Technology & service delivery blues

Features of the week:

Telecommunications is embedded in technology and consumers are lamenting disappointment emanating from various technological tools in the market today, reports REMMY NWEKE.


TECHNOLOGY experts have said that it has changed the way we live, talk, transact businesses and even eat. But investigations revealed that the more these technologies are the more human beings’ trust on them and the frustrations that follows thereby increases.

Undelivered SMS

Watching the popular ‘When You’re Mine’ English series of a Mexican soap opera last weekend on one of the nation’s television stations, one take-home point was the inability of technology to deliver an emergency Short Messaging Service (SMS) sent by Ms Paloma to her love-bird, Diego, to inform him of her mother, Soledad’s road accident, which inadvertently encroached on their date.

About 24 hours later this message was yet to be delivered, and one could read the thoughts in Paloma’s mind and the confusion Diego found himself; waiting endlessly in a restaurant as earlier planned prior to the accident.

Lessons

Then came an upcoming Information and Communication Technology (ICT) enthusiast of several years and a field officer in one of the communication companies in the city of Lagos, Mr. Kaycee Kanyisolu.

He has a report to present to the management of his organization after a weeklong engagement in Enugu, the former capital of Eastern Nigeria.

Kaycee on return a day before the date for the presentation had worked tirelessly throughout the night to ensure every thing were in their right places from his Personal Computer (PC) at home, so that in the morning, he would simply take the copy of the report in a flash disk to his office for the report.

Unfortunately for him, there was a rainfall the previous evening, hence his Internet Service Provider (ISP) via dial-up, went down and he was unable to connect to the Internet, so as to send the report to his electronic mail (e-mail), as a caution in the event of any eventuality.

So, he simply copied the report in his new Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 and headed for the meeting only to discover that none of the PCs numbering over 10 could open the file in the USB, including two new PCs.

Initially perplexed, Kaycee was advised on the possibility of going back home and copying the report on another storage device, may be, this time a floppy disk or yet another flash disk.

Still mourning the disappointment by the new flash disk, his colleague Taiwo Jide, was earnestly searching for Kaycee as the in-house techie to advice on his Global System for Mobile (GSM) phone which has suddenly went off.

According to Taiwo, he first experienced this self switch-off on his mobile phone few days back while attending an international conference in far away South Africa.

At the beginning, the thinking was that the battery was probably down. So on return, he promptly replaced the phone battery, yet the self-switch-off had reoccurred even more frequently in the last two days.

Therefore, on return to the office, after spending an hour on his way to his Ejigbo residence and back, Kaycee now regained his confidence, took the wireless microphone at the conference room to present his report, just to learn once again that the mic was breaking too often, making a mess of his speech and he resorted to shouting to be heard by his audience.

But one could not forget in ahaste, the daily experiences of cars breaking down, especially at the odd hours and places whereas reaching your mechanic becomes a formidable task due to network failure of one thing or the other.

What is technology

Technology is a word which originated from a Greek word technologia (), techne () “craft” and logia () “saying.” It is a broad term dealing with the use and knowledge of humanity’s tools and crafts, according to Wikipidia online.

One unique thing about technology, however, is there are different meanings to it depending on the context, and who actually is the person applying the word ‘technology’.

So, there is technology as a tool, technique and cultural force among others.

For instance, technology as tool, as implied by Robert Hooke of the ‘microscope’ of 1655, could be most broadly defined as the material entities created by the application of mental and physical effort to nature in order to achieve some value.

In its most common use, technology refers to tools and machines that may be used to help solve problems. In this use, technology is a far-reaching term that may include both simple tools, such as a wooden spoon, and complex tools, as well as a space station or the written sets of procedures and maintenance manuals for it.

One unequivocal factor is that technology is as old as humanity.

Effects of technology

It was Fred L. Wilson of Rochester Institute of Technology, United States, who said in the ‘Social Effects of Technology’ that the interaction of technology and society might be the one thing more than any other that gives society a meaning and defines us as human beings. He stressed that in recent years it has become popular act to point fingers of accusation at technology as if it were “autonomous” and driving us all to perdition, therefore, he took an exception.

Furious consumer to manufacturers

Many people using various technological tools today, could be like Abby Abico, who was recently disappointed with performance of a Casio product and informed last March in a forum ‘Casio Talk’ of the displeasure.

Hear this, “I am very disappointed with technology companies, especially the larger ones, not just Casio, but a few software and computer companies come to find as well. All they care about is being the first to come out with the latest and greatest product without proper testing and the hard working, dishing out lots of ‘moola’ (unsatisfactory products), and consumers suffer.”

Abby’s word of caution for companies, especially those producing end-users product within the technology sector, is that they would make so much money and have a larger loyalty group if they just test their products properly even if that meant they coming late into a certain market than anyone else, maintaining that consumers would rather wait a couple of weeks or months for something that works like its supposed to rather than pay a huge amount of hard earned money for something that has to be returned.

The bottom line is that there is always the need to improve upon something, especially technologies which have become a new way of life.

Although Nigeria’s evolution with technology may have blossomed five years ago, taking away or even disappointed by technologies could be more dangerous at this point than imagined.

Therefore, like a psychologist advised, technology users must be conscious of the fact that these are tools made by man for man to improve social co-existence and if man could be feeble or disappointing in his or her actions, how much more a tool made by him?

This could be done by taking a cue from Kaycee, to store your data in more than one place and always have something to fall on. That way, one could avoid heart attack or break when eventually technology fails to perform to our desires.

Also this is further avenue for innovative technology researchers and manufacturers of similar tools to invest in the future.

10 more winners emerge at 2nd Glo promo, dangles N.5b prizes

Remmy Nweke

GLOBACOM, the second national operator (SNO), Wednesday in Lagos, held the second draw of its 180-cars-in-180-day promo with 10 new winners emerging, dangling prizes worth N.5 billion.

This is coming as Glo has slashed the qualifier's condition from N1,500 to N1,000 total recharge, 30 days before any of the draws.

Chief Operating Officer, New Market at Globacom, Mr. Okon Iyanam, disclosed this even as the operator has added 180 power generating sets, about N200,000 consolation cash prizes, 1 million would win N100 airtime bonus.

He described the recharged promo as "unparallel" since the commencement of Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) operations in the country, barely five years ago.

The 10 new Glo subscribers who emerged at the draw include owners of 08057745325, 08057305095, 08057325470, 08054537778, 08059320941, 08052068730, 08056602524, 08053181299, 08055605654 and 08056082138.

Throwing more light on the promo, Mr. Chris Ehimen of Marketing department at Glo, said that with the additions to the promo, the promo has been extended to July 31 from its April 30 initial date of windup.

This he noted, was to enable more subscribers to benefit from the promotion, saying that the management of Glo has found as unfair to just give out 180 cars in 180 days to 180 persons out of its daily growing network, which has reached 6.85 million as at Wednesday.

The consolation, which would depend on subscriber's ability to recharge, he said, would be between 10 to 40 per cent bonus on the value of recharge.

"Now it is N.5b worth of prizes in 180 days," he declared.

Mr. Ehimen also pointed out that now the promo includes 180 5KVA-generating sets, N25,000 cash each for eight subscribers, N750 free airtime for 12 months, N100 free airtime for 1,000,000 subscribers.

The draws were performed by a selection of media practitioners in the country including Mrs. Adesuwa Onyenukwe of Today Woman at NTA, Mr. Sule Abu, publisher of NewAge Newspapers, Mr. Remmy Nweke, Head, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Desk, Champion Newspapers Group and international multiple award winner, among others.

Beware! SIM card hackers

RECENT trends in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the country has shown that hackers are on the prowl probably to take their own pound of flesh in the nation’s burgeoning telecommunications sector.

Hackers are generically those who intrude other people’s systems to get an unauthorized information or access.

Market Intelligence

Evident of this was the avalanche of calls received by subscribers in the past weeks from some fraudsters claiming to be engineers from various telecommunication companies offering services with the intent that they are checking on subscriber lines.

And in the process these engineers would request their victims to press ash-key 90 (#90) or (#09) or even any other number depending on the new codes they may wish to deploy for their tricks.

Experts, however, warn that by pressing whatever number given to you by these so-called telco engineers, would expose subscribers to fraud which includes unveiling the access code to the Subscribers Identification Module (SIM) popularly known as SIM card.

This is in addition of them stealing your credits thereby making calls at your expense among other ulterior motives.

Although this act was the kind of tapping of other people’s line during the days of NITEL wired lines, the trend seems to have changed in this wireless era.

However, it is also advised that on getting this kind of calls which caller’s identification are usually concealed, it is better to end this call immediately without adhering to their supposed instruction by not pressing any keys or numbers.

The best step, is on ending this call, kindly remember to switch off and on immediately.

Investigations indicated that these group of fraudsters could be targeting unsuspecting Commercial Telephone Operator (CTOs), otherwise known as ‘business center operatives.

Therefore, the telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has definitely another frontier of task to behold, which must be nipped in the bud as soon as possible.

But this could not come to pass without the co-operation of the telecommunications companies.

The earlier NCC tackles this kind of mobile phone hackers, the better and safer for the telecom stakeholders.

Siemens boss tasks Nigerian media on Profile Awards, opens 2006 edition

Remmy Nweke

Nigerian media have been tasked to take the continental Siemens Profile Awards seriously, just as the award has been formally launched in the country for this year.

Managing Director, Siemens Limited Nigeria, Mr. Klaus-Peter Gilbert, made this call at the formal presentation of prizes to the Nigerian category and merit winners respectively at the firm’s head office in Lagos.

Represented by the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Mr. Reinhart Stiglmayr, at the occasion, Mr. Gilbert also said that Nigerian media ranks among the best journalism practicing nations of the world.

“We’re quite proud of your professional competence and therefore challenge you to take the Profile Awards serious,” he advised.

Stressing that if they stick to his advice, “we would have more winners emerging from Nigeria in the next edition. We trust you can do it,” he declared.

Siemens Nigeria, he said, had observed that potential participants from this part of the continent sent in entries late, especially in the last edition.

Noting that mass participation from the nation’s media practitioners would definitely enhance the chance of Nigeria winning more laurels in subsequent editions.

He expressed the hope that by this time next year, “We will have more of you winning the awards. To the winners, I say once again congratulations, just as he advised them to visit www.profileawards.co.za for details.”

ITRealms Online recalls that Messrs Remmy Chuks Nweke and Isaac Umunna; senior reporter on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) with Champion Newspapers and General Editor at Africa Today magazine, emerged category and merit winners in the Information Technology (IT) Business Solution category and Technology Policy and Investment in that order.

Earlier in his welcome note, the Corporate Communications Manager at Siemens Nigeria, Chief Rufus O. Odusanya, pointed out that the awards were instituted in 2001 by Siemens Southern Africa, but was in 2004 opened for the entire continent in order to advance knowledge and understanding of science and technology in Africa.

Emphasizing that Profile Awards recognize reportage that is enlightened, well researched, balanced and accurate as well as reflecting both technological research and market context.

“The awards focus on excellence in print, electronic and broadcast media by recognizing Africa based journalists, who through their reporting have made science and technology more easily accessible to lay audiences,” he asserted.

Underscoring that Siemens equally acknowledge the enormous impact science and technology have on contemporary society.

He formally declared that media practitioners in the country could submit entries for any or all of the 10 categories, namely energy, industry - basic industry such as mining, manufacturing industry includes automotive, medical solutions/healthcare, transportation, telecommunications: mobile, fixed, business solutions (IT), corporate social investment including training, diversity management, technology policy and investment.

Whereas judges drawn usually from the media, academics and technologists look out for display of adequate research, grasp of subject matter, clear and concise writing, individual style and presentation, analytical ability to unbundled technology.

Later, the prizes including Fujitsu Siemens brand of Personal Computer (PC) was presented to the category winner and certificate of merit to the merit winner.

Linkserve increases network capacity

Remmy Nweke

Premier Internet Service Provider (ISP), Linkserve Limited has upgraded its network capacity, as part of the firm’s plans to offer better services to the nation’s Internet savvy public.

The network upgrade includes both hardware and software in order to give an added value and stability to the network.

And given its antecedent in quality service delivery for the Internet community in the country, Linkserve is demonstrating once again its zeal to continue aiming beyond most players in the market by upgrading its network.

Chief Executive Officer, Linkserve Limited, Chief Chima Onyekwere, was quoted in a press statement endorsed by the Corporate and Marketing Manager, Mrs Ufuoma ‘Daro and made available to ITRealms Online, that this upgrade in both software and additional hardware was to ensure that Linkserve remains “the most stable network in Nigeria and give our customers the best service and value on the bandwidth they have paid for.”

He stressed that Linkserve network happens to be the only one that could offer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service at bandwidths of less than 17kbps.

“Now it is even going to get better, as the new features allow even more savings and improved VoIP deployment,” he declared.

Chief Onyekwere also explained that the upgrade would lead to customers having more bandwidth for lesser amount of money.

This feature, he said, allows the Reconfigurable Computing Systems Technology (RCST) to optimize bandwidth as the sign-on to the hub.

“Customers will pay less for more than 20 per cent on improved experiences in browsing, which is a major advantage for cyber cafés that use up a lot of bandwidth,” he asserted.

The Linkserve boss also said that the upgrade would have a multi-frame Committed Information Rate (CIR), which enables an RCST to configure return channel data rates below 8,613 bytes per second (bps).

This, he said means that Linkserve now offer a Small Business/Home Office (Soho) E-customer a cheaper price as most do not even use the 8k typically allocated presently and which was the minimum before.

“This is a huge advancement for Soho customers and even the bigger bandwidth buyers. But most importantly is the fact that wastage is completely reduced,” he noted.

Chief Onyekwere further said that for those browsing and those making calls on the net via VoIP, the upgrade would enhance their experiences, as calls would now be clearer and browsing faster.

“IP Header compression could now be controlled on a terminal basis, this means that when a customer is using voice, it would give you a voice compression” he explained, pointing out that in effect VoIP has become clearer immediately a call is placed.

Equally, he said, that the upgrade includes nighttime sleep mode and daytime sleep mode, facilitate, RCSTs to go into a sleep mode if not used for some time or go into a sleep mode at specific times of the day.

“A major benefit of this feature is that it is a huge way of saving the equipment,” Onyekwere said.

SystemSpecs gets new directors, promotes 6

Remmy Nweke

Leading software house in the country, SystemSpecs Limited, has repositioned with appointment of two new executive directors in the management of the organization, even as six others have been promoted.

The two executive directors are Ms Eunice Ikekhuah, who is in-charge of Software Development and Mr. Deremi Atanda, who is saddled with HumanManager Services.

Disclosing this, the Managing Director, SystemSpecs, Mr. John Obaro, said their appointment was based on the intuition “to broaden the management base of the organization as part of our strategy to move SystemSpecs to the next level.”

Ms Ikekhuah joined the services of SystemSpecs in August 1996 as a System Consultant with B.Sc. Computer Science graduate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). She also has an MBA and is an alumnus of the Lagos Business School and has attended many professional advanced management courses both locally and overseas.

Before assuming her new position, she was a Deputy General Manager, Software Development.

Ever smiling Deremi Atanda’s impressive career in SystemSpecs began in June 1996 when he joined the services of the company as a Marketing Executive.

His rise in the system has been attributed to fervent dedication to the philosophy of the company and an unrivalled commitment to continuous learning, selflessness and willingness to take up any responsibility on the path of affirming the principles, goals and business ethics of the company.

Atanda, a graduate of Physics from the University of Ibadan, has an MBA from the Lagos Business School and has attended several other professional training courses locally and overseas.

Until now, his recent appointment, Deremi was Deputy General Manager, Corporate Strategy and Marketing.

Mr. Obaro also announced other top-level appointments and promotions to include Mr. Bayo Oladejo who is now a General Manager for the Abuja office, Mr. Paul Ibidun, Deputy General Manager, Corporate Services, Dr. Hakeem Bakare, Deputy General Manager, Financial Solutions, Mr. Francis Odunuga, Assistant General Manager, Financial Solutions, Mr. Kunle Adedeji, Assistant General Manager, HumanManager Services and Nurudeen Akinlesi - Assistant General Manager, HumanManager Development.

According to the Senior Marketing Manager, Mr. Moses Braimah, the changes have since taken effect and the various appointees have commenced their new job roles.

RedHot promo takes off, MTS dangles airtime bonus

Remmy Nweke

MTSFirst has commenced a new promo, RedHot offer in its bid to further drive the market with aggressively. The RedHot, which began weekend would last till June 31, this year and comes with airtime usage bonus based on MTS’ Customer Acquisition Scheme (CAS).

Chief Marketing Officer at MTSFirst, Ms Uche Ofodile while explaining CAS said that it is an incentive-drive exercise on all recharges between N1000 and N2,500 airtime denominations respectively.

According to her, MTS subscribers who recharge with any of above denomination would enjoy a 10 per cent bonus airtime on immediately.

This Ms Ofodile noted was introduced in line with MTSFirst’s resolve to provide affordable and quality services to its teeming subscribers nationwide.

“This promo is thus aimed at providing quality network, at an affordable price from a caring and customer-centric company,” she declared.

The CMO also said that under the CAS, which runs simultaneously, MTSFirst would offer all prospective subscribers, the opportunity to purchase a Dowtel WS4000 desktop phone for N8,500, as against the current rate of N10,000.

Potential subscribers, she said, would be required to visit any of the company’s offices or the closest dealer outlets to purchase the desktop phone.

Further, she said that each of the Dowtel WS4000 desktop phones would be activated immediately after purchase, “once it is switched on”.

Although she added that new subscribers must load any denomination of airtime to enable them make calls.

ITU warms up for WTD/WISD

... Begins trust survey

Remmy Nweke

AS the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) warms up for the joint commemoration of this year’s World Telecommunications Day (WTD) and World Information Society Day (WISD), on May 17, the global telecommunications regulator, has urged for increased focus on cyber security, even as it has began a trust survey on online transactions.

Speaking on the theme of the joint celebration, “Promoting Global Cyber-security” ITU Secretary General, Mr. Yoshio Utsumi said, there have been a growing concern over cyber frauds globally, propelling the launch of a trust survey on online transaction prior to the anniversary.

ITRealms Online recollects that at the end of business at the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held in Tunisia, the United Nations General Assembly was urged to set out a date for WISD, which has been fixed also for May 17, at its meeting held last March 27, in Geneva.

Also Mr. Utsumi said, calls for safeguarding of systems and infrastructure have become imperative in order to instill confidence in online trade, commerce, banking, telemedicine, e-government among several other transactions conducted daily online.

“In today’s interconnected and increasingly networked world, we’re vulnerable to a wide variety of threats including deliberate attack on infrastructure,” he noted.

As said by him, there is need to strengthen the security practices of each and every networked country, businesses and citizens.

“We need to develop a global cyber-security mindset and we urge everyone using or fearing cyberspace to take part in the survey,” he advised.

The result of the survey, which closes next Monday, May 8, would be announced on May 17 at the dual celebration.

Vmobile introduces 0808 ...

Having achieved over 5 million active subscribers on its network, Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operator, Vmobile Nigeria has introduced a new numbering plan of 0808.

The new number series being introduced is to give subscribers continuous access to the Vmobile network.

Champion Infot0el gathered that the urge to introduce new numbering became imperative following remarkable achievements made in the area of its subscriber growth since June 2004, which had risen from a modest one million to five (5) million subscribers at the end of the first quarter of 2006.

Public Relations Manager, Mr. Emeka Oparah, relaying this development said that the growth is phenomenal given the challenges and dynamics of the business in the country just as he foresees faster subscriber growth in coverage expansion.

According to Mr. Oparah, Vmobile has reached a threshold that requires an additional number series in order for customers to have continuous access to the network.

He also said that several numbers under the 0802 numbering plan have been allocated to subscribers, emergency purposes, short codes among others.

“The new number series would increase additional connection of 10 million subscribers to the Vmobile network”, he asserted.

Further, he said that the new numbering plan 0808, was born out after verification of the accelerated growth of the company in terms of volume traffic and the quality of equipment deployed by the company.

“Expansion rate of network, equipment type and site approvals obtained as well as general operations and process”, he said were also verified.

The development it was learnt is consequent on Nigeria’s acceptance of Vmobile products and its services which is an evidence of its contribution to the growth of the Nigerian telecom sector.

Aniebonam, others for CTO-06

Remmy Nweke

PRESIDENT, Nigerian Information Technology Professionals in the Americas (NITPA), Prof. Manny Aniebonam, would lead experts slated to speak at this year’s Computers, Telecommunications and Office Equipment (CTO-06) in Lagos.

The five-day event scheduled to hold at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Center, Onikan-Lagos, between May 15-19, would witness a keynote address to be delivered by the Consul General, United States Consulate General, Lagos, Mr. Brian Browne, tagged “Franchise -American’s Success Story”.

The theme of this year’s CTO is “Leveraging Franchising for Business Growth and National Development.”

Prof. Aniebonam, who also is the Executive Vice President at AfriHub Limited Virginia, would be discussing “Realising Nigeria’s Potential Through Strategic Alliance with Nigerians in Diaspora.”

To join him at the all-the-day special seminar session of CTO on May 15, would be the chief telecom regulator and Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe.

The NCC boss would take podium after Aniebonam to deliberate on “Beyond Corporate Headlines: Unifying Telecommunications Licensing for Universal Access.”

While the chief executive of eShekels, Mr. Fola Odufuwa would follow with discussion on “Nigerian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Outlook and Forecasts”.

Also the chief executive of Bank of Industry (BoI), Mrs Evelyn Ndali-Oputu, is expected to take on “Financing Your Business Growth and Expansion.”

The second day of CTO, would be graced with NetnearU sponsored business advisory services forum, with a keynote by the firm’s chief executive, Mr. Kaycee Kennedy, on “Opportunities Abound in Nigeria” among other speakers.

CPSR shops for 12 new directors

NON-for-profit corporation based in Palo Alto, California, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR), is shopping for new set of leaders globally as it prepares for a general election come June 30 this year.

Founded in 1981, CPSR is bent on promoting the responsible use of computer technology, and also educates policy makers as well as the public on a wide range of issues.

ITRealms Online gathered that nominations for the 12 directors to steer the organization for the three-year terms would close on May 31, while the election would be conducted via e-voting.

The election would be to fill between four and six at-large seats on its board of directors as all regularly elected positions take effect on July 1, 2006.

CPSR said the election is an important turning point for the organisation, with more than the usual number and officer positions expiring.

However, eight of the twelve sitting directors have terms expiring on June 30, 2006, while three others including the President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

The 2006-07 board will also have the opportunity to chart a new course on various points.

Nominations are expected to be sent to cpsr@cpsr.org, with the subject “2006 Nomination.”

Interested persons are advised to ensure that they are member of CPSR and are in good standing as at May 31st, 2006.

Nokia Nseries drives convergence, sells 5m

Remmy Nweke

Mobile phone manufacturer, Nokia has launched its Nseries, which drives convergence through its multimedia computers and experiences, thus reinforcing Nokia’s leadership in making the Internet mobile, just as it has sold 5 million of the series already.

Also based on its high-performance, Nokia Nseries has proved its multimedia experiences, which places the new devices as leaders in mobile multimedia.

Executive Vice President and General Manager of Multimedia at Nokia, Anssi Vanjoki, said that all Nseries devices include high-quality video and photo capture capabilities, superb audio performance, high speed Internet browsing and more.

“Nokia Nseries brings mobility to those experiences which used to be linked to a place or a single purpose device. When you have a Nokia Nseries device that is always with you and connected, you no longer need to sit in front of your television (TV) to watch your favourite programme or take along a separate digital camera when you go on vacation,” the Executive Vice President declared.

Vanjoki stressed that the goal is to make it easy for people to have their favourite experiences through sharing video, browsing the Internet or buying new music with them all the time.

The Nseries range, the officer explained is an iconic example of the fastest growing product category in the mobile space: converged devices.

Nokia expects that the converged device market will grow to 100 million units in 2006 and to exceed 250 million units in 2008.

Recalling that Canalys research in 2005 indicated that the converged device market will reached 53 million units with Nokia commanding more than 50 per cent market share of device.

Vanjoki pointed out that Nokia Nseries is here to address this fast growing market and “we have already sold approximately 5 million Nokia Nseries multimedia computers”.

According to the Vice President, people want to have a device that gives them access to all digital content, all the time, wherever they are and at a reasonable cost.

Starcomms presents prizes to special dealers

Leading telecommunications company, Starcomms, has presented prizes to eight of its super dealers for outstanding performance in last quarter of 2005.

The prizes were presented over the weekend for their living up to expectation in sales targets for the period under review through its “Dealer Loyalty Programme,” which the operator introduced last year, even as this was the second in the series.

Presenting the gifts at the company’s corporate office, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Starcomms, Mr. Maher Qubain informed that the programme was initiated to motivate over 47 Starcomms’ dealers for better productivity in terms of excellent service support, innovativeness and higher volume of sales of the telco’s range of products. This includes, recharge cards, fixed wireless and mobile terminals.

Highlighting the company’s motive for the programme, he said “Starcomms wants to achieve three things; to solidify its relationship with its dealers, to anchor the company’s trust and loyalty to dealers in terms of long term back-ended support as well as continue demonstration to its customers, employees and dealers alike that Starcomms is committed to rewarding excellence which could only come through hard work”.

Top among the prizes was a star prize of two business class return tickets to Europe won by a Surulere-based dealer. While the rest eight were each presented a 3-door giant LG refrigerator, 42”colour television (TV) set and one home theatre electronics gadget.

Champion Infotel recalled that Starcomms has consistently demonstrated support to its dealers in the past. Last year, six of its Super Dealers under the same programme were presented with prizes.

Also, to improve sales and patronage, Starcomms, has introduced special incentive scheme to its dealers.

Starcomms with about 300,000 subscribers has maintained a leadership position in the nation’s telecommunications sector in terms of product and service innovativeness, customer service delivery and network quality.

Recently, it launched Starcomms EV-DO, the latest third generation (3G) ultra-speed mobile wireless broadband/internet service, being the first deployment of its kind by any telecommunications operator in West Africa.

OGUNFEMI: Empowering the ICT sub-sector

ICON

By Remmy Nweke

Nigeria is one country that has been bit by the bug of brain drain. Some of her brightest brains are out there in other worlds, eking out a living and helping in developing the economies of various countries where they reside.

It is for this reason that many of them are being called upon today to come back and help in the current economic, political and social regeneration that the country is passing through. Both the Nigerian Diaspora Organisation (NDO) and President Olusegun Obasanjo have had cause of enjoining such technocrats, intellectuals and industrial experts to come home and help.

Only few have heeded this patriotic outreach and call. One of them is Dr. Olasupo Ogunfemi a fellow, Chartered Accountants (FCA) Nigeria and Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who resided in the United States before he came back to consummate his dream of aiding the country’s quick rebirth.

Currently, the chief executive, Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) Abuja,Dr Ogunfemi has held several senior and executive management positions, including running an audit firm, before the phlegm of patriotism overpowered him.

He came with the strong belief to have his name engraved in the hall of fame of those who changed the face of development in the country in the 21st century, particularly in the telecommunications sector.

This came soon after the 1999 return of democracy and the year 2000 deregulation of the telecommunications sector, which was seen, as upper most in the scheme of Obasanjo’s administration.

It was the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe who cried out loud that there is lack of local manpower in the ICT sector, to grow the industry then.

This cry curried the sympathy of the presidency, which through the Ministry of Communications established the DBI. By 2004, May 20, to be precise, the board of NCC translated this vision into visible action, paving the way for the likes of Ogunfemi to take bold steps in serving his fatherland.

Just only one year in the saddle, there was need for Ogunfemi and DBI to roll out drums for celebration, given the number of collaborations achieved within this short time.

At DBI, he has been able to develop a dependable human resource workforce,