Repositioning Nigerian youths with ICT

Features of the week:

The need to upgrade the nation’s education embellished with Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) at all levels, will reposition the youths for tomorrow’s competitiveness, reports REMMY NWEKE.

Computer science graduates:
Recently, six Computer Science graduates were invited for a job interview in an ICT firm in Lagos. The similarities they had were that they were between the ages of 21 and 22 and had just graduated from six different universities located within the six geo-political zones of the country.

Unfortunately, they had no practical knowledge of what they purportedly spent four years studying and in most cases; some spend five or more years when strikes disrupt the school calendar.

But one unforgettable experience about these graduates was that none of their universities’ curricula has any of the applications being used by this firm during the interview.

This did not only automatically disqualify them but left them in despair of clinching the job on offer.

As was later discovered from these graduates, most of them had no working computers at their institutions for practicals. This further widened the gap between them and technologies. That is in addition to deficiency in curriculum and even where available, it is guarded like an egg.

Investigations however, revealed that most lecturers in computer science departments of our universities are still engrossed in teaching students the likes of COBOL series and computer first century applications. This was found to be the curriculum, thereby leaving out current number of increasing applications available today.

Retraining:
The chief executive, InfoSoft Nigeria Limited, Mr. Pius Okigbo Jnr, lamenting the deplorable situation of the university system in the country, said ICT firms spend huge sums on retraining graduates that find themselves into the sector.

Supposedly, he noted, at one of the ICT events at MUSON Centre Lagos, that these were youths expected to have graduated from the computer science departments of Nigerian universities. But more awesome, he said, was that about 70 per cent of these students do not have access to Personal Computers (PCs) let alone laptops.

A re-engineering of the system, he said, must begin with providing adequate infrastructure at the primary, secondary and university stages, such as PCs and teaching tools as streamlined in the New Economic Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) e-School initiative with private sector.

Reacting to some pupils and students’ quest on how to uplift the education sector so as to raise the standards and empower the youths who are the future leaders, at a recent ICT seminar in Lagos, President, Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, pointed out that the curriculum for Nigerian education system and specifically the universities must be upgraded as well as the knowledge of teachers in the course at all levels.

This, he said, would pave the way for collaboration with the industry’s organised private sector (OPS) like ATCON to canvass support for the schools. He urged Nigerian students to also take extra steps in advancing themselves positively, through the lots of knowledgeable information available online via the Internet.

According to him, as much as the teachers and lecturers need upgrade, they cannot offer tutorials on abstracts. Pointing out that once these lecturers are knowledgeable in contemporary issues, they would be able to offer the same in tutorials based on current experiments, which must include updating the curricular. Also, these experiments, encompass constant research and development on ICT sector, among others.

“Once our lecturers are upgraded, the market would be flooded with ICT-related text books with local context,” he declared, warning, however, that days are gone when who you know gets you there.

“It’s not who gets you there that matters now, but what you have there – the brain. Faith, without adequate work is dead,” Dr. Ekuwem stressed, advising the youths to eschew clubbing and other irrelevances while in school as they would have enough doze on graduation.

Also commenting on this at a one day convention put together by the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) last December, President, Computer Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) and a lecturer at University of Ibadan, Dr. (Mrs.) Adenike Osofisan, acknowledged the decay in the system, but said that some teachers like her are striving to update themselves via personal efforts.

The first CPN lady president, also called for understanding of students and school management, while advocating for enabling fund to help teachers at all levels attend train-the-trainer programmes. That way, the society will be saving for the future.

A new vista:
For chief executive, Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) Abuja, Dr. Olusapo Ogunfemi, it is the curriculum and methodology that distinguish DBI among institutions of learning with specialty on ICT.

This, he said, is why DBI through the collaboration of Federal Ministry of Education is working to incorporate its curriculum into the universities curricula nationwide.

Additionally, he said, this could be extended to post primary education and primary eventually to avail Nigerian youths and future leaders to be 21st century competitive.

To this end, he said, that DBI in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education is working out plans to align current curriculum in Nigerian higher institutions with that of DBI which is updated. This, Ogunfemi stressed, would raise both the curricula and institutions at par with their counterparts in other parts of the world, just as it would pave the way for DBI to partner them with ease in stirring up relevant courses for contemporary society.

Focus Nigeria:
A contributor to the Focus Nigeria, a phone-in programme on the Africa Independent Television (AIT), Mr. Olaruwaju from Effurun in Warri, Delta State, while dwelling on Education, noted recently that everyday we change the education system which is a reflection of lack of focus and it seems the leadership of the country, and education ministry are lacking in focus.

He wondered that if United States (US) was able to send some people to the moon, “why can’t we strive to improve our education and get near to such innovations.”

Also, a panelist at Focus Nigeria, penultimate Wednesday, Mr. Lai Mohammed, said, “If government is really interested in science and technology, let government spend a third of what budget they have for aborted third-term agenda on equipping the educational institutions structurally, pay our professors well and then sit back and watch the difference.”

Another contributor from Jos said misplacement of priority from public interest to personal aggrandizement, has been the bane of education development in the country. “Let us emphasise institutions and good leadership and de-emphasise self” he said.

Mr. Dele Momodu, a Nigerian residing in Accra called in to say that it is all about management, noting that infrastructure is very relevant to development and our neighbour, Ghana is far ahead of Nigeria when it comes to development and education is not left out.

Yet for another contributor, the professors are just there taking salaries in their offices without fund for research, which he said is the root of universities. He likened Nigeria to an uncaring parent of many children.

He also recalled that in the days gone by there was what was called handiwork exercise in primary schools on weekly basis and from there teachers and parents would discover what their children are likely to major on in the future. But the 6-3-3-4 system, did not help in this regard.

The alternative:
President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Dr. Chris Nwannenna, further corroborated the fact that education system in the country requires refocusing, mostly in the school curriculum. This challenge is gradually infesting the privately owned tertiary institutions.

He described it as sad that many university students do not have access to PCs, especially computer science students.

To this end, he said, NCS has set up a committee on education to redraft the curriculum in the system. For the next one year, NCS intends to focus on bridging this gap by organizing one week hands-on workshop for university students, especially those in the computer science final year, to further prepare them for the labour market.

The workshop, according to Dr. Nwannenna, who also is the chief executive, Condata Systems, would be held in the six geo-political zones in the country, thereby taking it nearer to the students, even as NCS awaits sponsors’ green-light on the project.

He equally noted that the workshop may not take all of them, but the basics would be on programming tools.

Government, he advised should be alive to its responsibility of providing qualitative education to her people, mostly the future leaders, the youths, and by partnering the likes of NCS in order to upgrade the school curriculum.

That way, it would be repositioning Nigerian youths for the 21st century leadership with ICT, while strategically re-examining the primary and secondary levels.

He believes that if you teach a child on how he or she should live, that the child will not depart from it.

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Wireless’ll reduce bandwidth cost – Ekuwem

...Tasks PHCN on ICT

Remmy Nweke

PRESIDENT, Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, has said that deployment of wireless ubiquitous broadband access, embedded in WiMax and WiFi, would reduce the cost of bandwidth.

Just as he said that to boost the penetration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the renamed national electricity power generating organisation, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), has a key role to play.

Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) is the popular term for a high-frequency Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology, while Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) is known as industry term for a long-range wireless networking standard with potential to deliver high-speed Internet data rates.

Speaking at a one-day seminar organised by the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) in Lagos, in a paper titled “The Future and Fusion of WiFi and WiMax in the Unified Licensing Regime.”

Dr. Ekuwem, who also is the chief executive, Teledom Group, said that in a knowledge-based economy, data and information make up the factor of production.

In order to keep the pace, ease and speed of access to relevant knowledge and translation of same into production, “gives one a competitive advantage in any field of human endeavour,” he said.
Stressing on what he called, “simultaneous broadband bombardment of the human senses, there is need for continuous productivity via ubiquitous broadband access.”

He emphasised that emancipation of WiFi and WiMax, would drastically reduce the cost of bandwidth, moreso in developing countries like Nigeria.

According to him, industry reports showed that by 2008 estimated 50 per cent of household will have cable-based broadband access globally.

“There is a huge opportunity for WiMax to fill the gap,” he said.

Pointing out that wireless is the alternative to the deployment of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), cable and leased line services.

This opportunity, Dr. Ekuwem said, would avail more potential to mobile telephony investors, especially with WiMax ability to support transmission speeds at over 70 Mega bits per seconds (Mbps).

Explaining further, he said, at the NIG seminar with theme, “Unified Licensing and Internet Service,” that both WiFi and WiMax would not become obsolete in the near future when new technologies emerge.

He traced WiMax origin to the creation by Alvarion and Intel in April 2002, with lots of potentials for wireless digital communication systems.

Its standard of International Electrical Electronics Engineers (IEEE) resolution 802.16 is defined in alignment with WiMax forum and is intended for Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs).

This technology, he said, could be deployed by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in both licensed and unlicensed frequencies, even with more bandwidth and higher data rates over long distances, among others.

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Onyekwere hopeful on new NITEL

Remmy Nweke

Chief executive of a leading and pioneer Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the country, Linkserve Limited, Chief Chima Apugo-Onyekwere, has expressed optimism over the new management of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), the Transnational Corporation (Transcorp) meeting up after the deadline for it to pay-up 65 per cent total payment of purchasing NITEL.

It would be recalled that on July 3, Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) and Transcorp announced the acquisition of NITEL 75 shares by Transcorp in a joint press conference in Abuja to the tune of $750 million, about N9 billion.

Transcorp it would also be recollected failed to meet the initial deadline to pay up 50 per cent of the deal after 10 working days, which is $500 million, but by Monday, July 17 National Privatisation Council (NPC) through the BPE accepted Transcorp’s request for extension by 60 days.

Speaking to ITREALMS Online exclusively weekend in Lagos, Chief Apugo-Onyekwere, declared, “On NITEL, yes they can raise the money for sure.”

Although he noted that the nature of due diligence required in NITEL is much more than a few weeks of looking at books of a company.

Financing the purchase of that magnitude, he said, is significant and for a place that has not returned significant profit over time, “it is important to ensure assets claimed do really exist! However NITEL is a good buy for so many reasons.”

He further expressed surprise on why NITEL was not sold with government incentive to Private Telecom Operator (PTO) and local players or an encouraged management buy out.
“Has Globacom not proven that it can be done, that is, building a solid telecoms company in the country,” he enthused.

Linkserve Limited and its subsidiaries were established principally for the provision of Internet solutions amongst other information technology businesses and as a wholly owned Nigerian company incorporated in 1996, the firm commenced operation in 1997 with an IP connection to the Internet offering full Internet services to the public on real time.

Its client base cut across financial institutions, foreign missions, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the oil sector, government establishments, manufacturing sector and trading concerns.

The firm’s vision is to be the leading ISP in West Africa, as measured by, the number of subscribers, customer satisfaction and profitability.

Linkserve has its own hub in Homdel, New Jersy, United States (US) with a 15 megabit (mb) installed bandwidth capacity supporting her Ku-Band customers.

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Enhanced Symbols @ Progenics

Remmy Nweke

Electronic solution provider, Progenics Corp Limited, has announced the enhancement of Symbols, with a web-based module.

The company said the improvement was a reinstatement of its commitment to the deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) software solutions, particularly in the capital and money market sub-sector of the economy.

Symbols, is Progenics investment software solution developed indigenously but for both locally and international market.

Progenics said that the enhancement came in form of a distinct module which is an Internet-based interface that has been structured to work efficiently with Symbols.

Named Symbols’ web front-end, the interface affords users the ability to give their customers access to view the current positions of their investment account online among other features.

Head, Business Development at Progenics, Mr. Tunde Yemi-Daniel, explained that this translates to business with these firms now having remote access to the state of their investments using the Internet.

“The new Symbols web front-end was designed to boost investors’ access to both their investment holdings and their brokers or assets managers from anywhere in the world,” he said.

The module as said by him, enhances the timeliness of investment information by equipping the investor with requisite propensity such as the ability to view current prices of instruments traded on the floor of the exchange, current investment portfolio(s) with the firm, and place orders remotely.

Also, Mr. Yemi-Daniel said, offers the viewing of financial transactions carried out on one’s portfolio, list of trades the stockbroker has executed on behalf of a portfolio owner as well as view the current state of certificates lodged with the stockbroker or asset manager.

According to him, other value added services provided by this module include the online viewing and printing of contract notes and current CSCS statements, ability of Location based managers, agents and jobbers to transact business on behalf of clients with Head Office via the internet.
The new Symbols Web Module is a prelude to several other enhancements, which will be unveiled very soon by Progenics.

This application not only meets the requirements of stock stockbrokerage companies but also goes a step further to satisfy the requirements of investment and asset management firms.

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Five jumbo winners receive prizes @ Benin

Remmy Nweke

Five out of the six lucky winners of brand new Kia Picanto cars won in the on-going Glo Jumbo offer promo of 180 cars in 180 held penultimate week in Benin, have received their prizes at a colourful ceremony.

They included Mrs. Benedicta Teuch, Mrs. Mercy Francis, Mr. Godspower Onoyake, Mr. Nnamadi Ukpaka and Mr. Daniel Daje.

Responding after receiving her prizes, Mrs. Benedicta Teuch, said that the event was “unprecedented, unimaginable and unbelievable favour,” expressing happiness and appreciation to God and Globacom.

For Mrs. Mercy Francis, who also came with some of her relations to receive the brand new Kia Picanto car, said that when she was first informed, “I almost fainted because I did not believe it was real, but now I believe it is real and I thank God for Glo. I feel very happy and very proud.”
Mr. Nnamadi Ukpaka, a Benin–based petty trader said that winning the car prize of Kia Picanto was like winning a visa to the United State (US).

According to him, “when I was informed that I won a brand new car, I feel like someone that has traveled to America. At first I thought it was 419 but now I know it is real. It is not 419.”

Another lucky winner of the Kia Picanto car, Mr. Gabriel Daje said that his joy would have known no bounds but for the fact that his wife was lying incapacitated by an accident.

Besides the lucky winners of the Kia Picanto cars, four out of the seven winners of 5KVA generators were physically present to take possession of their prizes.

Mr. Amama Isaac said that he found it difficult to believe that he was a lucky winner of the generator, while Mrs. Risikat Olusesan Adenokun who travelled from Ijebu Ode to collect her prize in company of other relatives said her wish for Globacom was for “Glo to Glo higher, higher and higher.”

Idris Hassan who also won a generator, recalled that when he was initially informed of his winning, he thought it was a scam.

Fifty other subscribers also won N25,000 each at the Benin draw of the Glo N.5billion Jumbo offer promo.

Condata’s landREC makes a debut, demos @ South-East

Remmy Nweke

Software experts at the Condata Systems Limited, has developed a land records management application, landREC, which made its debut recently at the National Technical Development Forum on Land Administration held in Enugu, South-eastern Nigerian.

The firm used the workshop to make a demonstration of the application to participants.
landREC is a web-enabled portal application for the management of the operations of any land registry. Its processing function starts from the point of submission of applications requesting for land allocation to processing of the applications, allocations of land, processing of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), monitoring of payments and generation of management reports on land use and accruable revenues.

Chief executive, Condata Systems, Dr. Chris Nwannenna, informed that the application has two major components, namely a database which provides for the maintenance of textual attribute information, such as land ownership, assessment information, land use, charges and payments against the land to name a few.

The second part is its Geographic Information System (GIS) component, which provides for the location of plots of land on cadastral digital maps.

He also said, landREC came on stream, as a result of most current web development tools that integrates the latest Internet and database technologies together with the business processes and regulations of land registry authorities.

“That is, the application will be hosted in an Internet or Intranet website for users to access through a web browser thin client such as Internet Explorer or Netscape,” he said.

Stressing that when hosted on the Internet, its functionalities will enable plot owners and applicants to access their records from an Internet point anywhere, thus minimizing frequent visits to the land registry offices.

landREC, he further said, generates a rich suite of information for monitoring and managing all land records and this includes reports concerned with processing applications for plots, allocation of plots, developed/undeveloped plots, processing applications for C of O, issuance of C of O, overdue applications, payments of rates and rents, payment defaulters, issuance of debit notes, regular reports on all categories of payments, among others.

Dr. Nwannenna, who also is the President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), pointed out that landREC was developed with special attention to security, hence it’s very user-friendly integrating adequate drop-down menus, and tool-tips to guide user input activities, even as it could be customized to suit the peculiar needs of any land registry in nationwide.

The National Technical Development Forum on Land Administration was set up by the Federal Ministry of Housing to, among other things agree on ideals for uniform operation of land administration throughout the country to include data capturing and software standards to enable future interoperability.

The forum has technical assistance from the Department for International Development (DFID), section of the United Kingdom’s government.

At the forum to preview landREC were various stakeholders from various federal and state government agencies of the country in-charge with land registration and administration, including Mr. John Llewellyn, the consultant from Her Majesty’s Land Registry in UK.

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CANi justifies CNP vision – Agbakoba

Remmy Nweke

Zinox Technologies initiative to establish the Computerize Nigeria Project (CNP), has been vindicated by the Computer for All Nigerians Initiative (CANi), according to the Head, CPN Project, Mrs. Loretta Agbakoba.

She made this assertion while speaking to newsmen and described as a welcome development the fact that, five years after, CANi was replicating the vision and modus operandi of the CNP.

Mrs. Agbakoba observed that the launch of CANi underscores the need for enhanced awareness and action towards the acquisition of computers and Information Technology (IT) skills.

She also said that CANi was a clarion call to mobilize all tiers of leadership in the country towards the complete adoption of IT, “because no nation can lay claims to growth without IT.”

Mrs. Agbakoba expressed optimism that the implementation of the project would compliment CPN’s objectives rather than undermining it.

She also expressed confidence in the key actors of the project namely – PC manufacturers, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the banks.

Mrs. Agbakoba assured that Computerize Nigeria Project would seize the opportunity of CANi to consolidate its position as Nigeria’s foremost NGO in the provision of computers to homes, schools, and work places.

Pointing out that CNP has already developed more creative ways of passing discounts, subsidies, and other benefits to the end user to make computer ownership gainful and enduring.

She explained that as part of the CANi team, CNP would continue to offer very high quality systems backed by the unparalleled Zinox No-Story-Warranty.

CNP boss further urged Nigerians to take advantage of CANi to become active participants in the global IT revolution.

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Contact Solutions ready for Nigerian market

Remmy Nweke

CONTACT Solutions, a technology inclined out-sourcing service provider, has declared its readiness for the Nigerian market.

Chief executive, Contact Solutions, Mr. Sunny Oyediran, gave this indication in Lagos, saying that nightmares by government institutions, corporate bodies, politicians and other high net worth individuals, desirous of having a first hand information about specific issues, policies, events as they affect the public through world class market research is over with the coming of his firm.

According to him, the firm, is set to provide research, market and consumer satisfaction monitoring activities and opinion polls, whose processes and outcome will compare with what obtains globally.

The company championing initiative to take Nigeria to the global level in outsourcing services, said, that cutting edge technology and latest equipment have been deployed at its Lagos office to render this services in the best tradition of globally acclaimed opinion poll experts, such as Merrill Lynch.

“We wish to express with all sense of confidence and sincerity that we boast of an impressive array of state–of-the-art equipment, which places us on competent footing to discharge this undertaking to impressive satisfaction,” he said.

The firm, he also said, is poised to complement this with experience and expertise, to accomplish new assignments in such impressively innovative way, which puts Contact Solution above competition.

“We promise our clients the best and we assure them of our readiness to harness our expertise to bring about a major turn-around in their businesses,” he asserted.

Presently, he said, Contact Solutions has installed state of the art communication equipment with voice, Short Messaging Service (SMS), electronic mail (e-mail) and web chat capabilities.
The equipment, he explained, are also capable of live agents recording, which captures real time interactions between our Customer Service Representatives (CSR) and the caller.

“These voice files can be delivered to client for record and service standard audit purposes,” he said.

Mr. Oyediran further said, for the security and confidentiality of client business, close circuit real time visual monitoring of activities in the contact centre is made available via streaming video, which is easily accessed through remote internet connection.

Additionally, the firm boosts of its capacity to seat 900 CSR within a three-shift period per day. Operation is on 24/7 inclusive of public holidays and weekends.

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GistMe alternative access coming

Remmy Nweke

Upcoming Information Technology (IT) firm, GistMe Communications Limited, has advanced plans to launch its alternative means of accessing the Internet.

Chief executive of the company, Mr. Kenneth Nwabueze, said the planned launched would revolutionalise how Nigerians use their telephone and Internet.

With the new technology put in place by his firm, Nwabueze said, all a subscriber needs to do is to dial the Internet for instant access to the World Wide Web (www), data and information with the aim of bridge the digital gap on the continent.

The launch, which has been slated for this month, he said, would avail users to gain access to the Internet anytime, anywhere, using any phone.

This, he said, would be facilitated by simply dialing in from any phone, “using your own voice and your GistMe electronic mail (e-mail) account.”

According to Nwabueze, the subscriber, requires a phone either wired, cordless, wireless, touchtone and an active GistMe account.

“Every Nigerian is entitled to at least one account on GistMe and the e-mail account is free if the subscriber do not have one already,” he said.

“GistMe will tow the line of innovation in communication. There is so much we can do with mobile handsets than just making phone calls. Our partnership with private telecom operators (PTOs) will soon start yielding dividends for average Nigerians,” he assured.

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Ndukwe, Soludo, Attah for telecom investment forum

Remmy Nweke

Chief regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, would this Friday, lead experts along with the Central Bank Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo and Governor Victor Attah of Akwa-Ibom State to a one-day Telecom Investment and Finance Forum.

The forum slated to hold in Lagos, is being organised by the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).

According to ATCON President, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, the forum would be presided over by the Minister of Communications, Chief Cornelius Adebayo at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Center’s Agip Hall, Onikan-Lagos.

While the Executive Vice Chairman at NCC, Dr. Ndukwe would present the lead paper on “Investing in the Nigerian Telecom Sector: Strategic Opportunities for Recapitalized Banks and Non-Bank Financial Institutions in the Unified Licence Regime,” CBN Governor, Prof Soludo, would take floor on special presentation entitled “Recapitalization and Consolidation of the Nigerian Banking Sector: What Next?”

The Akwa Ibom State governor, Obong Victor Attah, would also make a special presentation on “Vision for ICT Development in Akwa Ibom State and the Gains of AKSG’s Strategic Investments in Telecoms.”

Other state governors who have invested in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in their respective states, Dr. Ekuwem said, are also expected to actively participate in the forum.

He explained that the forum was designed to stimulate and encourage local and foreign investments in the fast growing telecommunication sector in Nigeria.

“ATCON believes that there are great potentials in the sector begging to be explored and harnessed for the socio-economic development of our nation. We believe also that investments in the telecommunications sector would not only help to facilitate service penetration but has the potentials to ensure good returns for the investors,” he said.

Emphasising that telecommunications is a vital and essential vehicle for driving national economic and social development, it becomes imperative for all stakeholders to encourage more investors and potential investors in the sector for obvious benefits to both the investors and our national economy.

He expressed optimism that the recapitalized banks now have excess funds which could be invested in telecommunications projects for maximum yields.

“It is our belief that the banks are now in good stead to go into strategic partnership with telecom sector operators in financing short and long term projects that will help grow the telecom sector and, on the other hand, yield good returns to the banks,” he said.

Noting that with the introduction of the Unified License Regime (ULR) in the telecom sector, the consolidated banking sector now has an important role to play to enhance the pace of expansion of telecommunication networks in our nation.

He disclosed that ATCON has equally invited a whole lot of local and foreign participants to make the forum very interactive and worth the while with distinguished participants cutting across state governors, ministers of finance, science and technology, commissioners and director-generals of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), National IT Development Agency (NITDA), diplomatic missions, international development and funding agencies, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), NACCIMA, chief executives of telecom companies, banks, insurance, oil and gas as well as other sector companies, high net-worth individuals, the mass media and a host of other distinguished personalities.

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ITU, Starcomms others route for VoIP forum

Remmy Nweke

A high-level delegation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), has confirmed participation at the fourth coming third African Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) forum.

Also, Unified Licensed Operator (ULO), Starcomms Limited, and the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT-1) project, Direct-on-PC, Teledom Group, among others, have signed-up for the three-day event scheduled for Lagos.

A press statement from organisers of the forum billed to hold August 21 through 23, AITEC of London and endorsed by its chief executive, Mr. Sean Moroney, confirmed that the attendance of Head, Standard Co-operation and Communications at ITU-T, Geneva-Switzerland, Paolo Rosa, would lead the delegation from ITU headquarters.

They would be joined by expert ICT speakers drawn from four continents.

The speakers include the chief regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe and Communications Minister, Chief Cornelius Adebayo.

The duo would give keynote addresses along with the President, Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), and chief executive, Teledom Group, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem.

The forum is supported by the African ISP Association, ISP Association of Nigeria, Nigeria Internet Group, and the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) giving it an impressive stamp by the industry.

Also the VoIP forum, third in its series in Africa, is coming to Nigeria for the first time. It is being organised jointly by AITEC of London and IT Edge, Nigeria’s leading content-focused IT magazine.

Host country partner is the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) hailed globally as a proactive regulatory authority that has steered the country’s telecom sector to become one of the most successful stories in recent times.

The Forum is featuring leading VoIP experts in the field. They include General Manager, Sky-Stream, United Arab Emirates, Mr. Tom Koster, Executive Director, Africa, PCCW Global, Hong Kong, Mr. Yossi Barkan, Managing Director, Skannet Nigeria, Mr. Sunday Folayan, Sales Director, Africa, iBasis, Mr. Mawuli Tse, and chief executive, Balancing Act, UK, Mr. Russell Southwood.

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LG unveils Chocolate phone in Lagos

Remmy Nweke

Korean telecommunications manufacturer, LG Electronics, has unveiled a new mobile phone, Chocolate in Lagos.

Speaking at the launch, General Manager, LG Mobile Communication for West Africa, Mr. Sang Kil Park, said the phone is the first of the black label series being showcased to the market by LG.

“It has Media Player (MP-3) separate chips,” he said, stressing that Chocolate is a touch pad multi-key mobile tool which does not start calling because an instrument in your pocket touches it.

Chocolate, he also said, is a sweat sensitive phone, because nothing else activates the slim-slide stylish phone.

This, Mr. Park further said, is the first of its kind and has been a very big success in Europe after its initial launch four weeks earlier.

In addition, Chocolate comes with an extra battery and two ear-phone; one for the phone and another that could go with the MP-3 device.

The extra battery, he said, is a Value Added Service (VAS) by the telco, even as the phone book has the capacity for 1,000 entries.

Also speaking, Assistant General Manager, LG Electronics Nigeria, Mr. Vishwas Saxena, said they have all it takes to offer support services to sustain the Chocolate among other brands in the Nigerian market.

LG, he noted, has a one-year warranty with a service centre to back-up its products locally.

“We’re on ground,” he asserted, even as the Regional Marketing Manager, LG Electronics West Africa, Mr. Anudeep Sharma, also graced the event.

LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System cum Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access (UMTS/W-CDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) handsets.

Its parent company was established over 25 years ago.

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Firm toasts experts on local knowledge forum

Remmy Nweke

American Power Conversion (APC) has expressed support for local knowledge forum for the Nigerian market.

This, APC said, was to boost the local expertise of Information Technology (IT) engineers particularly.

The support came by way of super heading the initiative to bring valuable information to consulting engineers and their clients based on the need of new ‘server’ or ‘data centre’ environs.

Also the firm said, it raises new hope of addressing some industrial issues omitted hitherto and experienced with ‘legacy’ data centres.

In one of the forum which took place in Lagos recently, APC said it was a follow-up to the forums in Denmark.

Commenting on the Nigerian forum, Country General Manager for Africa at APC, Mr. Carl Kleynhans, said, “We decided to introduce this type of event to the local market to boost our input in reaching the customers.”

The forum, APC further noted, covered updated information on the latest Network-Critical Physical Infrastructure (NCPI) solutions available from its stable for solving data centre design problems.

Equally, the GM said, includes the company’s InfraStruXure offering, an integrated, scalable solution for NCPI that incorporates not just the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), but also equipment racks and cooling along with many other features.

APC, founded in 1981, has grown to become a leading provider of global end-to-end solutions for real-time infrastructure.

Its comprehensive products and services for home and corporate environments have been acclaimed to have improved availability, manageability and performance of sensitive electronic, network, communication and industrial equipment of all sizes.

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Digitest-06 outlines programme

Remmy Nweke

Digital Peers International (DPI), a Non- Governmental organization (NGO) set up as an ICT club for young people in primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities in the country and West Africa has outlined the programme of Digitest-06.

According to DPI, this year’s time table for of its annual camping and training programme, otherwise known as Digitest would hold in Obudu, Calabar, just as its Digitest abroad goes to Singapore.

A press statement signed by founder of the NGO, who is also the Deputy Chairman of its board of Directors, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, indicated that this year’s edition would take a new dimension starting with Digitest Abroad holding in Singapore between July 28 and August 11 2006.

While there, she said, Nigerian children will join their counterparts abroad to find solution to the theme, “Perfecting international culture and tourism with information and communication technology.”

She also said that an exciting version of Digitest Nigeria will hold at Obudu, Calabar, Cross Rivers State, between August 20 and September 1 to tackle the theme of International Culture and Tourism Development through Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

It is the first time since inception six years ago that Digitest is holding outside Nigeria and facilities are being made available for the blind, mute and dump who are interested in the programme to attend.

ITREALMS Online, recollects that Digitest since inception has continued to create an avenue for teaching young people basic ICT skills, as well as a number of social values of life, dignity of labour, appreciation of our culture and such related values.

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