Cybercrime:Naija IT professionals seek FBI’s intervention

Members of the Nigerian Information Technology (IT) Professionals in diaspora have challenged the United States government via the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to help Nigeria in curbing the increasing online crime.

The group said America can commence the crack down on online crime from the closure of a US-based fraudulent site called t35.com.

Making this appeal at the weekend, some members of Naija IT Professional at Yahoogroup, claimed that the site, t35.com has been replicating information purportedly from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and electronic payment institutions like Interswitch.

According to them, the Whois report on t35.com indicated that the registrant actually is based in the US, as one of the contributors urged those Nigerians residing in the States to take the issue up with the authorities, especially the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to act quickly.

“Can people in the US please take this up with either t35.com or FBI to disable the site or is t35 an accomplishment in this crime against people and government of Nigeria?” asked a contributor.

Citing a public announcement from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) fraud allegedly perpetrated by one Alex Melen of United States, they noted that few years ago, one of their members had registered on a purported CBN website, http://www.cenbank.org/IntOps/chipnpin,while giving a feedback.

Part of the announcement read: “Please note that Your Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Card would be suspended due to the emergence of the new Interswitch (Verve) Chip and Pin card. In order for your ATM Card to remain active, you would have to upgrade your ATM Card to the new Chip and Pin ATM, please use the button below.

“Activate the New Chip and pin programme to get unlimited access on your ATM Card. Click http://www.cenbank.org/IntOps/chipnpin.”

The announcement also warned “Failure to adhere to this warning would cause your ATM access to be suspended within 48 hours.”

Although there were questions on why should a Central Bank conduct its business through this way and should it not have been better if CBN had taken this type of transaction via the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

Secure Sockets Layer is usually cryptographic protocols which provide secure communications on the Internet. It has also been described by experts at ssl.com as a standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser, even as it was created by Netscape to ensure secure transactions between web servers and browsers by using a third party, a Certificate Authority (CA), to identify one end or both end of the transactions.

But investigations showed that if the above link is copied and pasted into a browser, the page is unavailable but when clicked upon the hyperlink; http://www.cenbank.org/IntOps/chipnpin, the address will go http://www.interswitchslines.t35.com/.

Further investigations revealed that the Whois information on t35.com, showed it was a US-based fraud site and does not even have a relationship with a Nigerian or originating from this part of the world.

Wisegeek.com defined Whois as the Internet function that allows one to query remote WHOIS databases for domain registration information.

This was corroborated by Open Source free online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, which stated that it is a query or response protocol that is a type of Internet query-based protocol that assists in locating the legal owner of a given web address.

According to WHOIS information for t35.com:“Visit AboutUs.org for more information about t35.comRegistration Service Provided By:NameCheap.com Contact: support@NameCheap.comVisit:http://www.namecheap.comDomain name: t35.comRegistrant Contact:T35 Hosting, Alex Melen, 42-09 Naugle Drive, Fair Lawn, State 07410, US.”

Also revealed was that the administrative contact was “T35 Hosting, Melen (abuse@t35.net), +1.2018197618 of the same above address.

While the technical contact showed that it was being hosted by Mr. Alex Melen at T35.

The IT pros therefore, called on US authorities through FBI to expedient actions regarding Mr. Alex Melen and his cohorts, mostly, by FBI to take urgent measures as far as this matter is concerned.


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Egwu appoints Omatek, 3 others e-learning partners

The Federal Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu, has appointed four Information Technology (IT) firms to implement the electronic learning (e-learning) projects of the government as part of the public, private partnership.

The companies appointed by the ministry are Omatek Computers, Zinox Technologies, Galaxy Backbone and Calfa.

The project partners are to implement both the hardware and software components depending on specialty with regard to the Federal Government’s e-learning scheme which leads to the deployment of a healthy content cum curriculum in addition to monitoring and evaluation to ensure continuity and seamless execution.

Inaugurating the Policy Coordination and Implementation Committees on e-Learning Initiative, recently, the Hon. Minister of Education Dr. Egwu said the purpose is to improve the quality of teaching and learning in schools through the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) while increasing the number of students who are proficient IT users in furtherance to the realization of the roadmap for the Nigerian education sector.

He also noted that the Education Roadmap clearly demonstrates a deep understanding of the key issues as hiccups to the Education sector and the e-learning initiative is one of the strategies to be implemented over the next few years as part of efforts to reposition the sector.

Speaking on the development, the Group Managing Director, Omatek Ventures Plc, Mrs. Florence Seriki, said the e-learning initiative offers Nigerians the platform to ensure that Information and Communication Technology tools are deployed to schools and even classrooms under a carefully structured e-learning environment equipped with internet connectivity to create a virtual connection between students and teachers; lecturers and students.

She also said Omatek would bring to bear on the project its experience and expertise from previous and on-going undertakings, having launched its own e-learning initiative and pioneered Nigeria’s first 24-hour solar-powered Light-Emitting Diode (LED) hybrid solution for a secondary school in Igede-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Omatek, she reassured would leverage on its existing e-learning platform to localize the contents, design, build, deploy and maintain a flexible, scalable and comprehensive e-learning solution at all levels including Primary, Post-Primary and Tertiary to further deepen teaching and learning engagement as well as bridge the digital divide that exists between our youths and youths in other parts of the world.

Seriki expressed appreciation to the Minister of Education, Dr. Egwu for believing in Omatek, among others.

“The project will contribute to the Ministry’s broad objectives of improving education through building communities of educators and learners while also developing resources and knowledge through formal education,” she said.


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DSA explains choice of April for Nigeria IGF-10

Organizers of the Nigeria Digital Sense forum, the Digital Sense Africa (DSA), have said the 2010 edition of the forum will hold in second quarter of this year.

Executive Director, Operations at Digital Sense Africa, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, said the timing of the forum follows the need to sell Nigeria’s position to the West African countries.

This, she said, cannot be well articulated after the regional Internet Governance Forum (IGF) must have been held.

Other West African countries, she said, must be carried along in the nation’s bid to ensure that her own interest is well represented in the global session of the Internet Governance Forum.

According to her, the global IGF for this year, is coming much earlier than that of last year, hence the choice to hold the Nigeria Digital Sense forum in April.

She recalled that the decision to announce the date for the 2010 edition of its annual gathering of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) stakeholders in the country with focus on Internet Governance, would take place on Friday, April 16, this year.

In addition, Mrs. Nweke said that this year’s theme of the forum planned for Golden Gate Ikoyi-Lagos, would centre on ‘Five Years of IGF, the Way Forward for Nigeria.’

Stressing that following the success of 2009 edition, it befitting to make certain the 2010 edition takes place in good time in order to ensure that those stakeholders planning to be at this year’s Internet Governance Forum, would have most of the subject that needed trashing at heart.

Further, she said that strategies are at the final stages to make sure that this edition improves on the intentions of stakeholders ahead of last year’s records.

Nigeria Digital Sense forum, she said, avails stakeholders the needed platform to articulate a stand on Internet Governance and accurately align the nation’s position into the global Internet Governance Forum holding in Vilnius, Lithuania between September 14 and 17, 2010.

The forum, she said, was initiated as part of efforts at always stimulating outlook and enlightenment on Nigeria’s position on the global annual Internet Governance Forum, which is in its fifth year.

She called to mind the fact that 2009 edition was presided over by chairman of the pioneer Internet Service Provider, Linkserve Group, Chief Chima Apugo Onyekwere with the participation of the Federal Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Mrs. Dora Akunyili and Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, who were both adequately represented at the forum.


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ATMC names new chairman, MD

The board of Nigeria’s premier Independent Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Deployer (IAD), ATM Consortium Limited (ATM-C) has named its new board chairman and managing director cum chief executive officer.

A press statement made available to ITRealms Online showed that the operator of QuickCash ATM Network has elevated its immediate past Vice-Chairman, Mr. Oladele Akinyemi to the post of chairman, even as the board approved the appointment of Mr. Olumide Bajomo as the new managing director.

These appointments, ITRealms Online gathered, took effect from January 5, 2010.
This, the company said, was made possible following the expiration of the term of the immediate past chairman, Mr. Adedotun Sulaiman.

ITRealms Online recalls that Mr. Akinyemi represents Diamond Bank, one of the company’s major shareholders where he serves as Executive Director, Customer Service & Technology. Prior to this appointment, he was a member of ATM-C’s board of directors since inception in 2004, and was appointed Vice-Chairman in 2008.

For the outgoing chairman, Mr. Sulaiman, it is delighting to welcome Mr. Akinyemi to chair the board at this critical time in the history of the company.

“His distinguished professional track record and unwavering commitment to actualization of the ATM-C vision combines well with a deep financial and technology services background. This appointment is timely, allowing him to participate fully and work closely with the new management in the ongoing restructuring, transformation and execution of a new strategic plan for ATM-C,” Sulaiman said.

In his response, Mr. Akinyemi said that having been closely engaged in all issues facing the ATM industry from banking as well as IAD perspectives, he is glad to take on the central role of leading ATM deployment organisation in West Africa.

“I look forward to working closely with the board and the new Chief Executive, Olumide Bajomo, and believe we will form a strong and effective team,” he asserted.

The current times are challenging with the recent licensing of two additional IAD’s by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) but ATM-C has many strengths and valuable assets on which it is building an enduring customer focused business.

Mr. Akinyemi was optimistic that the new team could restructure the company to enable these strengths, once again to become what it is known and valued for.

Mr. Akinyemi started his professional career in 1987 with International Computers Limited (ICL) as Systems Adviser.

He commenced his banking career in 1989 as Head Systems Unit at the former Lead Merchant Bank moving on to Diamond Bank in 1991 to Head different units such as Systems Unit, Commercial & Consumer Banking Unit as well as Retail Banking unit.

He later moved to United Bank for Africa (UBA) as Head Retail Banking under the Consumer Banking Division and thereafter to Head Card Business, Cash Management and e-Solutions Group at Citibank Nigeria.

He returned to Diamond Bank in 2002 overseeing Operations and Technology Divisions prior to being appointed to the board of the bank in 2006.

He earned a B.Sc. degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos and an Executive MBA from International Graduate School of Management, IESE, University of Navarra, Madrid, Spain.

He is an Alumnus of Lagos Business School and Harvard Business School, a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK (MCIM) and an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Nigeria (HCIB).

He is also a member of the National Payment Systems Strategy Committee (NPSSC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

On the other hand, Mr. Bajomo, the newly appointed Managing Director/CEO of ATM-C, would leverage his wealth of experience in the electronic payments industry based on the pioneering role he played at the inception of ATM-C.

With over 19-year experience spanning technology and financial service industry working with leading institutions including two of the largest banks in Africa, Mr. Bajomo is expected to provide leadership and execute strategies for the development of e-business, e-banking and e-payment.

As Deputy General Manager with Ecobank Group, he was responsible for Transaction Banking Service Delivery across 28 African countries, and also serving as Head, Transaction Banking in Ecobank Nigeria.

Prior to this, he was an Assistant General Manager and Divisional Head, Electronic Banking with UBA Group, while he served as director on the board of payment services and e-business organizations such as ValuCard Nigeria, InterSwitch, National eGovernment Strategies Limited (NeGSt) and ATM-C earlier as a non-executive Director representing UBA Group.


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Ofulue, Ekuwem for eWorld broadband forum

Former Director of Training and Research at the Nigerian Telecommunications Plc, (NITEL), Prof. Joe Ofulue and President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, as well as the President of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) Mr. Lanre Ajayi have been lined up to present papers at the 2010 eWorld broadband forum.

The two-day event scheduled to hold in Lagos, between March 3 and 4, 2010, the organizers said, is an important forum to the overall plans to achieve the broadband objectives of the country.

They also said that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry is bracing for the broadband forum being organized by eWorld Magazine, according to the Managing Editor, Mr. Aaron Ukodie.

For this reason, he said, industry stakeholders see the forum as crucial for the successful broadband implementation.

Mr. Ukodie, in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online, noted that careful planning was required to ensure that everyone is carried along in achieving the objectives of the forum, stressing that the March 2010 date was appropriate.

He quoted the President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, as saying that it would enable careful planning and involvement of all stakeholders.

According to Ekuwem, ATCON’s secretariat is set to mobilize all the over 200 member companies to support the forum.

The ATCON President was particularly thrilled by the range of issues and topics that eWorld has lined up for discussion, describing them as appropriate and focused.

President, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) Mr. Lanre Ajayi while giving his group’s support to the eWorld Forum and has agreed to present a paper at the two-day event.

Equally lined up to present a paper at the eWorld Forum is Professor Joe Ofulue, former NITEL Director of Training and Research.

The eWorld two-day forum will also present opportunity for companies to exhibit products and services that are related to broadband.

Discussions are on with others among them notable international speakers to present a global perspective to the forum and help provide content to the Nigerian bid to develop its broadband services.

Stakeholders are naturally upbeat that 2010 will usher in the broadband revolution, but as it is commonly known wishes alone do not do the job. The Forum is being packaged by eWorld magazine, with support from industry stakeholders.

There are grey areas that must be looked at; a pathway that leads to fruitful deployment, especially on the national and users end must be well articulated.

He noted though the expected berthing of a number of undersea cables in the New Year signals a good prospect for broadband hope, the last mile end must be put in perspective.

“Already, Glo-1 is has anchored on Nigeria’s shore awaiting activation. WACS and MainOne are making speedy sail towards Nigeria. SAT-3, the old horse awaits its competitors,” part of the press statement read.

As said by Ukodie, plotting the pathway early enough in the year ensures that stakeholders do not grope in the various tasks in achieving the expectations of Nigerians.

“A headache-free e-buisness and all the expected e-transactions are premised on the coming developments, Ukodie noted.

Nigeria ’s broadband hope is in line with the focus of several developed countries, such as the United States , which is exploring the broadband route for economic revival.

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ITU to introduce life mimicking 3D system

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is set to stun Television viewers with high sophisticated broadcasting system with stereoscopic 3D, that mimics real life visual experience.

In a press statement by the Study Group 6 of Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) in a new report outlined a roadmap for future third dimension television (3D TV) implementation, which envisages that the systems will be so smart they could accurately mimic the way human eyes and brains perceive the visual world.

The new roadmap would see 3D TV technology rolled out in three successive generations, which is technically known as profiles.

The first generation — ‘plano-stereoscopic television’ — calls for two views to be delivered to viewers’ TV sets. Wearing special glasses similar to those used to watch 3D cinema, viewers will be able to see depth in the picture, although the view will remain the same when they move their heads in real life, and view changes when they move their heads.

The second generation will provide for multiple views, with head movement changing the view, for a viewing experience that more closely mimics real life.

The third generation will feature systems that record the amplitude, frequency, and phase of light waves, to reproduce almost completely human beings’ natural viewing environment. These kinds of highly advanced systems are technically some 15-20 years away.

Commenting, the Director of ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau, Mr. Valery Timofeev said the new ITU report establishes a clear framework for the development of new types of systems that will totally change the way we experience broadcast and multimedia content.

“It maps out an exciting vision that won’t just change the look of entertainment, but open up a whole range of exciting new possibilities in sectors from education and healthcare to traffic management,” he said.

New 3D TV technologies being developed under the auspices of ITU will also have major implications for the film and television production sector, as content will need to be filmed using special new equipment in order for viewers to enjoy the full 3D experience.

Christoph Dosch, Chairman of ITU-R Study Group 6 said: “This is an important step forward on the road to globally-agreed ITU Recommendations on 3D TV. I’m optimistic that we’ll make further advances at our next meeting in April 2010.”


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Free blackberry subscription reflects commitment - Etisalat

The Marketing Officer, Etisalat, Mr. Wael Ammar has said that the company’s ongoing Blackberry service free promo is a reflection of Etisalat’s continuous drive to provide necessary tools and services for its customers to gain the competitive advantage in their business and family relationship, reports CHARLES OKOH.

“It will also help our customers in expanding the value derivable from mobile telephony far beyond internet and data transmission but also enhanced connectivity,” he said

Ammar disclosed this just as subscribers who have benefited in the ongoing special promotion package that offers two months free subscription at the purchase of any of the blackberry devices; Bold 9000, Storm 9500 and Curve 8900 on the unique BlackBerry
Internet Service plan, are full of praises to the telco for the promo.

The promo which is open to new and existing customers on both prepaid and postpaid will run till January 20, 2010.

A press statement to ITRealms Online quoted Idris Muhammed who bought his package from Etisalat’s Experience Centre at SilverBird Galleria, as saying it was an opportunity that could not be allowed to slip by.

“I have always wanted to buy a Blackberry but was not really sure from which of the networks to go for, but the promo is a kind of encouragement coupled with a friend’s experience on the package. It has been an experience worth the money and I will simply encourage anyone to go get it because it works for me,” Muhammed said.

For Chiahmen Philomena, a student of University of Abuja, the promo provided the opportunity she has been waiting for to join the leagues of big girls in her school; and she would encourage her friends to also subscribe to the package because it is really worth the money spent.

“Look, the promo just came at the right time when my father wanted to give me a Christmas gift. The experience has been wonderful and I cannot wait to get my friends to join the big girls’ league. Etisalat Blackberry service is quite functional and cool,” she said.

According to John Uwana a businessman who subscribed to the Blackberry internet service plan at Etisalat’s Temp shop in Enugu, continuous subscription to the package after the promo is non-negotiable as it will be ridiculous for anyone to get the package only for promo and discard afterwards.

“Fine the promo gives one some kind of easy entrance, but I will sure continue to subscribe and enjoy the service because it is very fast. The promo actually hastened my subscription because I have been dilly-dallying before now,” Uwana said.

Another consumer, Folayemi Cardoso said she found the free subscription attractive.

“The internet service is quite efficient; it is different from the one I was using before. I will continue to subscribe after the promo because I need the service to keep ahead in my business.” Said Cardoso, an aviation executive who bought her package at Etisalat shop at Mega Plaza .

Etisalat Nigeria in October 2009 partnered with Research In Motion (RIM) to launch the BlackBerry solution which offered the latest in Blackberry smartphones, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and BlackBerry Bold.

Both are exceptional smart phones with built-in Wi-Fi support and advanced multimedia capabilities.

The BlackBerry solution brings together industry-leading smart phones, software and services to provide powerful and easy-to-use email, phone, calendar, web and multimedia applications, as well as access to thousands of other mobile business and lifestyle applications.

The company recently introduced the pre-paid variants of its Elite World package in response to the yearnings of its numerous customers who desire the benefits of the elite package without the commitment of a post paid contract.

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MTN Y’ello Bounty promo ends in style

FOR subscribers of telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria, it was a bountiful yuletide, as the company gave out several prizes and gift items to customers in its Y’ello Bounty Promo prize presentation held simultaneously in various major cities across the nation, reports CHARLES OKOH.

The promo which ended January 8, 2010 saw both old and new subscribers of the telecom network troop out in their numbers to be part of the presentation which held in the six geo-political zones in the country.

Various winners were rewarded with prizes which included Suzuki Motorcycles, 2.50 KVA Generators, HP Laptops and Samsung phones, while other raffle draw participants at the venue were presented with instant gifts such as bags of rice, gallons of groundnut oils, and other attractive items such as Xmas goats and chicken.

A press statement to ITRealms Online quoted the Regional Marketing Manager, South-South region, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Kester Osahenye as saying that the company is committed to enriching the lives of its subscribers in various ways and Y’ello Bounty promo is one of those ways which the brand has chosen to share the joy of the season with its customers.

The highpoint of the event included the presentation of Suzuki Motorcycle to the winners, Mrs. Agboola Alade, Idowu Patrick and Chineye Anyanwu. Four other winners, Adigwe James, Lawrence Udeagha, Kingsley Uwaoma and Rogers Obudianga, were also presented with a 2.50KVA generator each, the statement said.

Unable to hold back his joy after receiving a Suzuki Motorcycle, one of the winners in Port Harcourt, River State, Mr. Idowu Patrick, expressed delight and gratitude to MTN for the initiative, which according to him, shows how much they care for their customers?

“I am very thankful to MTN for this special gift. I feel very excited because this motorcycle will help improve my life and that of my family. I can see many other people here too, winning different prizes and everybody is happy. Obviously this is one of the best Christmas celebrations we have ever experienced.”

Other prize winners from the instant raffle draw also made away with attractive prizes as the specially packaged event also engaged the crowd in various other exciting competitions which involved singing, dancing, comedy and blind search game, as well as various amusing activities for children.

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Samsung Corby phones hit market

Samsung Nigeria, one of the leading mobile phone manufacturers has announced the launch of the Corby family of mobile handsets including, B3210 Corby Txt, B5310 Corby Pro and S3653 Corby, reports CHARLES OKOH.

In a press statement to ITRealms Online, Samsung said the Corby series were designed to support highly connected lifestyles of today’s younger mobile users.

Corby Txt, on the other hand, is a phone with a sensuous design that is a perfect medium for messaging.

According to Head, Mobile, Samsung, Mr. Peter Lee B5310 Corby Pro combines business productivity and efficiency with style and pizzazz while S3653 Corby is a curvy, stylish, full touch screen communicator for the discerning user.

He also said the Corbys easily fit in the palm of the hand and they are a standout in the crowd with their fun changeable fashion jackets.

“Corby incorporates Samsung easy to use Touchwiz user interface and haptic feedback system which gives users the ability to customize their Corby with widgets and applications,” he said.

Mr. Lee said Corby has one-finger zoom which allows users to zoom in and out with one finger. Samsung, said touch technology is so intelligent that with C-type touch, one doesn’t need a stylus to use the phone. Just slide a finger across the screen. It has smart unlock which allows the user to unlock the phone by drawing a letter on the screen.

It comes in a selection of coloured fashion jackets which are interchangeable and allows users to change the style of the handset to suit their lifestyle or fashion.

Corby Pro is a hybrid slider with a slide out QWERTY keypad and a variety of entertainment and multimedia capabilities like push email, exchange activesync and conversational SMS.

“It has a 3MP camera, Wi-Fi, 3G/HSDPA and quad band connectivity. It comes equipped with a 3.5MM ear jack and dedicated music keys. It offers the ultimate in multimedia and music entertainment,” Lee said.

Corby Txt is a message-centric mobile delivering easy-to-use SMS and IM, as well as simple social media uploading functionality. Quick launch buttons offer fast access keys to key features and messaging application.
Widget that allows one click access to social networking sites like facebook, Myspace, Picassa, flickr. Users can update their status, access updates and live feeds.
Fast internet connection for speedy file transfers and access to other devices AM FM stereo, video recorder and MP3 player.

All three Corbys, Mr. Lee said, have cameras with smile shot, thus ensuring that the people in the photos are always center stage whereas video recording is also available.

Furthermore, he said it has an MP3 player stereo FM radio for round-the-clock music, news and information. Users have one click access to Social Networking Sites like facebook, Myspace and Picassa.

Lee pointed out that more people today access the internet through their phones than via personal computers (PCs).

Corby, Corby Txt and Corby Pro give the user access to internet and multimedia services at the push of the button. It allows access to Instant Messages like Yahoo! messenger or MSN messenger. It is a dynamic business tool and one’s best buddy at the same time,” he said.

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Stakeholders commend Beacon of ICT awards 2010

Stakeholders in the Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) sector have commended the debut of the Beacon of ICT awards.

They also said that the merit-centric awards are coming at the right time to reward best practices and recognize outstanding contributions in the sector.

The showers of unprecedented praises are coming as votes for the nominees continued to flood to the selection committee.

While casting his vote, Adeyinka Adewusi, wrote “I want to appreciate the efforts of the organizers for throwing the awards open for Nigerians to vote. I think this is the first time the general public especially the stakeholders in ICT sector (end users) will be given the opportunity to pick the outstanding telecom companies in the year 2009”

Elsewhere, Premo’ Ojokojo, head, Corporate Services, Phase3 Telecom Limited also commended the efforts of the organizers to showcase the ICT industry with the awards.

Ikem Joe, also wrote to say “big thanks to the Communication Week Media Limited ICT, you are doing a good work keep it up and may the almighty God give you the grace in this work of Communication”

Reacting to this development, Ken Nwogbo, editor of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek said that the newspaper is happy with the responses so far.

Beacon of ICT awards, he said, were instituted by Communication Week Media Limited, publishers of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, to reward organizations and individuals who contribute the most to put Nigeria and Nigerians in the global ICT map in 2009.

The awards, he said, are free and have been designed primarily to recognize government and business organizations as well as individuals for their creativity and excellence in the application of ICTs and solutions to provide efficient and high-quality services to Nigerians.

According to him, the awardees will be chosen by Nigerians who recognize and appreciate the guiding lights of the organizations and individuals as well as the symbols of hope they raise.

Voting lines for the various categories, he noted, opened since November 2, 2009 and will close 6 pm, Monday, March 15, 2010.

Nwogbo further said these awards will encourage organizations and individuals to continue to strive for excellence in all of their business and customer transactions, by implementation of innovative and improved ICT based services.

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Zain concludes Naira Rain promo with N10m draw

Zain Nigeria has concluded its Naira Rain promo with the draw held for the grand prize of N10 million in Lagos.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Commercial Officer, Shamel Hanafi represented by the Director, Marketing Strategy and Decision Support, Zain Nigeria, Mr. Godfrey Efeurhobo, said that the final draw marked yet another important day for all Zain family in the country.

He noted that the promo which was launched on November 23, 2009 provided a rare opportunity for several of its Nigerian subscribers to become millionaires.

“So far, the offer has produced over 300 winners in the one million naira category while six winners emerged in the five million naira category,” he said.

Pointing out that the grand finale draw ushered in one lucky customer into the exclusive club of big time millionaires.

He also said that the promo was designed for a singular purpose of delighting and rewarding Nigerians for their loyalty as well as empowering customers to fulfill their dreams.

“Indeed, this beautiful idea is in line with our company’s brand philosophy of a ‘wonderful world,’” he declared, reiterating that Zain is sincerely committed to extend its brand promise for a wonderful world to all its customers.

Further, he commended their partners in ensuring transparency of the project including Alexander Forbes and TCQ & A, whom he said, acted as the external auditors for painstakingly auditing the system and process of the promotion and draws.

Equally speaking, the Marketing Director, Zain Nigeria, Mr. Mostafa Younes, pointed out that in the past weeks, Zain offered subscribers on the network various categories of prizes in the Naira Rain promo, including N1m daily and N5m per week, during the period of the promo.

He described the final grand prize as special, because it saw the emergence of the mega prize winner of N10m, stressing that Zain has gone the extra mile of ensuring that these millionaires receive their cash prizes.

“My colleagues in the regions have worked hard to ensure that every winner that emerges from this promo gets his or her cash prizes. And we do not have to look far for evidence of this as we get to see the prize presentations in the media almost on a daily basis,” he asserted.

Younes explained that the promo was for existing and new customers of Zain had same opportunity to participate and win big in the campaign.

“Customers only needed to use as low as N50 airtime to participate in the draw for the particular day, through the duration of the promotion,” he said.

He emphasized that winners were selected randomly via a raffle draw and the process of the offer is made very simple to make it easy for Nigerians regardless of their education, financial and social profile to participate in the promo and become winners.

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Visafone opens ultra-modern shop @ Festac

Acclaimed leader in the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) market, Visafone Communications Limited, has opened an ultra modern shop at Festac Town in Lagos.

Disclosing this, the Media Relations Officer, Visafone, Mr. Justice Ilevbare, said that the residents of Festac Town and its environs are now experiencing unique customer care and service delivery as Visafone opened the ultra modern shop in the neighborhood, thereby bringing its quality products closer to the community.

He also informed in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online that the shop is equipped with facilities that will take care of the needs of both new and existing subscribers in the area and is designed to provide such services like data connection, voice connection, sale of handsets, modems among other telecoms devices under Visafone brand.

He quoted the Director, Sales (South) at Visafone, Mr. Sam Edoho as saying that with the highly trained and efficient customer care personnel to man the shop, Visafone has brought first class communication experience to the residents of Festac Town.

“We are also offering top of the range customer service, in a friendly and cozy environment,” he declared.

In addition, Mr. Edoho said the opening of the Festac shop was in line with Visafone’s commitment to widen the reach of its services that are nearer to the populace.

“The opening of the new shop further expresses the company’s determination to bring fast and easy communication to every Nigerian no matter where they live,” he said, stressing that this is another move to ease the joy of communication with family, friends and loved ones.

Edoho equally said this was part of the telco’s drive to empower Nigerians with various communication tools, as they don’t have to commute or walk long distances to be able to enjoy products and services on their network.

“With this development, Nigerians in the historic town can now subscribe more easily to the various exciting products and services which the telecoms provider offers as it is now within reach,” he said.

ITRealms Online recalls that Visafone recently recorded a historic feat of becoming the first network in Africa to be Open Market Handsets (OMH) compliant.

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ATCON, NIG back Broadband summit 2010

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) have given support to the forthcoming Broadband Stakeholders Summit, due to hold next month in Lagos.

In a press statement made available to ITRealms Online, weekend in Lagos, the chief executive, e-Business Life Communication Limited, Mrs. Ufuoma ‘Daro, the organizers, said the theme would focus on “Broadband Revolution: Harnessing Broadband for National Development,” and has been scheduled to hold on Tuesday, February 09, 2010.

She quoted the National President of ATCON, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, as stating in a letter to the organizers of the summit, that ATCON was delighted to endorse the summit as the topic is apt and will “give us an avenue to deliberate and prepare to systematically and gainfully channel and effectively utilize the expected broadband capacity by the middle of the year 2010 as well as Nigeria’s digital harvest in Year 2015.”

The letter entitled “Endorsement of One-day Stakeholders’ Summit on Broadband Fibre Optics,” Ekuwem noted that the telecoms outlook for the Year 2010 clearly indicates the availability of capacity in large quantum during the second half of the year.

“The question then is: what do we do with the expected bandwidth? How do we utilize these broadband to automate processes of national economic, social and political lives of our compatriot?”

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the association, he said, has decided to collaborate with e-BusinessLife Communication Limited as the summit will enable us answer some of these questions.

In the same vein, the Nigeria Internet Group in its own letter signed by its National President, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, said the future outlook of broadband infrastructure deployment in Nigeria looks good with the level of investment by operators, just as he stressed that if the right environment is created the nation will benefit a great deal from these developments.

“It is our opinion that the stakeholders’ summit proposed by e-Business Life Magazine will help us collectively look at ways of tapping into the great opportunities that the expected massive rollout of broadband in 2010 will achieve and also look at ways to overcome possible challenges,” he said.

In her comment, “Broadband Revolution: Harnessing Broadband for National Development,” Mrs. ‘Daro noted that while it is no longer news that Nigerian telecommunications sector is adjudged to be the fastest growing in Africa; this is only in the area of voice as it is not yet Uhuru in the area of data.

She recalled the report of AfricaNext Investment Research, which had earlier disclosed that Africa’s broadband market will grow more than fourfold in five years from 2.7 million in 2007 to 12.7 million.


This prediction, she pointed out is already reflected in recent developments in the country, which are expected to bring about a revolution in broadband during the course of the year 2010.

“Some of these developments according to her, includes the advent of Glo 1, which is expected to cater for long term bandwidth requirements for voice and data transmission in the West Africa sub region; Main One Cable, which is expected to berth in June 2010.”

Other efforts, she said, included the State Accelerated Broadband Initiative (SABI) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Wire Nigeria Project (WIN) as well as the already existing though not stable SAT-3, which is expected to become more efficient and effective once it gets a better manager. It is expected that these developments will boost the Nigerian broadband space remarkably in the year 2010.

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ICANN seeks volunteer reviewers on 4 key areas

Internet coordinating agency, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), has called for volunteer reviewer of its four key objectives.

Announcing this, weekend, ICANN said the reviewers would focus on the four key areas, namely, ensuring accountability, transparency and the interests of global Internet users; reserving security, stability and resiliency of the Domain Name System (DNS); promoting competition, consumer trust and consumer choice; and Whois policy.

ICANN also said that the reviews will be performed by review teams composed of volunteer community members representing the relevant supporting organizations and advisory committees.

A paper introducing draft proposals, ICANN noted, has been dedicated to the organization of the review processes, while it’s available for public comment until the end of January.

In parallel with this process, ICANN informed that it now invited interested individuals to express interest in serving as a volunteer review team member.

This is a permanent call for applications; however, candidatures for the first review ‘Accountability and Transparency’ will be accepted until February 17, 2010.

However, the executive summary of the draft proposal on affirmation reviews: requirements and implementation processes, stipulated that contains specific provisions for periodic review of four key ICANN objectives be made as aforementioned.

It presented a draft framework to address Affirmation review requirements, stressing that the purpose of the paper includes both to provide a vehicle for community comment on all aspects of the review process, and to serve as guidance for the review teams.

“This proposed methodology is based on a lightweight but rigorous and meaningful approach, integrating standard review cum participatory evaluation practices in order to achieve sound, implementable outcomes,” ICANN stated.

The concept behind the Affirmation reviews, ICANN noted, provide a mechanism to assess and report on ICANN’s progress toward fundamental organizational objectives.

“The reviews themselves should follow this principle of simplicity. The Affirmation document outlines many of the parameters of the reviews, establishing in advance the basis for each review’s terms of reference,” part of the executive summary read.

Further, the Affirmation document defines who selects the review teams, and defines the type of review team participants, just as it finally, outlined time frames for each review that dictate a streamlined approach to performing the reviews.



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