ATM receipts: Cardholders accuse banks of unfair deal

Cover of the week:

Over 60 per cent of approximated 3000 Automated Teller Machines (ATM) currently deployed nationwide cannot print receipts, just as cardholders have accused banks and independent deployers of short-changing them in order to make more saving.

Investigations conducted during the weeklong festive season of Ed-el-Fitri, Christmas and New Year, showed that most ATM cardholders would prefer to have their receipts as evident of transaction concluded.

This was also gathered as being very relevant now that some fraudsters have find a way of getting some Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) of some ignorant cardholders, mostly where the situation of conducting transactions proved difficult.

Champion Infotel checks confirmed that large numbers of ATM cardholders were lamenting their inability to print out their receipts after transactions were presumably concluded.

For some, the printing of these receipts signified that their transaction with any given ATM is successfully concluded or otherwise as they could read from the receipts eventually.

But the inability of most ATMs to print out these receipts after due process of asking and pressing the relevant buttons consistently is an indication that banks and ATM deployers are not alive to their responsibilities.

According to a Lagos-based businessman, Mr. Paul Udoaku, the introduction of ATM is novel, but the inability of the machines at the end of any transaction to print out the relevant receipts is unfortunate.

He pointed out that this excuse of an error in the machines as a result of which the receipt could not be printed did not start today.

He expects the deployers and even the host, most of which are banks to help in monitoring these ATMs to ensure that they are perfectly working.

“Now, I don’t even know if the two trials I made before my transaction was done would mean double withdrawal from my account since the receipt is not there to give me the balance of what I have and what has been withdrawn,” he lamented.

Another ATM cardholder and a student, Ms Bunmi Olaboye, said that it’s criminal and suggested that the deployers tend to save money, while leaving customers on their own.

As said by her, the management of those ATMs that could not print receipts for over one month, no doubt are aiding fraudulent activities, because they keep their customers in the dark, which could leave some customers like students thinking that they even still have money in their accounts.

Reacting to this development, Managing Director of an independent ATM deployer, ATM Consortium (ATMC), Mr. Noble Ekajeh, said that this act definitely could not be deliberate but blamed it on lack of manpower to monitor and attend to the growing needs of cardholders in the country.

He noted that the basic challenge facing deployers of ATM currently is in terms of getting the machines operational 24 hours by seven days in a week.

He attributed the lack of printing receipts as at when and where due of some ATMs to increase in demand, stressing that maybe in the new year, deployers have to increase their level of supervision of the monitoring team to ensure that such issues as lack of receipts would be ameliorated.

“I know that the only major challenge is an operational ATM, thus receipts run out shortly than expected,” he opined.

He explained that it could even be lack of the ink for the ATM to print receipts that is causing this hiccup; hence they needed to be replenished more frequently than before.

“ATM usage has increased and the receipt paper seems to have finished more quickly than was expected, so operators have to monitor it more closely,” he declared.

Mr. Ekajeh emphasised that in the list of priorities for ATM deployment, receipts counts as secondary, just as the first on the list is the availability of workable ATM with cash.

Other challenges, he noted are power downtime, the receipt paper is down or run out and people could not cash money.

“… If you have a large network, your are bound to have a large challenge to face but the priorities must be set right,” Mr. Ekajeh said, maintaining that the usage of ATM in the country is astronomical, even as he advocated that monitoring periods have to be made shorter to overcome some of these minor challenges.

“When there are lots of issues, the first thing that comes to mind is to make the machines workable with the dynamics of keeping the system going,” he asserted.

He expressed optimism that in the New Year that Nigerians should expect more mature ATM network with less teething challenges, even as he expects more rapid expansion in the ATM service industry.

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OLPC divides Nigerian IT experts

Nigerian Information Technology (IT) professionals are divided over the recent plan by the federal government to dump the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project.

Champion Infotel recalls that federal government through the Minister of Education, Dr. Igwe Aja Nwachukwu expressed displeasure over the manner through which the project was being managed.

OLPC, a non-governmental organisation, was founded by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor emeritus, Dr. Nicholas Negroponte, with a declared mission of making laptops available to children all over the world especially in developing countries.

Nigeria bought into the concept after its official global launch at the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held in Tunisia in 2005, following which Negroponte had anticipated populated countries like Nigeria and India, should be encouraged to be part of the first roll out of the OLPC.

Reports have it that Dr. Nwachukwu despite recognising the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) did not hide his observation, declaring that the Nigerian nation cannot accept its primary and secondary schools to become dumping grounds for all forms of computer ‘toys’ in the name of one computer per Nigerian child.

Intel Corporation, proprietors of Classmate PC with XO recently partnered with OLPC under unclear terms, which stakeholders suspected to be in contrast to each other.

Noteworthy is that OLPC was initially slated to be sold at $100 per PC (about N13,500) but has since escalated to about N20,000 lately due to cost of production.

Despite the division, some IT professionals expressed optimism that by taking second look at the project, it would work as originally designed, while others caled for alternative by way of encouraging local Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), such as Zinox, Omatek among others.

Reacting to the development, Nigerian IT experts were sharply divided over the minister’s disposition and whether or not the decision was hasty and retrogressive for the penetration of computer education among Nigerian children of school age.

An Abuja-based IT professional, Idara Akpan, described the original $100 project as a good idea, stressing that the difference between OLPC and XO is that while OLPC is humanitarian the other is commercially inclined.

According to him, Linux solution, apparently a Free and Open Source tool, is generally not paid for and therefore to some extent is non-commercial, but could coexist with the likes of Microsoft Windows, an opposite that attracts payment, thus commercial.

He emphasised that the real issue is not the source but the use that is made of these PCs eventually.

“Whether it’s commercial or humanitarian, whether it’s the OLPC or the XO, the real issue is the use of the PCs,” he declared, adding that mere purchasing of technology does not impart its supposed values.

“It does not mean progress, and it will never ever mean,” he insisted.

Akpan further informed that a government school in Maitama area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had three Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT) equipment donated recently in addition to one radio for Internet access connection.

“Only two of those VSATs are functional. The school also has one computer lab, equally donated by Zenith Bank Plc and Direclearn. Till date there is no integration of IT into the training process of the school other than the use of those PCs for word processing, game playing by the students, and the occasional computer lessons.”

Also commenting, Executive Director, Fantsuam Foundation, Dr. John Dada, said that OLPC presents opportunities, which should be explored.

“Outright rejection is throwing out the baby with the bath water,” he warned, asserting that at Fantsuam, they could team up with the OLPC to make this device work for Nigerian children and adults in terms of technology transfer, challenge of content creation and job creation to name a few.

Dr. Dada, therefore, canvassed for re-examination of the marketing strategy of OLPC in the country.

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NARICT completes 12 projects

Zaria-based National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT) has completed over 12 projects capable of aiding economic growth positively.

Management of the institute led by Dr. E.M. Okonkwo as its Director-General and Chief Executive, also has over 13 on-going projects scattered at its four extension centres in Jos, Kano, Maiduguri and Sokoto.

NARICT, a parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has as its programme of action to include conducting of research and develop industrial chemicals and bio-chemicals, petrochemicals and polymers, leather and biotechnology products, process engineering and pilot plants, fabrication engineering programme as well as laboratory services.

The institute headed by a team of highly experienced scientists, technologists and administrators, informed that some of the completed projects encompassed of production of hydrated lime, bate, fatliqour, crude papain from carica papaya, essential oils from plants such as eucalyptus leaves and lemongrass.

According to NARICT website, the institute In addition, has complete work in the production of dyestuffs and pigments, and equally developed some fancy leathers, namely Adire and Ovada leathers, designed and fabricated castor seed shelling machine, built kiln for hydrated lime production, as well as designed effluent treatment plants, side leather for shoe uppers, leather and leather products.

Established in April 1988 as a result of the expanded mandate of the former Leather Research Institute of Nigeria (LERIN), which was established in April, 1976, NARICT is one of the research institutes under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.

NARICT prides itself with modern laboratories with state-of-the-art scientific equipment and machinery to carry out advanced research and development (R&D) work in chemicals, leather and allied fields, in addition to sufficient library facilities. It has recorded a number of achievements since its inception. Some of its research results have been semi-commercialised, while others are in the process of being patented or commercialised.

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ITU-EC collaborate to attract investments

INTERNATIONAL Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the European Commission (EC) have advanced plans aimed at attracting massive investment in ICT infrastructure and ICT-enabled applications.

Over the past decade, most countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Caribbean have initiated reforms in the telecommunication sector by establishing national regulatory bodies, introducing competition and at least partially privatizing operators.

Chief, Media Relations and Public Information at ITU, Mr. Sanjay Acharya said that although large sections of the population remain without basic access to information and communication technology (ICT) services, there are some key reforms yet to be undertaken in many countries to provide regulators with the tools and authority to effectively regulate the sector as a means of boosting investment, promoting innovation and building confidence in ICT markets.

He also disclosed that the European Union (EU) has allocated Euro 8 million from the European Development Fund, to which ITU will add USD 500 000 of its own resources toward this joint venture, but would be managed and implemented by ITU.

He added that the ITU-EC deal aims at the harmonization of regulatory frameworks and the building of human as well as institutional capacity in the field of ICT.

Describing it as a fundamental shift in policy and regulatory frameworks is considered essential to achieve the connectivity targets by 2015 as committed in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the objectives of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which recognized the fact “to maximize the social, economic and environmental benefits of MDGs.”

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Fantsuam commissions computer wireless training

Kafanchan-based Information and Communication Technology (ICT) non-governmental organisation (NGO), Fantsuam Foundation has commissioned its community wireless network.

Executive Director, Fantsuam Foundation, Dr. John Dada, disclosed this at the weekend and said that the commissioning would herald community-based computer Internet training.

According to him, it is an opportunity for the foundation to offer computer training free of charge for schools within 30 kilometres from Kafanchan and its environs.

He also said that presently the foundation has introduced a week-end children computer club initiative.

“We currently run a Saturday children’s computer club,” he declared, adding that the club is already over-subscribed.

Hence he called on well meaning Nigerians and organisations to offer support to the foundation’s projects.

He further disclosed that the foundation has acquired seven refurbished laptops and could rent a small bus to take this computer round some schools within the Kafanchan environ on weekly basis.

“We have acquired 7 refurbished laptops and we can rent a small bus that can take these systems to the schools within our area, once a week,” he said.

So far, he noted that the computers are not enough compared to the estimated 300 children that needed to be trained within that vicinity.

Pointing out, however that there are 256 primary schools within the Kafanchan catchment area.

“We can only provide this service for free if someone at the back-end, like your selves is willing to pick the bill. We estimate that it will cost $5 for each student’s tuition per month; $100 will pay allowances for 2 teachers per month who will accompany the laptops; $20 will pay for each trip of the rented bus,” he implored.

Fantsuam Foundation was founded in 1996 by a group of Nigerian professionals who recognized the need for empowering their rural neighbours and community members, particularly women, to find means of employment, income and meeting their own development needs, with a committed vision to make Southern Kaduna a successful and replicable model of integrated rural development in the country.

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10-yr Tomiwa joins millionaire club

A 10-year old pupil of Montessori International Port Harcourt, Master Tomiwa Byron, has joined the millionaire club in the MTN sponsored Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (WWTBAM) television show.

The primary-six pupil, who emerged at the special edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire held in Lagos, to mark the festive season, said his ambition is to become a petrochemical engineer capped with a doctorate degree, as he emerged N1 million richer from the hotseat for the special edition of the programme for children and hosted by Frank Edoho.

Whereas Byron smiled home with his first million Naira cheque, another youngster, a 9-year old Ms Esomsidimma Igwe, who aspires to be a Neurosurgeon from Linsy Nursery School, Lekki, went home with N500,000.

This is coming as the special edition has been generating momentum and putting some children against their parents for, at least, not taking them to the TV show.

The spokesman for Ultima, Mr. Olu Akinlabi explained that the edition is his firm’s way of supporting government’s policy on education, because all hands need to be on deck to ensure that the quality of education in the country is elevated to an appreciable standard.

“This can only work if private organizations tie into the government’s plan for the education sector,” he enjoined.

The show attended by the Lagos State deputy governor’s representative and special adviser on education, Ms Ronke Azziz, also witnessed the presence of an Assistant Director, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Kemi Adeoye among others.

Champion Infotel recalled that the TV show put together by Ultima Communications, which commenced over a year ago, has witnessed the emergence of over four millionaires, including the first N1m winner and a staff of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Mobility Aid and Appliance Research and Development – MAARDEC, Mr. Okechukwu Ozowalu; the first winner of N2m, Adeoba Oguntonade, Kano-based lawyer, Sani Abubakar Damisa, and third millionaire in the show and a Squadron Leader in the Nigerian Airforce, Ayodele Hamidu.

Champion Infotel gathered that towards the end of last year, Nigerians were scrambling for the end of year largesse in the Who Wants To Be a Millionaire (WWTBAM) television show, being championed by Ultima Communications Limited and proudly sponsored by the leading Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) in the country, MTN Nigeria.

Sources close to the show promoters, informed that the TV show, which commenced barely a year ago is reputed for producing millionaires in three months simultaneously.

“And there is every indication that more will come before the end of the year,” our source said, stressing that the show has produced about eight millionaires since inception.

Confirming this development, producer of the show, Ultima Communications informed via top official, Mr. Akinlabi, that the organization has been quite delighted with the stream of wins, adding that in the New Year the content would be richer, even as the show has since become more entertaining, and much easier to win.

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EU takes after Celtel on one network scheme

Apparently spurred by the Pan African initiative, the European Union (EU), may have taken after Celtel’s one network scheme as the body recently introduced mandatory maximum roaming tariff cap among its member states, known as Eurotariff.

Champion Infotel gathered that roaming charges have become history since October 2006 on the network, when Celtel’s one network made its debut on the continent, especially in the Eastern Africa.

Equally, Celtel extended this free roaming to more countries, making it 12 countries currently benefiting from the scheme.

These countries include Nigeria, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Malawi, Congo Democratic Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Niger, Tanzania, Chad, Gabon and Uganda.

According to Celtel with the free roaming across these nations, subscribers in the aforementioned countries communicate freely without the heavy burden of paying roaming charges.

The model described as the uncommon sweet story from a continent generally regarded as a technology lightweight region of the world, is being emulated by the EU.

The European Union it was gathered, has commenced consideration on a borderless network across its territory of 27 member states.

The Eurotariff, though still a tall dream, industry analysts noted that it has succeeded uniting EU more.

Noteworthy is that the Eurotariff limits roaming charges to 0.49 Euros (69 cents) per minute for making a call abroad, and 0.29 Euros (34 cents) to receive a wireless call from abroad.

Since the EU announced the price cap or “Eurotariff” on June 30, 2007, callers across the territory using the wireless service have had to pay less, thereby encouraging more EU residents to enjoy the benefits of “Eurotariff”.

Just as the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) commended EU on the step and enjoined the body to learn more from an African operator, Celtel, which has totally removed roaming charges for 400 million Africans.

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LG sales 310,000 KU990 handsets

LG has announced record sales of its 310,000 LG-KU990 mobile handsets, reports MARY MADAKI.

Disclosing this, president, LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company, Dr. Skott Ahn, said that the company is excited over the development.

He attributed this result to immense interest of consumers on LG brands of mobile phones, especially in Europe.

According to a press statement made available to Champion Infotel, the impressive sales was made within the first five weeks of introducing LG-KU990 into the European market, just as plans have been advanced for the Middle East Africa market.

He explained that the high-tech phone achieved even wider acclaim since entering markets across Europe mostly UK, France and Germany recording about 6,300 units daily.

He added that, this number exceeded the initial records of LG’s successful models such as LG chocolate and LG shine when compared.

He also disclosed that the secret behind the successful sales performance could be credited to the astounding blend of technology and features that LG has packed into this handset.

He stressed that as an advanced full Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) touch screen complements a rich array to camera features allowing consumers to enjoy high quality image, editing and image- sharing.

“All of the rich features of LG viewty surpassing those of any handset currently on the market have been designed to bring maximum benefit to consumers who place a priority on their viewing experience,” he said.

Dr. Ahn equally said that the stylish design also factors into the viewty’s popularity, as LG has always placed a premium on design as proven through LG chocolate and LG shine.

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MTN lifts 100 subscribers in Kaduna

Telecommunications operator, MTN Nigeria Communications Limited has lifted 100 of its subscribers in the ancient city of Kaduna, to enhance the recently held Eid-el-kabir celebration, UGOCHINYERE NKWOCHA.

The gesture tagged “Going places with a heart full of thanks” by the management of MTN was aimed at recognizing the subscribers – to its success story over the years.

Speaking at the event, Brand manager in charge of MTN Xtra Connect, Hajia Sadiat Lawal Mohammed said the ceremony was a way of saying thank you to their customers, who have remained supportive.

She added that Nigerians have been patronizing MTN and it is only natural that they should be appreciated.

Hajia Mohammed stressed that MTN was about improving people’s welfare pointing out that the telecommunications giant would continue to say “thank you to the people for choosing to stay with us”.

She further said that the Xtra Connect platform was introduced for families and their friends and urged the people to stay with the “caring” network.

The 100 winners who emerged at the event were picked in a lucky dip lottery witnessed by all the guests at the grand Sallah carnival organized by MTN Xtra Connect to celebrate with Muslims.

The guests were treated to music by KC Presh from Lagos and Sultan Abdul, a Kaduna based artiste.

The lucky subscribers went away with generating sets, sound system, Digital Video Display (DVD) home theatres, bicycles and musical instrument, where as they expressed happiness with MTN and pledged to continue to patronize the organizer.

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Economies based on technology do better – Emeagwali

Nigerian pride in supercomputing, Dr. Phillip Emeagwali, has said that economies with focus on technology deployment are bound to do better than their oil-rich counterparts.

Emeagwali who made this disclosure at a keynote speech in Arizona while dwelling on ‘Around the Globe, Technology Widens Rich-Poor Gap,’ pointed out that globally, technology seem to continue to widen the gap between the rich and poor in any given society.

He agreed that some countries like the United States (US) has made several billions from oil and has even fuelled the economic stability, and has also become the bane of existence.

But he was quick to remark that it for some, “it is a curse that has caused poverty and corruption, but for others it is an essential source of untold wealth and power.”

He pointed out that as the gap between rich and poor countries continues to expand, “it is clear that intellectual capital and technology rule the world, and that natural resources such as oil, gold, and diamonds are no longer the primary determinants of wealth.”

According to him, surprisingly, nations with few natural resources demonstrate greater economic growth rates than OPEC countries.

“Japan’s economic growth, driven by technological superiority, outpaces that of Saudi Arabia; South Korea is growing faster than oil-rich Nigeria; and Taiwan’s economy has moved well beyond that of oil-rich Venezuela,” Emeagwali asserted.

He noted that although the US and Norway are also rich in oil, yet their staggering economic growth come from intellectual capital.

“In reality, it is not money but intellectual capital that drives prosperity. More important, perhaps, is the reality that poverty is driven and sustained by a lack of intellectual capital,” he said.

Striking economic gap that persists between rich and poor nations, he said, has increased sevenfold over the past centuries to what is now an all-time high.

“The accumulation of intellectual capital by rich nations has helped broaden this gap because it has enabled them to control technology and collect hidden taxes from less affluent nations,” he disclosed.

For instance, Nigeria pays a 40 per cent “royalty” tax on its petroleum revenues to foreign oil companies that are ripping out its family jewels - the huge store of wealth in its oilfields.

Describing it as a shocking reality, Emeagwali added that the deep oil reserves laid down by mother nature millions of years ago and nurtured through the millennia in Africa have been whittled away within decades.

And, for the dubious privilege of surrendering its natural resources forever, Nigeria is required to pay half its petroleum revenue in the form of “royalties” to the rich kids on the global block, the United States and the Netherlands.

“Today, half the world’s population - three billion people - live on an average of $500 a year. In contrast, Bill Gates earns $500 every second,” Emeagwali noted.

He added that by controlling technology and taxing computer users, Gates has become wealthier than each of the 70 poorest nations on earth.

“While Bill Gates is the new millennium’s Prince of Technology, he is by no means the first to have taken on the huge potential offered by the realm of technology. The Romans used roads and military technology to expand their empire. And, for centuries, Britain ruled a quarter of the earth due to its unparalleled ability to command maritime technology and conquer the Seven Seas,” Emeagwali said.

Just as in the same way, the US has embraced its technological supremacy, both offensively and defensively, to build its own global empire without a physical presence in any of its “colonies.”

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Stakeholders to brainstorm on draft ICT4D

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has concluded plans to summon the nation’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to deliberate on the draft ICT for Development (ICT4D).

The meeting, according to sources at NITDA, would articulate on the draft of the country’s ICT4D action plan so as to make relevant input from various sectors of the economy, thereby beefing up the work plan for full integration of ICT in achieving national development goals and position the economies among the leading 20 in the world by 2020.

Confirming the planned meeting, Director General, NITDA, Prof. Cleopas Angaye, said that the stakeholders meeting to include leaders in the country’s financial, technology, educational and health sectors among others would offer NITDA a good ground to strengthen the link between ICT integration and the achievement of the President Yar Adua’s Seven point agenda for meeting the Millennium Developmental Goals (MDGs).

He pointed out that it’s a fundamental document that requires input of all concerned parties.

“NITDA has the mandate to provide the country with achievable socio-economic goals using ICT. We feel it is important to get all stakeholders involved in the creating of this very critical document,” he declared.

Prof. Angaye also said that the national ICT strategic plan of actions were intended to cover various sectors and identify particular programmes for short, medium and long term implementation by identified stakeholders.

Hence, the meeting would is to set out time-sensitive action plan with realistic targets and benchmarks for sectoral applications of ICT for national development, noting that NITDA cannot do it alone but engage stakeholders.

Champion Infotel recalls that the nation’s ICT4D document is being put together by a Ministerial Strategic Action Committee inaugurated over four years ago by the former Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isoun.

The committee launched in September 2003 was charged with the responsibility of producing a blueprint on strategic actionable programme for the implementation of the Nigeria IT Policy (NITP), Nigeria’s ICT4D Committee is a broad based.

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Happy New Year 2008

On behalf of Remnek Kommunications Ventures, the publishers of ITRealms Online team and partners, we wish you especially our dear readers/visitors a resounding New Year.
Signed:
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Executive Director, Operations

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Improving governance through ICT

How to achieve improved governance using the evolution of information AND communication technology (ICT) was the crux of a three-day workshop recently organised in Dakar, Senegal. WILLY EYA and REMMY NWEKE who were there report:

In Africa, how to achieve improved governance has remained a mirage. The consequence is that the people are weighed down by poverty, diseases and all manner of deprivations.

The picture is gloomy but many believe that it is not for lack of policies to change the situation but more for the failure of leadership across the continent.

At present, optimists are unanimous that to overcome the hurdle, the people need to get involved in their affairs.

The development has provoked the need for more interaction among those in government and their subjects.

With the evolution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), efforts are increasingly being made on how to bridge the gap.

Already, the adoption of ICT has brought about a revolution and transformation in how people interact, live, earn a living etc.

It was in the light of the above development that the PANOS Institute West Africa (PIWA) organized a three- day regional workshop on Media and ICT issues in West Africa.

Titled, "New Technologies, New journalism, Improved governance," the event attracted about 50 participants including journalists and members of the civil society.

The workshop, which held at Dakar Senegal, provided participants opportunity for assessing the use of blogs by media and citizens in West Africa.

It is interesting to note that with the appalling poverty and underdevelopment that have become the lot of most developing nations at present, the focus of world powers has centred on how the people could be integrated to play a role in the development of their constituencies.

So, the workshop was essentially aimed at promoting blogging and new interactive communication tools for improved governance in West Africa.

Participants brainstormed on how to strengthen productions on ICTs by journalists in West Africa and the emergence of citizen journalism.

A major challenge at the event was how to tackle the legal issues of online productions and the regulation of ICTs in the sub-region.

According to a guideline paper by PIWA, the profession of journalism and the production and dissemination of information in general were undergoing changes due to the continuous development of E-communication technologies.

Since the advent of the Internet in the early 90’s, the barriers of information were drastically and instantaneously removed at a global scale.

The position of PIWA was that information disseminated online by local media has become immediately accessible from one end of the world to the other.

PIWA noted that progressively, online information production technologies have been democratised while being professionalised in such a way that individual journalists or citizens have become online producers just like institutions in the sector.

From the workshop, participants were made to know that the world has moved from complex multimedia content production instrument such as web Editor, Golive or DreamWeaver to simple content management systems.

Director, PANOS West Africa, Mrs. Diana Senghor explained that the world has reached the age of web 2. 0 with the possibility for individuals who know how to use the computer to create a good personal website and multimedia blogs that are accessible to the entire planet in a matter of minutes.

Beside production she said, access to information also developed among other things to the possibility of getting produced by various national, regional and international sources by means of different subscriptions offered by Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds.

"Interaction with the audience, readers and internet surfers in general has also expanded with options for any individual whether known or unknown to send online comments whether moderated or not, from any region of the world" she said.

At the workshop, it was established that from mobile telephones to the internet, through fixed-line telephones, information technologies are not only encouraging public communication space but are at the service of public governance.

The relevance of the policies implemented and the regulatory systems proposed are then becoming some matter of interest for the media as the fourth estate of the realm, and more basically, for the citizens that are co-responsible for national and regional public interest.

A major aspect of the workshop was on legal issues of online production in West Africa.

Part of the arguments were hinged on the legal constraints for online production by journalists or citizens and the existence and adequacy of West African laws regarding the continuous multiplication of online contents and the complexity of regulating online interactions.

The import of the workshop was indicative of the fact that democracy, and indeed governance can easily be facilitated by information and communication technologies.

As it is, people are increasingly being aware about the potential they cover for economic and social development.

The enforcement of ICT policies in the different countries as well as the organization of the various phases of the United Nations word summit on the information society from 2002 to 2005 are some clear signs of the state of things.

As the days go by, the need for West African countries and indeed the entire continent to join the global trend in ICT sector becomes more paramount.

In his paper, "citizen journalism: content, issues at stake for journalists," a university don, Dr. Abiodun Salawu x-rayed the emerging trend in the ICT sector.

Salawu who lectures with the Ajayi Crowther University noted that the evolution of ICT has democratised the journalism profession.

He explained that citizen journalism has further given people the opportunity to exploit the right to free speech.

According to him, the concept has given the people more room for interaction and participation.

From the discussion, the evolution of citizen journalism has made everybody a potential journalist.

With an ordinary mobile phone, a lot of information which may not even be available to a core journalist can be disseminated to the public.

From reactions of participants at the workshop, it was obvious that for West Africa not to be left behind, she must flow along with others in the new technological trend.

In the sub-region, the development of blogging has received a boost with the acceptance of ICT.

The development has been strengthened by the massive roll-out of the Global system for mobile communications (GSM) which has already pushed up the need to improve on value added services such as the Internet.

Blogs have grown into what some experts categorised as push-button, publishing, a concept that has simplified its module of ownership and publication.

To own a web log, a blogger requires a computer system connected to the Internet. The blogger is opportuned to make a choice out of the several free and open source software (FOSS) templates.

What it means is that programmers will have access to the codes and can change same at will.

Creating a web log lasts for less than10 minutes depending on the skilfulness of the potential blogger and the speed of the Internet access.

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