Nigeria: Exploring ICT for wealth creation

The Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Dr. Hamadoun Touré, has described Nigeria as a better example of a developing nation using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for wealth creation.

Speaking as the special guest during the Nigeria’s day at the five-day event organised by the ITU annually which ended weekend at the Cairo International Convention and Exhibition Centre, in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, Dr. Toure said that given the growth witnessed in Nigeria in the past seven years within the ICT, it should serve as example for other developing economies, especially on the continent of Africa.

According to him, Nigeria has shown commitment in ICT, which has in turn transformed the regulation of the industry into predictability.

As said by him, predictable environment affords investors to forecast accurately thereby giving hope for the investing public.

He pointed out that no investor would like to go to an environment that is not profit friendly.

“People would not come if they are not assured of making profit,” he declared, stressing that two-third of the global workforce is in ICT industry.

He also advocated for wealth creation rather than the so-called poverty alleviation, saying that those who are interested in creating wealth should see Nigeria as their destination.

“So those who are interested in creating wealth should go to Nigeria,” he asserted.

Dr. Touré further reiterated the commitment of ITU in connecting the unconnected.

“ICT has to be the catalyst to bridge the digital divide,” he said, assuring Nigeria to keep up the good work in terms of creating enabling environment for investors to tap from.

“If you have regulatory bias come to ITU and we’re committed to close the digital divide,” he counselled.

Corroborating Touré, the Nigeria’s Charge De Affairs in Egypt, Mr. Adewunmi Azeez, assured foreign investors on the Federal Government’s determination to facilitate smooth environment for them.

Nigeria, he said, is a fertile land and needs to be exploited and indeed expecting those who know their onion to take this opportunity.

“Nigeria is a fertile land for investments,” Mr. Azeez joined by a Minister at the embassy, Mr. Ayuba Kewa to the occasion said.

The event has in attendance top government officials including the chairman, Board of Commissioners at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Alhaji Ahmed Joda, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, and chief executives of key public and private companies in Nigeria as well as telecom firms namely Etisalat Nigeria Limited, Mr. Saoud Al Shamsi, Celtel chief executive, Mr. Bayo Ligali and President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Mr. Ndukwe Kalu, to name a few.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Steps to observe packet spoofing by ISPs (8)

Wireshark could be configured to colour these packets differently so that they stand out in a packet display.

Keep in mind that there are legitimate uses for FIN and RST packets within the TCP standards and that the presence of forged FIN or RST packets, not the presence of such packets generally, is suspicious.

A client software or firewall bug, for example, could cause one end of a connection to disconnect prematurely - but that isn’t the ISP’s fault!

*If a problem you’re investigating is widespread, someone may already have published claims about precisely when or under what circumstances spoofed packets may appear; you can consult the details of other people’s allegations to see whether you can reproduce these claims for yourself.

Setting aside the possibility of fragmentation, we have explained that packets are spoofed when they are received by one computer but were not transmitted by the other computer.

Below, we give examples of summary views showing a BitTorrent transfer disrupted by TCP RST spoofing:

Before the RST packets begin (packet no. 2338 in the local capture and packet no. 2549 in the remote capture 9), the packets transmitted and received correspond directly to one another (although they appear in rather different orders).

Ten Once the RST packets begin, a large number of packets are received at each end that do not correspond to packets transmitted at the other end. We can verify this by looking at the detailed contents of these packets (for example, their sequence numbers, which are displayed by Wireshark as Seq=nnnnn), although simply counting them tells the tale in this case.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Take advantage of ICT, Ibru tells SMEs

Young and aspiring entrepreneurs have been advised to take advantage of the growing availability of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the country as a means of saving running cost of their businesses, reports Charles Okoh.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oceanic Bank International Plc, Dr. (Mrs.) Cecilia Ibru, gave this advice over the weekend at the recently concluded Computer, Telecommunications and Office equipment exhibition (CTO 2008).

She implored medium and small scale entrepreneurs not to despair despite the unfavourable macroeconomic environment, but to develop the right mindset to go through and achieve success while advising new start-ups not to envy others but remain resolute and focused until they have achieved their goals.

Mrs. Ibru who spoke on Business Financing: Getting the Fundamentals Right for SME and Microfinance, said the theme of the exhibition, A world without borders, is apt and should challenge young entrepreneurs to realize that there is no limit or failure for any aspiring entrepreneur with can-do-it spirit.

She listed some of the challenges of business financing in the country as, limited number of attractive investment opportunities and lack of enabling environment for businesses; dearth of reliable information on industries, which obscures investment opportunities; inability of entrepreneurs to articulate business plans due to lack of sophistication/skills; low level of management and technical competence; unwillingness of entrepreneurs to dilute holdings as well as the ‘national cake’ mindset which make most of the entrepreneurs to go the banks unprepared for the scrutiny the SMEEIS scheme entails among others.

She also encouraged entrepreneurs to pay their taxes because that is the only way they could demand provision of infrastructure from the government, noting that the country is rich and not poor because foreigners extract from here and make wealth for themselves outside the country.

The week-long exhibition which took place from May 12 to 16, 2008, the tool of the U.S. Commercial Service in Nigeria to encourage local companies in association with their U.S. suppliers and manufacturers of computers, telecommunications and office equipment to showcase the every best of American technology, equipment and services available in Nigeria for the sub region.

The exhibition featured an all-day, special-event seminar on the first day and a four-day exhibition with private seminars, workshops, product/services launching and demonstration was declared open official last week Tuesday by the U.S Ambassador to Nigeria. Ms Robin Renee Sander, Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele and the MD/CEO Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Computer Warehouse takes Wincor ATM to 2nd level

Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) alongside other worldwide partners of Wincor Nixdorf brand of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) said that it has taken ATM to the second position.

CWG Nigeria is partnering Wincor Nixdorf through its subsidiary, Computer Warehouse Limited (CWL) on the sales and services of Wincor ATMs in the country.

Disclosing this, the Managing Director, Wincor Nixdorf, Mr. Joerg Brinkmoler announced in the company’s half yearly executive management meeting in Frankfurt recently that its ATM shipping globally has risen to No. 2, attributing this success to the relentless sales efforts of Wincor’s partners including CWL.

A press statement from CWG endorsed by the Manager Marketing Communications, Ms Morenike Popoola quoted Brinkmoller as paying tribute to his firm’s partners.

“… As they have made this tremendous success possible in each single country with each single account. Without your constant effort and contribution this success will not have been achievable. We very much appreciate that all of you make this happen,” he said.

In a related development CWG recently won the Wincor Nixdorf’s “Award for best new partner” following a remarkable achievement in deployment and support for the acclaimed Wincor ATMs in Nigeria.

Presented by Mr. Brinkmoller, he noted that it was for achieving sales in 2007 fiscal year of over $5m and the timely deployment of over 600 ATMs in the period, the highest achieved by any new partner of Wincor.

She said, going by the statistics, Wincor is rapidly gaining market share and aims at No 1 position in the very near future.

CWG comprises three subsidiary companies in each of the disciplines of Information Technology namely, CWL for infrastructure, DCC for networks and ExpertEdge for software.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

NCC lifts four institutions with books

Apex telecom regulator in the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has donated a total of 385 more books on Engineering as well as information and communication technology (ICT) to four institutions in different parts of the country in support of capacity building in telecommunications and ICT in Nigeria.

Head, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Dave Imoko, said the benefiting institutions in this phase of the NCC book donation project were University of Calabar, Calabar, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, and Federal Polytechnic, Offa.

Each of the three universities, he said, received 100 books while the polytechnic got 85 books, all of which were the latest editions.

According to him, delegations of the NCC comprising Commissioners and management staff were at the four institutions between April 6 and May 16, 2008 to present the books to the heads of the institutions.

He also said that the donation is NCC role in keeping to its socially responsible corporate citizenship stand and in response to the dearth of up-to-date books in most tertiary educational institutions and public libraries in the country, the NCC took the initiative to procure the books for them.

The benefiting institutions in the first phase of the NCC book donation project in 2007 were Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, and Gombe State Library, Gombe, each of which received 100 books.

The project, Imoko further said was designed to provide current, high quality Engineering and ICT books to tertiary educational institutions and public libraries in the six geo-political zones of the country.

While the objective of the project, he explained is to give future professionals in the ICT industry the opportunity to acquire quality education as well as to promote the reading culture among the youth.

In this phase of the project which took place at the University of Calabar a Commissioner of NCC, Chief Patrick Kentebe, presented the books to the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Professor Friday Mbon, and at Nnamdi Azikiwe University the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ilochi Okafor, received the books from a Commissioner of the NCC, Dr. Michael Onyia.

Also in this phase, the Vice Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Professor Babatunde Adeleke, received the books from the Executive Commissioner, Licensing and Consumer Affairs, Engr. Steve Bello, while a Commissioner, Mr. Bayo Atoyebi, presented the books to the Librarian at Federal Polytechnic, Offa.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

IHS reiterates commitment to quality service

Telecom infrastructure provider, IHS Nigeria Limited, is riding on its recent ISO 9001 certification to reiterate commitment on provision of quality of service for its clientele.

Managing Director, HIS Nigeria, Mr. William Saad made this commitment at a one day training session at The Scarlet Lodge to familiarize its subcontractors with the processes and procedures that must be followed to fully comply with the international quality standard.

He assured that such training would be made quarterly by his firm to constantly keep clientele and subcontractors current.

He also said that IHS commitment to good quality of service is to avail it to remain the best in the telecom infrastructure services sector through the delivery of high quality services at affordable cost and to serve their clients with the best ethical norms, honesty and transparency.

“With over 1200 towers and masts erected across the county and implementation ISO 9001: 2000, we strive to ensure Nigeria ’s realization of its telecommunications aspirations as the African telecommunication powerhouse,” he said.

The training session moderated by the renowned telecom expert, Mr Titi Omo-Ettu, witnessed several speakers from various aspects of quality control and associated procedures under ISO 9001. Participants at the session included, Country Manger of Motorola Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ralph Udeogu and Manager of Community Relations at Celtel Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Femi Kayode among others.

Commenting on the event, Mr. Udeogu stressed the importance of implementing quality of service procedures as the basis for the growth of various companies.

Champion Infotel recalls that IHS Nigeria Ltd is a pioneer in the various aspects of telecom infrastructure services ranging from the building of telecom infrastructure to the management (O&M) and sharing/collocation aspects.

IHS was setup in 2001 as the Nigerian Communications Commission opened the telecommunications market, its customers cut across MTEL, MTN and Econet (Currently Celtel) to provide GSM services before eventually licensing two more and several Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators and other PTO’s.

IHS has built infrastructure in more than 30 states and have offices in Lagos, Abuja, Benin and Port Harcourt, just as its a member of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and is licensed by NCC to sell and maintain telecom infrastructure and equipments.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

SchoolPlus launches Whiteboard solution

Arrangements have been concluded for the launching of Interactive Whiteboard Solutions by SchoolPlus Promethean.

General Manager, Promethean for Nigeria, Mrs Tinuade Osaniyi, said that the proposed launch is to make learning more engaging and inspiring in the country.

According to her, as part of efforts to induce the culture of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in learning activities, her firm is set to launch this interactive medium.

“Promethean is poised to improve understanding and knowledge retention within educational institutions and corporate Nigeria,” she said.

Mrs. Osaniyi pointed out that the vision of the company is to establish an interactive way of teaching and learning through the provision of modern-age strategies, information technology and tools.

“Our major goals are very clear, provide teachers/instructors/facilitators with all they need to create a truly inspiring lessons, enrich the teaching and learning process and create an environment where students/learners are more involve in the process of teaching,” she said.

Further, she revealed that her company is set to host a workshop on “The Future of Interactive Learning”on May 27, at Terra Culture, Victoria Island to enlighten the public on its new solution- Promethean Interactive Whiteboard.

“We want to let the public know through the workshop how we are setting world class global standards in learning and training technology to prepare students and corporate players for global competitiveness,” she said, adding that this is an opportunity to be part of the next level 21st century ICT learning.

Osaniyi noted that the Interactive Whiteboard is an ICT solution that is suitable for classroom teaching, professional training and corporate presentation, stressing that top Nigeria secondary and tertiary educational institutions and corporate organizations have already embraced the solution.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Stakeholders’ forum holds June 9

The organisers of the annual stakeholders forum has announced a new date for the event.

A press statement made available to Champion Infotel informed that the event has been shifted to June 9.

The 2008 stakeholders forum was originally billed to hold last Monday.

Also the Minister of state for Information and Communications, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande as the leader of the government delegation to the event, would deliver a keynote address to the occasion.

The event scheduled to hold at the Golden Gate Restaurant, Ikoyi in Lagos, would afford government officials to the occasion to present their views, direction and focus on the best bargain for the consumers in the nation’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry.

The forum with the theme: The Place of the Consumer in the Nigerian Telecom Industry, is being organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and managed by Africa’s foremost ICT magazine, IT & Telecom Digest under its Stakeholders forum series initiated in 2006.

Commenting on the forum, editor-in-chief of IT & Telecom Digest, Mr. Mkpe Abang said that Alhaji Nakande has given assurance that government is very keen on ensuring that consumers of ICT products and services have the full benefits of their money hence the need to enlighten them on what their rights are and when and how to demand such rights.

“The minister’s keynote address will give the direction that government expects operators to follow so as to ensure that consumers are not short-changed while at the same time educating the consumers on what they are entitled to,” Abang said.

He pointed out that the choice of the theme underlines the importance NCC attaches to the consumer in the nation’s ICT sector, adding that NCC is particularly concerned about the consumer, and it is this that led to the commission initiating the idea of an interactive forum to enable all stakeholders, from operators to government, the regulator to academia, professionals to the consumers as well as consumer advocacy groups, to discuss the real issues affecting the consumer and how to resolve them.

He expressed confident that this event would afford the NCC and operators the opportunity to really focus on raising the consumer to that kingship pedestal that it truly should occupy.

Stressing that speakers would also be drawn from operating companies, the regulator, professional bodies, among others.

Also speaking Head, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Dave Imoko, said the Commission recognised the high importance of the consumer, just as it realised that consumers need to be adequately informed of their rights so that they could stand up to service providers when they fail short of laid down expectations, hence the forum.

“For the purposes of awareness, education and information, and many other salient reasons, therefore, this seminar is most vital so that the operators and service providers can also be reminded of what they owe the consumers, while on their parts, the consumers will come to understand the important position they occupy in the scheme of things,” Imoko stated.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Alcatel, Globacom enter fresh deal to expand network

Leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, Internet Protocol (IP) technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent, has announced the endorsement of a new deal with the Nigeria’s Second National Operator (SNO), Globacom.

President, Alcatel-Lucent’s business in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) Mr. Vincenzo Nesci, disclosed this at the just concluded ITU Telecom Africa held in Cairo.

According to him, a new contract was signed with Globacom Limited to extend the network capacity and performance of Globacom’s mobile and fixed networks.

The project, which is part of the operator’s IP network transformation, would enable Globacom to extend the delivery of advanced mobile and triple play services with enhanced quality of service (QoS).

He also said that the project would afford Globacom to increase its mobile network capacity including GSM/EDGE and W-CDMA/HSPA technologies to support up to 35 million subscribers, and to raise its fixed network capacity.

“The network expansion covers radio access, Mobile NGN core network and microwave transmission, IP/MPLS and optical networking, fixed access networks, intelligent networks and valued-added services, next-generation networks, as well as OSS/Billing,” he said.

Equally, a press statement made available to Champion Infotel quoted the Globacom chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr as saying that his firm is committed to offer Nigeria an unparalleled user experience.

“Delivering the highest quality services to end-users is our top priority. With Alcatel-Lucent’s advanced mobile and fixed network solutions, we will increase our network capacity and provide the best services to meet the rapidly increasing demand from our customers,” he said.

In addition, Nesci said that the new agreement with Globacom further confirms Alcatel-Lucent as the key trusted partner of the telco in its expansion and network transformation

“Our comprehensive converged solutions are helping Globacom offer advanced, high-quality services to their customers and support their strategy,” Nesci said.

Alcatel-Lucent prides itself as a leading player in the GSM/EDGE market with more than 180 customers in over 90 countries, as well as a global leader in the development and deployment of third-generation (3G) networks, having deployed commercial 3G (UMTS/HSPA and CDMA/EV-DO) systems for more than 70 operators worldwide.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Moto U9 hits market

Mobile phone manufacturer, Motorola on Sunday in Lagos at the I-Cell outlet located within the Lekki Shoprite unveiled its latest in shelf, Moto U9.

Business Development Manager at Motorola Nigeria, Mr. Ugochukwu Ibe, while presenting Moto U9 at the event said the unveiling was due to the peculiarity of the product to the Nigerian communications market.

Describing Moto U9 as a product that has been launched worldwide that comes with music and simply stylish.

He said that recent research has revealed that people want multi-facet mobile handset that is not bulky.

“The phone, Moto U9 is for those who love music,” he declared.

He noted that Moto U9 is Motorola’s fashionable design savvy with an incredible music experience.

“Moto U9 gives consumers a new way to see, feel and hear the stylish side of music,” he said, adding that the latest addition has been designed for those discerning consumers who want to talk and rock in style.

He stressed that a sensuous and smart design makes rich colours dance on the borderless organic light emitting diode (OLED) external display with one of more than 20 floating animated screensavers.

He explained that Moto U9 music player could be controlled from the outside with touch sensitive keys that appear magically, along with the name of the song and artist.

As said by him, Moto U9 is a seamless, small, lightweight and curvaceous phone that has graphite metallic gloss and soft touch finishes and fits perfectly in the pocket or hand.

Making the easy transition from phone to music and back again, Moto U9, he said, allows one-touch access to users library and pauses music as calls come through. Users also could personalise their play lists by transferring favourite music, or download tracks from more than 200 online music stores, including Napster, and manage them using the simplicity of Microsoft’s Windows Media Player 11.

Moto U9, he added, has 25 Mega Bytes (MB) of on-board user memory, plus a microSD memory card slot for up to an optional 4 Gega Bytes (GB) for music, pictures and other media.

“With stereo Bluetooth wireless technology, users can enjoy a wireless mobile stereo experience on the go with compatible Bluetooth-enabled stereo headphones such as the ROKR S9 wrap-around headset,” he said just as Moto U9 has innovative CrystalTalk technology that automatically adjusts audio to help ensure clear calls even in a noisy environment.

“And there’s more to talk about including advanced speaker independent voice dialling and talking phone features for additional convenience. Live in the moment and capture your favourite memories with the 2.0 mega pixel, 8x zoom camera with multi-shot feature,” he said.

Speaking at the occasion, star actress, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, said that Moto U9 is curt phone and is a Motorola product that every one should have, especially fashionable ladies and is very affordable.

As said by her, Moto U9 is “chic, cheap and portable to be taken around easily.”

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

I’m impressed by Etisalat – Ndukwe

Chief executive, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, has expressed optimism over the kind of services to be offered by Etisalat Nigeria Limited when it eventually roll-out commercial services.

Speaking to newsmen after a tour of Etisalat stand at the recently ended 2008 ITU Telecom Africa, Dr. Ndukwe said, he was excited as he looks forward to the heart-breaking offers being introduced in Nigeria.

According to him, from what he has seen during the tour, there is no doubt that Africa would be part of the next revolution.

“It is amazing what technology has done so far,” he said, adding that there is hardly any area where one cannot do a lot especially with mobile platform.

He said that Africa has more mobiles and that’s a lot of promise and for Etisalat they are conversant with the modernization.

“It’s a well known fact with then,” he declared, stressing that he was impressed with revolution demonstrated at Etisalat stand.

“I am impressed but I will be more impressed when its brought to Nigeria,” he said.

While commending the Etisalat management in Nigeria for being part of the continental event despite being launched barely two months ago, he said that NCC would do more in the areas of mobile regulations.

He pointed out that policies should not be changed over night, because, “it would affect the investors and consumers.”

Also, briefing Nigerian press at the event, the Chief executive officer, Etisalat Nigeria Limited, Mr. Saoud Al Shamsi, said the telco is not in a hurry to consummate its commercial roll out but is targeting most cities.

Mr. Al Shamsi said that the participation of the Nigerian office of the company was to further demonstrate their commitment to the Nigerian dream of world-class telecommunications services.

As such efforts are up to get enough bandwidth for Third Generation platform on Etisalat.

Reiterating that Etisalat is much interested in providing good service rather than the technology deployed in delivering this goal.

Etisalat, he said, is ensuring that the network becomes resilient and that is what really matters to the telco.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Odey leads AU ministers’ bureau on ICT

Federal Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. John Odey, has emerged the chairperson of the Bureau of African Ministers of Communications and Information Technologies (ICT) under the auspices of the African Union (AU) Commission.

Mr. Odey election was held at the conference of African Ministers of ICT, which took place at Fairmont Hotel, Cairo, during the just concluded ITU-Telecom Africa 2008 at the Cairo International Conference and Exhibition Centre (CICC).

This, industry observers said was in recognition of Nigeria’s influence and current standing ICT performance in the sub-region.

Responding to the election, Odey expressed appreciation to the African Ministers for the confidence they have on Nigeria to occupy such position.

Odey represented at the occasion by the Chief executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, noted that Nigeria is one of the most liberalized telecommunications market in the continent.

The sector liberalization in Nigeria, he said, has triggered an enabling environment provided by federal government based on a fair and transparent regulatory framework within the telecommunication industry.

This, he said, has accounted for the appreciable level of telephone penetration with the current teledensity at 32.8 per cent.

According to Odey, Nigeria has, in the past seven years, witnessed one of the fastest rates of growth in the world at the current 46 million active subscribers as at March 2008 compared with only 400,000 in 2000.

The teledensity has sharply increased from 0.4 per cent to 32.8 per cent.

He pointed out that with a population of 140 million people, “Nigeria still has very huge capacity to absorb the growth and expansion being currently witnessed in the sector. Having experienced the huge advantages of liberalization.”

Nigeria, Odey said, would continue to promote open market policies in the sector to deepen the growth and penetration of telecommunications services.

Presently the government of Nigeria is pursuing a programme of collective multi-sector economic growth known as Vision 2020, intended to position the country in the league of 20 most robust and vibrant economies of the world by year 2020, stressing that the roles that telecommunications and information technologies are bound to play in realizing this dream cannot be over-emphasised.

He further said that at 46 million connected lines, there is still a very huge market, and is also committed to exploring new telecommunications and information technologies like Internet and broadband access.

Nigeria, Odey said, has witnessed a very fast rate of expansion in the mobile services sector and is willing to sustain such fast rate of growth in Internet and broadband connectivity.

With mobile phone services accounting for 99 per cent telephone availability in Nigeria today, he said, Nigeria has envisioned the possibility to deliver a faster Internet and broadband services on mobile platform as a likely growth path to follow.

“We, therefore, want to encourage investments that are focused on these new areas to compliment current performances in the sector,” he said.

Expressing the wishes of the government of Nigeria to associate with the Connect Africa Initiative of the Secretary General, International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Dr. Hamadoun Touré, he said Nigeria is pleased to have initiated a number of projects that are oriented towards the Connect Africa initiative such as the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) established to deepen the human capacity availability for ICT in Nigeria, the Wire Nigeria, designed to crisscross the nation with high capacity optic fibre cable infrastructure as well as the State Accelerated Broadband, SABI, project, focused on delivering broadband and Internet capabilities to urban and semi urban and rural locations of the country.

Also, he said, Nigeria envisions that a connected Africa with a pervasive broadband infrastructure would present unquantifiable potentials for Africa’s emancipation from years of slow and debilitating economic growth, to a vibrant and more economically independent continent with all the associated benefits.

“We, therefore, urged other African nation’s to join hands with ITU to ensure that Africa becomes really connected. We invite all African countries to support and promote this particular initiative of the ITU,” he said.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

MTN kicks off 21-day Y’ello care

For 21 days in June, staff of Nigeria’s leading telecommunications company, MTN Nigeria across the country will embark on a series of community based activities under a programme known as 21 Days of Y’ello Care. It is the second edition of the programme initiated last year by the MTN Group to encourage staff of the company in all its 21 operations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East to volunteer their resources, time and skills to help others and the communities they live and work in.

Last year, MTN staff across Nigeria participated in more than 70 different volunteer activities such as clearing drains, tree planting, cleaning public places, traffic control, visits to hospitals and orphanages as well as career and counselling visits to high schools.

For this year’s edition, MTN Nigeria has adopted the theme ‘Beyond the call of duty’ to encourage staff to go beyond what they do for a living and deploy their skills to the benefit of society. MTN staff will once again participate in a broad range of programmes classified under two main groups: Business Transformers and I care, respectively.

The Business Transformers group will undertake coaching sessions on successful business management with small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs). MTN staff who are qualified in various professions such as accounting or Information Technology who have been privileged to work in a best practice organization such as MTN, will endeavour to effect the relevant skills transfer to their counterparts in the SMEs.

Under the second group, I Care, MTN staff will volunteer their time and other resources to show care to less privileged members of the society. Some of such activities will include visits to orphanages, old people’s homes, prisons, hospitals and other places where they can give succour and support to the underprivileged.

During the 21 day programme MTN staff in Nigeria will also be encouraged to give away material possessions that they are no longer in need of but which can be of tremendous value to the less privileged members of the society.

“ For MTN, the concept of corporate social responsibility is deeply entrenched in our culture and we show that we are a caring organization all year round. But 21 Days of Y’ello Care offers a unique platform to get our staff personally involved in showing love, care and attention to our people and our communities’, explained Amine Oyagbola, MTN’s Corporate Services Executive.

According to Oyagbola, 21 Days of Y’ello Care is consistent with MTN’s commitment to contributing to the socio-economic well being of its host communities, adding that since MTN commenced operation in Nigeria in 2001, the company has successfully implemented numerous Corporate Social Investment initiatives, through the MTN Foundation, that have directly impacted over a million people across the country.

“MTN is the only telecommunications company that dedicates a percentage of its profit after tax exclusively to Corporate Social Investment initiatives,” she said. According to her as at December 31st 2007, the company through its foundation had 107 project sites in 28 states across Nigeria including the FCT.

“For this edition of 21 Days of Y’ello Care, we are going all out to touch lives, lift people’s spirits, make a difference in people’s lives and bring smiles to many faces,” Oyagbola said.

The programme kicks off on 1 June, with all the activities taking place simultaneously across Nigeria. It will be rounded off with a family party in Lagos on 21 June.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

NIG collaborates NCC, Zenith on I4J seminar

Not-for-profit organisation with focus on promoting Internet in the country, the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) is collaborating with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on the second year edition of Internet for Job (I4J) Initiative seminar.

NIG President and a seasoned telecom engineer, Mr. Lanre Ajayi made this disclosure in Lagos last weekend.

He also said that Chief Executive Officers of NCC and NITDA, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe and Prof. Cleopas Officer Angaye would lead speakers at the one-day seminar with their keynote papers.

According to him, the seminar being organised in collaboration of the aforementioned notable public and private institutions like Zenith Bank Plc, NCC and NITDA would attract some nine specialised papers with concentration on electronic commerce evolution namely marketing, personnel and financing.

NIG founded since 1995, he said, has been flying the nation’s flag in the cyberspace while the seminar’s theme is on “Internet for Jobs: Creating Jobs by Promoting eCommerce.”

Chairman of the occasion billed to hold at Golden Gate Ikoyi-Lagos on Thursday, May 22, 2008, Mr. Ajayi said, would be the former Minister of Communications, Chief Olawale Ige (MFR), who doubles as the Chairman, NIG board of trustees.

NIG president further said that at the one-day seminar that goodwill messages would be expected from the Director General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Yomi Bolarinwa, President of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), Dr. (Mrs) Nike Osofisan, President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof Charles Uwadia, President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, President, Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Dr. Jimson Olufuye, and chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).

On the exhibition aspect of the event, Mr. Ajayi said that opportunities exist for organizations to showcase their products and services during the seminar, but would be on first come, first serve.

He further urged Nigerians interested in attending the seminar to ensure they register online at seminar@nig.org.ng to secure a seat, adding that registration and participation is free.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Visafone launches Fantastic Bundle offer

Visafone Communications Limited, has announced the launch of the 4th phase of its “Fantastic Bundle offer.”

The promo offers subscribers who pay as low as N1,899 or N2,299 to acquire Visafone branded lines accompanied with one handset, free Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card and free N50 airtime.

A press statement endorsed by the Head, Corporate Communications at Visafone, Mr. Toni Kan said that the telco is offering two models of stylishly-slim mobile phones and come with 65k colour.

The phones, he explained, come with extra features including FM radio, hands-free, 3-way calling, 200+ phonebook and slim speaker phone.

“Thus making it the most exciting phone in that range,” he said.

He also said that by purchasing a Visafone handset in the Fantastic Bundle offer would aside from the goodies, lead subscribers into a world of benefits which include lowest on-Net at10kobo per second and international call rates at N12 to the United States (US) and Canada.

Equally, 10 per cent discount await those who make calls to friends and family numbers in addition to free N50 airtime on activation, Short Messaging Service (SMS) as low as N5 with excellent voice clarity as well as coverage in 14 states and over 100 cities and towns.

“Our new offer and low priced handset strategy is aimed at fulfilling our promise of bringing the joy of communication to Nigerians by providing them affordable handsets and low tariffs,” he said.

Visafone, a wholly owned Nigerian mobile phone company which launched its operations in February 2008 in 12 states and over 40 cities has expanded rapidly with coverage in 14states and over 100 cities across Nigeria in less than 3 months of operations in fulfilment of its promise to give Nigerians their “passport to reach the world.”

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Win & Rule: Glo presents more cars @ Asaba

The second national operator (SNO), Globacom at the weekend, excited subscribers on the network with presentation of cars to winners in its on-going Win and Rule promo in Asaba, Delta State as part of the regional presentation.

Some of the cars presented to 12 subscribers who emerged winners in the promo included BMW, Peugeot, Nissan Sunny and Kia Rio.

Win and Rule Promo is an on-going promo organised by Globacom upon which 500 brand new cars are up for grabs by loyal subscribers.

Some of the winners commended the management of Globacom for living up to its promise by proving to Nigerians that they have genuine intention to enable subscribers to rule their world and for bringing smiles to the faces of many through the Win and Rule promo.

One of the winners of a Kia Rio, Mr. Uchenna Echem from Ebonyi state who came with clutches as a result of ghastly motor accident he had sometime ago, said that God has used Globacom to turn his tears to joy by providing him a car when he never expected he could be so rewarded.

He continued to chorus “Globacom I thank you o” after receiving the keys to his Kia Rio.

Messrs Happy Anighoro Edegua and Ikeh Christian Mmaduabuchi both took home a brand new BMW 3 series car each. Mmaduabuchi on his part told newsmen later that God has blessed me through Globacom.

Addressing the gathering, the Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof) Chief Edozien who was represented by his wife, Obi Modupe Edozien called on Nigerians to patronize the Glo network describing it as very effective especially when one is making or receiving international calls.

“They said that Globacom has been good to Nigerians and very sensitive to their needs” adding that they are not just taking money from their customers but giving out to customers as they have just witnessed at the presentation ceremony.

In this same vein, the wife of the Delta State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Nelly Utuama while congratulating the winners, said “I enjoin you to spread the good news of what Globacom has done for you.”

She called on other Nigerians to embrace the promo and urged Globacom to continue in its current light.

Earlier, while welcoming guest to the occasion, the Chief Operating Officer of Globacom Mr. Mohamed Jameel who was represented by the Zonal Manager, Mr. Chudi Nwoye said “at Globacom, we’re not just celebrating this promo, we are celebrating a resilient network, a network that continues to grow and earn the confidence of the generality of the people daily.”

He also said the telco has demonstrated commitment towards network improvement by striving to complete the optic fibre installations around the country.

“In the last few weeks, we have commissioned the installations in Minna, Enugu, Owerri and Onitsha to make qualitative telecoms services, phone calls, data transmission and video communication more accessible for Nigerians,” he said, adding that it is for this reason, Glo network is being expanded massively to accommodate more than 35 million subscribers before the end of this year.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D