 credit and free internet access for one month.
Mr. Okonkwo said that in the last one month, he has been enjoying quality service from Starcomms and called on other Ikoyi Club 1938 members to “come and taste quality service delivery by Starcomms.”
At the August edition of the Ikoyi Club 1938 Happy Hour, Mr. Bayo Shadare, a distinguished member of the club, emerged the star prize winner of the raffle draw.
He won another Tricom phone loaded with a free internet access for one month and N2,500 worth of credit.
Tricom phone has the unique ability to offer Internet service, mobile and table top functions.
Responding after the draw, Mr. Shadare, expressed appreciation to the management and staff of Starcomms for their corporate affiliations with social events.
“Starcomms has shown by this gesture that it is a truly responsible corporate citizen,” he declared.
Starcomms’ Public Relations Manager, Ms. Laura Johnson, said the company was grateful for the opportunity to serve the club and thanked entire management, staff and members of the prestigious Ikoyi Club 1938, for creating an avenue to connect the club members with Starcomms’ world of innovativeness and possibilities.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Entrepreneurship, key to rural ICT projects
ENTREPEURSHIP has been identified as the key to successful rural projects especially in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
Speaking to Business Champion exclusively, the Senior Project Manager of the United States-based Sun Microsystems Incorporated, Ms Sobana Iyengar, said this formula would help a lot, mostly where it concerns those in the rural areas.
Responding to the ways of improving the embrace and penetration level of women in ICT, she asserted that if a rural woman discovers that ICT would boost the sell of her produce or an artisan, "definitely it is a buy".
She advised organizations that outreach for these women to always equip themselves, especially the civil society organizations (CSOs) with an attitude that these women are intelligent in their caliber.
"Do not go by offering them dole, but by understanding of the culture, constraints and restraints they face individually and as a community," she said.
Creativity, Ms Iyengar pointed out is in abundant in the rural communities, saying that without ingenuity and survival techniques, "many of these people would not have survived in harsh condition".
She cited an instance that by enlightening such people on the value of education, "Every mother would definitely want their daughters to have a better standard of living".
Noting, that even ever before ICT revolution came, "we have seen rural women willing to undergo hardship to educate their daughters to become doctors, teachers and nurses".
Pointing out that since ICT involves more equipment cost, each country, mostly in developing nations, should come up with solutions like a tax break for ICT equipment donations to rural sector development.
She believes that all the possible resources to fund rural efforts available are worth tapping, saying that a good compelling reason from the womenfolk would also advance this cause to boost rural communities with ICT.
Speaking to Business Champion exclusively, the Senior Project Manager of the United States-based Sun Microsystems Incorporated, Ms Sobana Iyengar, said this formula would help a lot, mostly where it concerns those in the rural areas.
Responding to the ways of improving the embrace and penetration level of women in ICT, she asserted that if a rural woman discovers that ICT would boost the sell of her produce or an artisan, "definitely it is a buy".
She advised organizations that outreach for these women to always equip themselves, especially the civil society organizations (CSOs) with an attitude that these women are intelligent in their caliber.
"Do not go by offering them dole, but by understanding of the culture, constraints and restraints they face individually and as a community," she said.
Creativity, Ms Iyengar pointed out is in abundant in the rural communities, saying that without ingenuity and survival techniques, "many of these people would not have survived in harsh condition".
She cited an instance that by enlightening such people on the value of education, "Every mother would definitely want their daughters to have a better standard of living".
Noting, that even ever before ICT revolution came, "we have seen rural women willing to undergo hardship to educate their daughters to become doctors, teachers and nurses".
Pointing out that since ICT involves more equipment cost, each country, mostly in developing nations, should come up with solutions like a tax break for ICT equipment donations to rural sector development.
She believes that all the possible resources to fund rural efforts available are worth tapping, saying that a good compelling reason from the womenfolk would also advance this cause to boost rural communities with ICT.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
MTN’s enterprise seminar gets new dates
THE first-ever Enterprise Solutions seminar being organized by the leading Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operator, MTN Nigeria, has been shifted to October this year.
Daily Champion recalls that the seminar was earlier slated to hold this week Wednesday, August 31 and Thursday, September 1 in Lagos and Port Harcourt, whilst, a renowned management expert and author, Mr. Tom Peters would be the lead speaker on a variety of business and management topics.
Announcing the latest development, MTN Nigeria, said, the new dates for its inaugural Enterprise Solutions seminar would be now on October 13 at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel in Lagos, and on October 14 at the Shell Club in Port Harcourt.
According to Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at MTN Nigeria, Mr. Afam Edozie, the postponement was occasioned by the demise of the mother of Mr. Peter, Mrs. Evelyn Snow Peters, at the age of 95.
Daily Champion gathered that Mrs. Evelyn Peters passed away in Annapolis, Maryland in the United States last week, Wednesday, August 24, whereas Mr. Tom Peters was her only child.
Ivy Gustafson, an Associate at the Washington Speakers Bureau, in a mail to MTN said: "It is with sadness that I have to inform you that Tom Peters will not be able to attend and speak at the MTN Business Forum on August 31, 2005. His loving mother passed away…."
Gustafson also confirmed that Mr. Peters who has been slated to speak in Moscow on October 11 will therefore arrive in Lagos "on the evening of October 12 and would be available to speak on October 13 and 14".
MTN Nigeria therefore, sympathized with Mr. Peters for the demise of his mother.
"We sympathize with Tom Peters on this sad incident and regret any inconvenience the postponement may cause our invited guests and participants", Edozie said.
He pointed out that the decision to postpone the event was a difficult one, considering that organisation has gone far on arrangements for the seminars.
"Only recently, we held an interactive session with journalists in respect of the seminar. We are now working towards the new dates". Edozie said.
MTN, through Enterprise Solution Seminar seeks to enable Nigerian business leaders to comprehend the challenges business leaders all over the world are faced with, especially in the context of the challenge in the developing world, and how organizations in economies like ours have taken huge steps in changing the way we think and operate.
In essence, the seminar would enable business leaders to comprehend the role of business in community development in underdeveloped countries like Nigeria and how organizations can turn developmental challenges in their local environment to positive opportunities for their organizations.
Daily Champion recalls that the seminar was earlier slated to hold this week Wednesday, August 31 and Thursday, September 1 in Lagos and Port Harcourt, whilst, a renowned management expert and author, Mr. Tom Peters would be the lead speaker on a variety of business and management topics.
Announcing the latest development, MTN Nigeria, said, the new dates for its inaugural Enterprise Solutions seminar would be now on October 13 at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel in Lagos, and on October 14 at the Shell Club in Port Harcourt.
According to Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at MTN Nigeria, Mr. Afam Edozie, the postponement was occasioned by the demise of the mother of Mr. Peter, Mrs. Evelyn Snow Peters, at the age of 95.
Daily Champion gathered that Mrs. Evelyn Peters passed away in Annapolis, Maryland in the United States last week, Wednesday, August 24, whereas Mr. Tom Peters was her only child.
Ivy Gustafson, an Associate at the Washington Speakers Bureau, in a mail to MTN said: "It is with sadness that I have to inform you that Tom Peters will not be able to attend and speak at the MTN Business Forum on August 31, 2005. His loving mother passed away…."
Gustafson also confirmed that Mr. Peters who has been slated to speak in Moscow on October 11 will therefore arrive in Lagos "on the evening of October 12 and would be available to speak on October 13 and 14".
MTN Nigeria therefore, sympathized with Mr. Peters for the demise of his mother.
"We sympathize with Tom Peters on this sad incident and regret any inconvenience the postponement may cause our invited guests and participants", Edozie said.
He pointed out that the decision to postpone the event was a difficult one, considering that organisation has gone far on arrangements for the seminars.
"Only recently, we held an interactive session with journalists in respect of the seminar. We are now working towards the new dates". Edozie said.
MTN, through Enterprise Solution Seminar seeks to enable Nigerian business leaders to comprehend the challenges business leaders all over the world are faced with, especially in the context of the challenge in the developing world, and how organizations in economies like ours have taken huge steps in changing the way we think and operate.
In essence, the seminar would enable business leaders to comprehend the role of business in community development in underdeveloped countries like Nigeria and how organizations can turn developmental challenges in their local environment to positive opportunities for their organizations.
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