Effects of WSIS on Nigeria

Features of the week:

Second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) comes up in 54 days away in Tunis. REMMY NWEKE reports that the processes have been a stimulae to development in the Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in the country.

TWO years ago when the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS-03) came to a close in Geneva, Switzerland, little did any one give Africa let alone Nigeria a chance to record much development in the use of ICT that impacted so much on the people before the second phase.

WSIS, known as the global gathering of Heads of State and government and other high-profile leaders came out of the first phase with two essential documents, namely ´Declaration of principles and Action Plan, upon which Information Society (IS) will be founded and time frames between 2005 and 2015 by advancing internationally agreed development goals in efforts to close digital divide.

Quite Revolution

In what assumed another quite revolution, the import of this summit to various continents of the world cannot be measured, particularly in Africa where most of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) seem to have their roots, and nations in transition as far as democracy is concerned.

The event organised by the United Nations (UN) through its agencies and coordinated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) set the ball rolling with the inauguration of the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) to trash the issue which resulted in open hand to the Internet administration coordinatoion by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The group report would be presented officially in Tunis.

This process has greatly paved the way for the African Network Information Center (AfriNIC), which came live after the adoption of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) report on the proposal among other task forces and working groups at different levels of ICT; to ensure that as the world leaders meet in Tunis again on IS to evaluate the outcome since the last first phase, some would have reason to beat their chaste, even if no one eulogies them, despite obvious infrastructural difficulties.

Government's commitment

Among these leaders would be the President of the largest black and African nation on the continent, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria. Although he attended the Geneva phase with regrets that the nation did not showcase its teeming potentials at the exhibition stands, his government’s attitude to ICT changed for the better afterwards.

So, few months later during the e-Nigeria 2004 organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Chief Obasanjo tasked African leaders, mostly from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the need to harness thoughts in order to have a common front for the greater continental positioning at the second phase.

His administration also encouraged what experts said was opening of the door for better understanding of the implication of allowing the nation to be behind equals rather than the leader or big brother role according to politicians; mostly by providing the enabling environment for the regulatory agencies like the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to steer the telecom industry, to its present height, which equals telecom growth to that of India, with over 150 per cent increase in telephone access as at January 2004 and by August 2005, the nation has from what was obtained earlier recorded 16 million Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) subscribers, according to NCC boss, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe.

WSIS therefore strengthened the efficacy of ICT at the leadership circle, making it possible for African political leaders to work towards transparency and good governance on the continent.

This is equally evident in less politicization of ICT policy issues into onward implementation, therefore affording the leadership at various stages amenable to the fact that technology begets future development in this century.

Therefore, the commitment has shifted upwards with good results as African nation’s and precisely Nigeria, could be said to be more considerate of the implications of worsening the already digital divide in the system. So they now see ICT with some amount of seriousness.

Dividends of ICT

And given the influence of GSM, for instance, in the last four years and its economic boost to ordinary Nigerian who would graduate with uncertain future, but now some of them own and operate call centers at streets and even villages with the help of communications technologies like booster antenna to mention a few.

Another instance, is that between the two phase lay a great number of media houses focusing on ICT and not merely having increased access but have generated some positive hits in the technology reporting both locally and internationally.

With the understanding that Nigeria journalists now could send stories from Europe, other parts of Africa and the world at large where there is Internet access may no longer be news, but the fact that generality of editorial staff are daily getting keen over the use of some of these technologies, especially the internet is a positive one.

Also, at the presidency it was reported that top-notchers of the nation’s leadership have ´passed´ 21st century literacy test coordinated by NITDA which is prerequisite to enthrone appropriate policies that will boost investment which come with provision of infrastructure either by the government or by members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) based on arrangement and understanding between this two.

At least, a Senator of the federal republic now knows the difference between Information Technology (IT) and ´It´, Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) and ´Ups´ amidst several daily used ICT jargons.

As matter of fact various state governments are now setting up ICT centres for their people, which they tagged ‘democracy dividend’ usually offering business center services in a large scale, and training at different levels too.

Achieving the Action Plan

For instance, Nigeria has achieved some parts of the section A3 in the Action Plan by forming stakeholders partnership between government and OPS known as the National e-Government Strategies (NeGSt), a public private partnership (PPP); to over see the role of developing and implementing comprehensive, forward, and sustainable national e-strategies.

Even as the linking of local and central government departments and establishing websites and electronic mail (email) addresses are coming in phases with the relaunch of the nation’s portal, www.nigeria.gov.ng, thereby boosting local content development with requisite technical conditions on the Internet beginning in earnest with the proposed IT bill, thus encouraging by way of building confidence and security.

This came as controversies on local hosting of the country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) name, .ng, was rested following government’s intervention, giving birth literarily to the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA).

On achieving the capacity building demands of IS, the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) Utako-Abuja was established over 16 months ago and by tinkering on unified licensing scheme due to take off next February, NCC is broadening access to global frequency harmonisation and systems standardization, as required by C4 and C2 in the Action Plan. These are expected to boost Internet and communications in the country, while reducing illiteracy level in the use of ICTs at various levels.

Above all, communications is fundamental to social process of inclusion which WSIS tends to achieve hence a basic need for the foundation of all social organisations and centre of Information Society.

A New Dawn

In stressing this fact, the issue of deploying electronic voting machine come 2007 general election in the country, is as good as endorsed if few obstacles pointed out would be fixed as assured by the chief electoral officer of the federation and chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Maurice Iwu.

It was not surprising therefore that Mr. President, like heeding the call by former president, Information Technology Industry Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Mr. Chris Uwaje, recently that political leadership positions in the country should be left for those below 50 years, has his choice of Ministers as mostly new breeds whose interest in technology deployment is immeasurable.

By the end of the summit, industry watchers look forward to more streamlined monitoring of the follow up of the two documents, mostly the Acton Plan, to give room for adequate implementation beyond the conference and probably present good report card by the end year 2015.

Tinubu, Adebayo, Ndukwe for City People fair

Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Communications, Chief Cornelius Adebayo and the executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe would lead dignitaries to the maiden edition of the City People organized Information and Communications Technology (ICT) exhibition.

The exhibition tagged IT & Telecom fair, is coming up in the city of Lagos, few weeks after the industry witnessed a five-day FoneFest at the TBS Lagos, even as there would be InfoFair in the northern state of Kaduna this November.

A press statement made available to ITRealms by the management of City People, said the maiden edition of the two-day IT and Telecom fair would be at Silverbird Galleria, beginning from Tuesday 4, through Wednesday 5, October this year.

According to the organizers, all roads will lead to the prestigious Silverbird Galleria along Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island, Lagos “for the maiden edition of City People's Information and Communications Technology Exhibition tagged "IT & Telecoms Fair 2005" the statement said.

Big players in the sector, the organizers said, have been invited to be part of this expo as participants as this would give them ample opportunities to display their organization’s products.

They also said the fair promises to be a very remarkable one as major handset manufacturers like Nokia, Samsung and Philips are itching to exhibit their products.

Expected at the event equally are the major computer manufacturers and distributors as well as major producers and dealers of IT products.

“Telecommunication operators in Nigeria would also display their products and Value Added Services (VAS),” the organizers declared.

Noting that the fair would present an opportunity for visitors to repair their damaged handsets as tested and trusted handset repair outfits would be at their service during the 2-day event.

Part of what participants will enjoy is publicity blitz of the exhibition in City People Magazine and on television as there will be collaboration between City People Magazine and a local TV station yet to be announced.

Free certification @ LinuxWorld-05

CANADA-based internationally vendor-independent organization advocating the use of Linux, Open Source and Free Software, through certification of Linux Professional Institute (LPI), has concluded plans to offer free certification at the two-day forthcoming Linux World Expo in the United Kingdom (UK).

The two-day conference and exhibition, has been slated for next month at Olympia 2 London.

Director, Community Relations at LIP, Mr. Scott Lambertson, disclosed that the premier institute for Linux certification organisation would offer free testing during the event scheduled for Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6, October this year.

In a press statement made available to Champion Infotel, Mr. Lambertson quoted the LPI chief executive, Mr. Jim Lacey as saying that LinuxWorld is a great venue to promote Linux, Open Source Software and the importance of recognized professional standards and vendor-independent certification for Linux professionals.

"LPI exam labs at LinuxWorld provide an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment to provide accessible, high-quality certification to the Linux community," Mr. Lacey also said.

Registered delegates to the conference, he said, could write the exams free of

Charge, but trade show attendees would pay a reduced fee of £25 to write the exams during the conference, rather than the regular price of £50.

Also, during the exam labs, Open Forum Europe will offer LPI 101 and 201 exams, along with 102 exams for those who qualify and request the advanced-level testing. All exams will be offered at 10 - 11:30 a.m. and 1.30 – 3:00 p.m. each day in the LPI Examination Rooms, and are located on the lower ground floor in Olympia 2.

He explained that candidates must pre-register on the LPI website at https://www.lpi.org/en/register.html to receive an identification number. All exam candidates should bring valid photo identification and their LPI ID number to the exam lab.

LPI is an official sponsor of LinuxWorld, internationally, and will be participating in the LinuxWorld Expo where LPI’s staff will meet attendees at the OFE booth (stand number D15). OFE will be giving advice on Linux and Open Source Software to business, government and education visitors.

Owodunmi replaces Weston @ Starcomms as CFO

PRIVATE Telecom Operator (PTO), Starcomms Nigeria Limited, has announced a replacement of its immediate past Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Mr. Mark Weston in person of Mr. Oluweseyi Owodunmi.

Though his appointment like that of Weston is on contractual basis and takes immediate effect.

The replacement became apparent following the expiration of Mr. Weston’s contract.

Until now Mr. Owodunmi has been the Managing Partner of Kayode Owodunni & Co., a Lagos-based firm of Chartered Accountants.

Mr. Owodunni has a Bachelor of Science degree (Cum Laude) in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, from Georgetown University, Washington D.C., United States (US), and a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts, US.

Before his MBA, Mr. Owodunni worked as a Certified Public Accountant with KPMG Peat Marwick LLP in Washington D.C. coming out as American Institute of Certified Pubic Accountants’ Exam in 1995 on his first sitting, and became a qualified CPA.

Also prior to joining Kayode Owodunni & Co., he worked for five years with Lucent Technologies Ltd., an American Telecommunications Equipment Manufacturer headquartered in New Jersey, US, in various capacities.

He further worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions area, advising the various Strategic Business Unit Executives on acquisition transactions which Lucent completed between 1998 and 2000.

In addition, Mr. Owodunni worked within Lucent’s Optical Networking Business Unit as a Product Manager responsible for profit and losses on core networking products, with annual sales of over $285 million.

He returned to Nigeria in 2003, and has since been admitted to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria as an Associate member.

IEE younger members to hold workshop on complete expert

The Institute of Electrical/Electronics Engineers (IEE) younger members’ section, Nigeria chapter, would next week Thursday and Friday host a workshop tagged ‘Towards a complete ICT Expertise’ in Lagos.

Acting chairman, IEE Nigeria Younger members, Mr. Olugbenga Adeyemo, said the event would hold at Yusuf Grillo Hall, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba-Lagos, between September 29 and 30.

He also said that event would feature technical sessions, life skills, business training, software/project exhibition and the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the chapter.

On the technical sessions, he said, that prominent Information and Communications Technology (ICT) practitioners in the country would deliver technical papers and/or hands-on training in line with the theme of the event.

While life skill and business trainings, are short courses designed to teach the skills necessary for members to have a successful career.

“There will be a special training on the Small Medium Industry Equity Scheme (SMIES). The training will elaborate on the scheme and how to qualify for it,” he declared.

According to Mr. Adeyemo, there are limited slots for software and project exhibition during the conference, but advised that interested members and public should register at www.nymsevents.tsaboin.com.

He noted that corporate bodies and organisations wishing to take part in the products and services exhibition during the conference should equally register with the organisers, online.

Mr. Adeyemo said, he expects IEE younger members in the country, made up of students, graduates and young professionals under the age of 30, even as all youths involved in the field of technology are also free to be part of the annual event.

Additionally, any other interested person in the field of Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Computer Science/Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Applied Physics.

He maintained that the conference fee is free, but said participants have to register first, so as to help in planning the event.

DBI, UNN to commence PDG in October

FOREMOST information and communication technology institute, Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Utako-Abuja, and University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) has announced readiness to commence Post Graduate Degree (PDG) programme by October this year.

Disclosing this following the signing of papers between the two institutions between the chief executive of DBI, Dr. Olasupo Ogunfemi and the vice chancellor of UNN, Prof. Chinedu Ositadimma Nebo, Ogunfemi said final programme was drawn after series of meetings between the entities which began early in the year, was sealed by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The joint progamme known as Training to Placement Programmes (T2P) will offer courses leading to Master in Telecommunications Engineering (MEngr), Master of Science on Information and Telecommunications Technology (Msc) , PG. Dip Telecommunications Technology, PG.Dip. ICT, and PG.Dip Telecommunications Management and Policy.

The course also offers Higher Post Graduate Diploma (HPD) in Computer Science, Information and Communications Technology, Telecommunications Studies, Visual Communications and Graphics Design computing.

Candidates, he said, would be admitted into any of the courses based on a full time, part time and distance learning options respectively, even as expected 100 candidates will be admitted as pioneer participants.

Reputable subject matter experts and scholars in ICT from both international and local institutions have been recruited to handle the T2P programmes, Dr. Ogunfemi explained.

Stressing that these include Prof. Anthony Nzeako, the Coordator, Ikekeonwu G.A.M (Phd), Edna Udobong (Mrs), Fernet Patrick, Ani Cosmas Ikechukwu (Phd), Aloy Chife (Phd), Bruyele Michael, Cobus Malam,Oyelami B O (Dr.), Brown Stephen, Chukwudede G A (Dr.) Mrs., Ehikioya. S (Phd), Oti Dona A (Phd), Sulivan Scott, Nwodo A. Thomas (Phd), Prof. C. C. Osuagwu, Ojimmaya J. I. Prof. Allie Spangeber, Prof. Imaga E. I. U, Prof, Peter Onyimayi, Metibota Mike, Nwamarah GM (Phd), Bello Raymond, Udoaka Fredrick, Monye F N (Dr.) Mrs. and a host of others.

NITPA commends Nweke on AISI award

NIGERIAN Information Technology Professionals in the Americas (NITPA) has congratulated Mr. Remmy Nweke for emerging the second prize winner at the 2005 African Information Society Initiative (AISI) media awards.

Mr. Nweke, a senior business reporter specializing on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) with Daily Champion Lagos-Nigeria, was adjudged second prize winner under the AISI/IICD Local Content Applications category, with a piece on the “Magic of Communications through antenna”.

In a letter dated Monday, September 19, 2005, conveying NITPA’s commendation and entitled ‘NITPA congratulates Remmy Nweke on AISI award’, which was made available to ITRealms, NITPA President, Prof. Manny Aniebonam on behalf of the largest black IT experts’ group in diaspora, said it was a deserved honour.

“On behalf of the Nigerian IT Professionals in the Americas (NITPA), I wish to extend congratulations to you on the recent deserving award accorded you as the second prize winner under the 2005 AISI/IICD Local Content Applications category,” he said.

Prof. Aniebonam who also is the Executive Vice President, AfriHub LLC, Fairfax, United States with office in Nigeria, further said, NITPA members scattered all over the world are familiar with “Your balanced yet in-depth reporting of the industry’s progress and development,” which he noted, were critical part of the Nigeria’s emerging economy.

NITPA, therefore urged Mr. Nweke to continue in the path of excellence by upholding the mantle of global proficiency which the honour has confirmed on him.

Assuring that NITPA and its sister organization in the country, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), would continue to support the nation’s ICT media professionals whose efforts, Prof. Aniebonam described as the window for the world to see Nigeria as to what it has “the potential of becoming in the 21st century, that is, the ICT giant of Africa”.
And again, “Congratulations, young man,” he asserted.

NITPA was inaugurated in December 2001 and have made great progress by uniting Nigerian IT professionals in diaspora, which membership has continue to swell over the years.

Multimedia Online course opens @ Berlin, as IIJ trains 600

THIRD session of the international Multimedia and Online Journalism course 2005, began recently with 15 students in Berlin, Germany.

The course organized by the InWent Capacity Building International, Germany through its subsidiary, International Institute for Journalism (IIJ) Berlin, would last till November, this year.

The team is expected to attend the second phase of the World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS-05) holding November 16-18, in Tunis for their internship.

Welcoming students from Ghana, India, Kenya, Laos, Moldova, Nigeria, Tanzania, Vietnam and Zimbabwe to the programme, Head IIJ Division, Mr. Peter Prufert, said in a message that the institute has trained over 600 journalists in 30 selected courses since last year.

“They are now part of a worldwide network of some 6,000 alumni of IIJ in more than 230 countries,” he declared.

According to Mr. Prufert who was represented by Course Director, Mr. Warner Eggert, for over 40 years IIJ has been active in the training of newspaper and news agency journalists from developing and nations in transition.

Most recent of these courses, Mr. Prufert noted is the Multimedia and Online Journalists, saying that with this, “the institute is adapting to the needs of a rapidly changing media world and the growing importance of the Internet”.

Pointing out that though independent and critical reporting helps to democratically monitor the state but only well groomed journalists working to the highest core value of professional standards could facilitate this critical role of ‘watch dog', so as to assist in creating transparency and to hold government and business accountable.

Mr. Prufert also said this basic philosophy fits seamlessly into the media development concept of the Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ), the main stakeholder of InWent.

“Together with other international organizations the BMZ considers democracy, good governance and an active civil society as a precondition for development,” he said.

All programmes organized by IIJ, whether in Berlin or abroad, he said, are geared towards the practical requirements of journalism.

“We hope that you would find the working conditions conducive, the learning atmosphere and the exchange of experiences stimulating,” he urged and wished participants fruitful weeks ahead.

Top staff of IIJ who were present at the brief ceremony includes the Administrator, Mrs. Melanie Bolik, lead facilitator, Mr. Peter Berger and his assistant, Ms Birgit Heitfeld, as well as seminar assistants led by Mrs. Sabine Lager, and made up of Mrs. Rita Kurzbach, Ms. Carol Starr and Ms. Larissa Klatt.

PrepCom-3 takes off, HANA live in Geneva

LAST Preparatory Committee Meeting (PrepCom-3) for the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) slated for Tunis in November, opened in Geneva, Switzerland with 1,350 participants.

This is coming as the upcoming news agency, Highway Africa News Agency (HANA) said it is ready to cover the event live from Geneva. Just as the Secretary General of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Mr. Yoshio Utsumi has urged participants to explore the meeting by creating an Information and Communications Technology ((ICT) based roadmap for Information Society.

Communication Officer, WSIS Executive Secretariat, Mr. Sanjay Acharya, said that there are willingness on the parts of delegates to work together in order to meet up with stipulated programme.

He said in a press statement made available to ITRealms that the two-week meeting, represents the last chance for more than 130 national delegations and over 150 other stakeholders comprising international organizations, non-governmental organization (NGOs) and business entities, that arrived at an accord ahead of the second phase of WSIS, which begins on November 16.

Stressing that the United Nations (UN) specialized agency for telecommunications, ITU is lead-organizing agency for the summit, which is focused on bridging “digital divide” by the use of ICT to achieve social and economic development goals.

He quoted Mr. Utsumi, saying delegates should use the next two weeks to create an ICT-based roadmap for a more equitable and just information society, declaring that “everything is now up to you.”

He cautioned that they should not allow themselves to be trapped by tradition and narrow interests, but be creative enough to deliver a concrete roadmap for the future of the world.

Also speaking, Tunisian Minister of Communications Technology, Dr Montasser Ouaili, said the platform would facilitate building of international solidarity on ICT issues.

“The Tunis summit is conceived as a Summit of Solutions – a summit that will create a solid foundation on which to build the Information Society. And we look forward to active participation in this process by all stakeholders,” he said.

Top on agenda is the Internet Governance (IG) which is seen as the key issue while others include financing mechanisms for ICT development and implementation mechanisms for the WSIS Action Plan, even as the issue of Internet governance is widely expected to dominate discussions.

The opening session of the plenary equally witnessed the election of the chairs of the conference’s two principal Sub-Committees, namely IG and Financial Mechanisms and implementation.

Meanwhile, HANA has assured that it would report the PrepCom-3 live from Geneva, according to the Executive Director, Highway Africa News Agency based in Rhodes University Grahamstown, South Africa, Mr. Chris Kabwato.

He said the news agency is already on ground to give the meeting the international media mileage it deserves, especially for the African continent to keep tab with the summit processes.

MICROSOFT Nigeria rakes N25.1b locally in 5yrs

MICROSOFT Nigeria has raked in over $18.6 million, about N25.1 billion at the end of business year 2004, according to the Country Manager, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe.

He disclosed this in a remark to mark the firm’s fifth year of exploring the nation’s market in Lagos.“… From a modest $3.1 million as revenue in 2000 when it (Microsoft) started operations in Nigeria, the company posted six times the initial figure by the close of business last year,” he said.

Mr. Ilukwe also said that the leading software proprietor has had a successful experience so far in the country, mostly in the area of the ability to achieve its core value of being a local company.

Nigeria, he said, has joined Russia in becoming one of the fastest growing establishments within the Microsoft Corporation, even as the firm has been consistent in its growth to about 40 per cent year after year since 2004.

In this capacity as local player, he said, the company has offered services that were significantly developed in various aspects of the larger Information Technology field “thereby contributing to the overall success of its clientele and the public”.

Stressing that within the last five years, we have tried to make Microsoft a local company in Nigeria; to make sure that what we are selling is relevant to our local environment,” the country manager asserted.

While chronicling the achievements of the company in Nigeria, he said it has added value to the government by being a key partner in driving the Federal Government Information Technology policies, adding that the company has played the leadership role in supporting initiatives that are favourable to the country.

He further said the anniversary which has ‘Celebrating the Best of Nigeria,’ as theme, would be a celebrated in full scale with various aspects of Nigeria that have made the achievement possible and for international community attraction.

“We will be aligning our story to similar success stories in unrelated fields like sports and music, especially in fulfilling Microsoft’s global geo-expansion policy” he said.

The celebration, he said, has been scheduled for September 29 and would be hosted by the Vice President EMEA and Regional Director MEA, Microsoft Corporation, Mr. Ali Faramawy.