37th meeting: Nairobi insecurity worries ICANN

Worried by increasing reports of insecurity in Kenya, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), last weekend, met in an emergency session to deliberate on the implications of the situation to its forthcoming 37th public meeting slated for March.

The leadership of ICANN’s emergency meeting, was attended mainly by board directors alongside interested internet community members from Kenya, and across the globe, who were hosted to a special meeting via teleconferencing by the chairman, ICANN board, Mr. Peter Dengate Thrush.

Although at the end of the session, ICANN President, Mr. Rod Beckstrom reiterated commitment of ICANN to host the meeting in Kenya, in spite of the events in downtown Nairobi on January 15, this year.

He stated in ICANN’s blog that employees and board directors jointly re-assessed the security situation, exploring the possibility of moving the event out of the downtown Nairobi area to a suburb, but determined that no suitable venue was available.

“We have listened to the community. Many are looking forward to Nairobi, some expressed concerns, particularly in the light of the events in downtown Nairobi on January 15. Accordingly, ICANN staff and board have reexamined the security situation,” he said.

Beckstrom also said that ICANN reached out to the Kenyan government as well as other nations with operations in Kenya for their risk assessments of the situation.

“The consistent feedback was that the overall risk assessment of Nairobi had not changed,” he said.

He said, on the ICANN chief executive officer (CEO’s) recommendation, the board has approved moving ahead with the ICANN Nairobi meeting.

At the same time, he said, ICANN recognizes that many developing country cities have higher ambient levels of street crime and much of the world including the United States (U.S.) and Europe are presently confronted by international terrorist threats and attacks.

“Both are simply facts of life. Also, as with all ICANN events, we will continue to monitor the security situation in case there are any material future changes. For any ICANN community members who do not travel to the event, remote participation will be available for many of the meetings,” he assured in a blog post dated January 22, 2010.

He disclosed that given ICANN’s commitment to “One world. One Internet, Everyone connected” they have engaged and will continue to engage with the whole world as far as this matter is concerned among others.

“We greatly appreciate the assistance of Kenya, the host country, and their commitment to address ICANN security concerns. In addition, the ICANN board has approved further security investments by the CEO as necessary for the event, and the CEO will become personally involved in reviewing the security plans,” he said, stressing that having travelled to Kenya for over six times in the past, he looks forward to participating in this ICANN session.

Additionally, Beckstrom noted that having been to Kenya six times, he looks forward to participating in this important ICANN International meeting.

Participants at the special meeting apart from the chairman and president of ICANN included directors, namely Dennis Jennings (Vice Chairman), Harald Tveit Alvestrand, Raimundo Beca, Steve Crocker, Gonzalo Navarro, Rita Rodin Johnston, Raymond A. Plzak, Rajasekhar Ramaraj, George Sadowsky, Mike Silber, Bruce Tonkin, and Katim Touray amidst some board liaison organisations.

ITRealms Online recalled that on January 15, 2010, Somalis residing in a Nairobi suburb of Eastleigh reportedly staged violent protest in the capital against the deportation of a jailed Muslim cleric throwing up the fear that it may stoke religious unrest.

Reuters report that while the protest was organised by Kenyan Muslims, many of the protesters who engaged security forces in the heart of Nairobi for over eight hours were discovered to be Somalis.

The report further indicated that some protesters carried flags identified with Somalia’s hardline Islamist rebel group al Shabaab and there were reports of mobs attacking Somalis in retribution for the mayhem.

“We warned of a situation like this. It seems Kenyan security forces are simply categorising the whole community as a terrorist group,” said cleric Sheikh Hassan Qoryoleey, stressing that was not the case.

“The majority of Somalis are peace-loving people,” he said.

The Kenyan government quickly put the blame for the violence that killed at least one person on extremist youths exposed to “foreign elements” and assured Muslims in Kenya their religious freedom and civil liberties would be respected.

Equally, it reported that parents in Eastleigh have been worried for some time that religious schools funded by Somali rebel groups have been recruiting and luring youths to Somalia.

“The (Kenyan) government has played down frequent warnings from ordinary people,” said moderate cleric Qoryoleey.

“They are repeating the mistakes of Somalia, where we played down the consequences of extreme ideology.”Madrassa (Islamic) schools and a radical 24-hour cable channel in Kenya have become new breeding and indoctrination grounds for rebel groups based in Somalia, residents were quoted as saying.

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ICT: Shaky start, glorious ending (2)

Enhances Voice SMS & Mobile Lite:
Also, during the year under review, the Second National Operator (SNO) Globacom, enhanced its Voice Short Messaging Service (Voice-SMS) with additional five new features, namely ‘Save, Replay, Forward, Group Messaging and Reply,’ while the validity for each Voice-SMS allows for messages to be held until after 10 days within which the recipient could still listen to them.

MTN Nigeria on the other hand launched its Mobile Lite in the six geo-political zones of the country. Mobile Lite is a mobile assistance centres, which the operator said is to take customer care to another level. Just as MTN currently has about 2000 Connect Stores, and had plans to raise the figure to 6000 by next year.

Fraudulent promos, sites worry operators:
Operators of telecommunications across the networks in the country in 2009 expressed worries over the sudden large amount of fraudulent websites and promotions as well as the use of their trademarks for fraudulent purposes by scrupulous people.

Leading Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), MTN Nigeria Communications Limited and the Second National Operator (SNO), Globacom raised alarm over the usage of their concluded promos or even the on-going ones to engage subscribers fraudulently.

Alerting telecom users on its network on the fake promo website, Globacom officials on the activities of fraudsters who are exploring both concluded Glo Win n Rule promo to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

Then Executive Director, Legal Services at Globacom, Mrs. Gladys Talabi had said the unscrupulous persons have designed a fake website, www.glowinners.com to defraud un-suspecting innocent Nigerians.

“What they do is to send SMS to innocent subscribers informing them that they have won huge sums of money in the ongoing Glo Win & Rule promo. They then ask the subscriber to call a number or go to the promo website to provide detailed information required to claim their prizes,” Mrs. Talabi said.

According to her, such information may then form the pool of resources which the swindlers could use to exploit the innocent subscribers, explaining that on the fake website, the scammers wrote: ‘’If you have received a message from our SMS Gateway as one of the promo winners, you are requested to verify your code here.”

Hence, officials of the telecom company disassociated Globacom from the website, promising that it would work with relevant government agencies to combat the menace of cyber crime.

“Apart from this, when subscribers are called to inform them of their winning, they are directed to go to Globacom office nearest to them, where they meet Glo staff openly to verify their ownership of the line and to confirm their identity only. Besides this, no other personal information is requested,” Mrs. Talabi stressed.

MTN warns ...
In a related development, MTN Nigeria said it does not use Short Messaging Services (SMS) to call up winners, insisting that subscribers who won in any of its promos are called like Globacom, to inform of their win and directed to approach any of its Friendship Centres nationwide, which are painted in the company’s colours.

The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), MTN Nigeria, Mr. Bola Akingbade, accompanied by the Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Wale Goodluck, at a recent media parley, warned Nigerian subscribers on the network to be wary of fraudulent promotions being perpetuated by a few Nigerians, insisting that MTN does not have any promo tagged ‘Yello Hunt’ for now.

Akingbade also said MTN concluded its successful Treasure Hunt last February and subscribers needed to be warned because the operator has never used SMS to notify any winner in its promo, but maintained that any campaign by MTN is carried out to compensate loyal customers and prizes presented publicly.

He insisted that MTN has no reason whatsoever to demand sending of recharge cards for winners to redeem their prizes. “Nigerians must be wary of what scammers are doing. MTN runs promos to reward customers and when people win, we call them and not via text messages,” he asserted, stressing that the subscribers must ignore any such SMS even if the scammers use his name or the names of any of MTN’s management staff as the sender.

Malaysia hosts IMPACT:
At the international level, the global headquarters of the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats (IMPACT) was inaugurated in Cyberjaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to house the Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA) currently presided over by Mr. Mohd Noor Amin.

GCA is an international framework for cooperation aimed at finding strategic solutions to boost confidence and security in an increasingly networked information society, spearheaded by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The IMPACT headquarters was inaugurated by Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi, who is also chairman of IMPACT’s International Advisory Board, and ITU Secretary-General, Dr Hamadoun Touré.

IMPACT is the world’s first global public-private initiative against cyber-threats. This collaboration between ITU and IMPACT provides ITU’s 191 members states with the expertise, facilities, real-time information, and rapid access to resources to effectively address the world’s most serious cyber-threats. It will also provide training and skills development on the technical, legal and policy aspects of cybersecurity.

Global issue deserves global approach:
For the ITU chief scribe, Dr. Hamadoun Touré, cybersecurity is one of the most critical issues of this century, thus it is a global issue, demanding a truly global approach.

“And it is therefore gratifying to see - and to be part of - this growing coalition against cyber-threats worldwide. The collaboration with IMPACT complements our efforts in strengthening cybersecurity and we look forward to expanding the cooperation between governments, the private sector and educational institutions,” he said.

Chief, Media Relations and Public Information, ITU, Mr. Sanjay Acharya, informed that while the GCA will be housed at the IMPACT Centre, ITU will have a ‘virtual showcase’ in Geneva of the early warning system, crisis management and real-time analysis of global cyber threats.

“IMPACT initiatives, such as the Global Response Centre as well as training and skills development, security assurance, research, and international cooperation will be conducted under the auspices of the GCA,” he said.

On top of this, ITU said its Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) will facilitate the deployment of IMPACT services, such as the Global Response Centre (GRC), which aims at providing state-of-the-art cybersecurity capabilities for ITU member states to strengthen network security worldwide.

The first phase of physical deployment he said was launched in some 20 countries with further deployment in 50 countries expected this year.

Mr. Amin had noted that they were proud to announce that IMPACT’s operations have progressed positively since the inception of the board. “From 27 member countries during our launch in May 2008, the collaboration with ITU now allows the 191 ITU member states access to IMPACT’s facilities and enhanced international cooperation,” he said.

ADIPENG’09
For the first time ever, the hardware interest group in the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN) in collaboration with the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA), held an international conference at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja in April 2009.

ITAN President, Dr Jimson Olufuye, while disclosing this said a delegation from WITSA led by its chairman, Mr. Dato’ Dan E. Khoo lead a team at the three-day meeting holding at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja between April 21-23, with theme: Advancing the Dynamics of ICT Policy Engineering for e-Government (ADIPENG-09).

He also said that the essence was to promote Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Nigeria as part of nation’s benefit of its membership, inaugurate the WITSA/ITAN/NCS Government Advisory Group.

Accompanied then by the Regional Director, D-Link, Mr. Chris Uwaje, Mr. Olufuye noted that a handful of state governments, business entities and the Federal Government have IT policies, and there is no doubt that these policies needed to be taken to the next level for better government service delivery on the e-platform for the people and for effective governance across the government and organisations.

According to him, it was an opportunity for states, local government and entities without an ICT policy to adapt better practices for a leapfrog experience, stressing that the international meeting would focus on ICT policy decision makers across all levels of government in the country.

Omatek-GICT brands 1000 teachers:
This came as the Ogun State government-owned Gateway ICT Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Omatek Ventures Distribution Limited, a subsidiary of Omatek Ventures Plc as part of the state government’s strategies to boost the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in its domain.

Head, ICT and Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Gbenga Daniel, Mr. Soji Akin-Bankole, said at the ceremony that the MOU marks a turning point in ICT development in Ogun State, pointing out that Omatek, has already entrenched itself in Ogun State and is recognized already by virtue of its wide distribution system to engender easy and convenient computer acquisition by all and sundry in the state.

Omatek, he said, would bring into the deal its competence in quality production cum after sales services, while GICT would act as the exclusive distributor of the co-branded Omatek-GICT laptops, desktops as well as other Omatek products in Ogun State, to over 1,000 teachers in the state.

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Internet access: Galaxy lifts 110 schools in Anambra

Public sector-based Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure provider, Galaxy Backbone Plc, has entered a deal with the Anambra State Government for the provision of internet connectivity with video conferencing capabilities to 110 secondary schools in the state.

This is coming as the video conference facilities were launched in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Monday.

The deal which was concluded in Abuja last week saw the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi endorsing the contract papers alongside the Managing
Director, Galaxy Backbone Plc, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Obi noted that the initiative is in line with his drive to develop human capital and turn the state into a 21st century knowledge society through the provision of network connectivity that would be accessible to students and teachers at a fast speed in the Anambra State secondary education system.

Obi also said, his administration has demonstrated the commitment to lift the standard of education in the state.

“You may be familiar with our chequerred recent past in this state, but we are making sure that we will bring the state back to its lost glory, restore hope and move education forward to achieve the desired change in this state,” he said.

Gov. Obi disclosed that his government has commenced the building of 4,000 classrooms across the state, which he described as the largest anywhere in the country.

He pointed out that not long ago, his administration provided 108 schools with generating sets, and now the internet connectivity to 110 secondary schools in the first phase.

“We are moving also to the Microsoft Academy which we intend to establish in the state”, Obi revealed.

Earlier in his address, Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone Plc, Mr. Ilukwe exhibited confidence that the deal is a demonstration of the governor’s promise and commitment to raise the standard of education in the state.

He reaffirmed Anambra people that Galaxy Backbone would be partners to the current administration to ensure progress in the education sector in the state.

Equally in his remark, the Corporate Executive in-charge of States, Education & Development department of the Galaxy, Mr. Yusuf Kazaure commended Gov. Obi for his efforts at upgrading the standard of education in his domain, stressing that it is a revolution in the annals of the nation’s education sector.

The ICT initiative, he said, would foster collaborative relationships between teachers and students in the development, mostly in sharing of content applications and other resources as well as stimulating capacity building among educational institutions in the state.

“We are committed to the Gov. Obi’s vision for the  state and when we are able to succeed at this level, the state will be better for it because the governor’s mission is to turn the state into a 21st century knowledge society,” Kazaure asserted.

He explained that the network connectivity initiative would enhance the development of human capital in the state, maintaining that human capital development is the hope of the world, and that the initiative of the governor would ensure growth in the state in the future.

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Aladesawe, Ndukaife top in computer engineering @ UNILAG

The duo of Messrs Aladesawe, Adeyemi Omololu and Ndukaife, Justus Chukwunonso were on top of their game last weekend when they were pronounced the best graduating students in Computer Engineering from the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Faculty of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The duo clinched first class honours.

This is out of the 87 students that graduated and passed out in First Class division out of the 6,134 that graduated between 2007 and year 2009.

Speaking during the convocation, one of the leading lights at the faculty, Master Ndukaife, said he was grateful to God almighty for making it possible.

He also gave kudos to the school authorities in UNILAG in addition to his parents for supporting him all through the time of burning the midnight candles which result was the first class he made.

The duo of Aladesawe and Ndukaife led 40 others in their session to emerge, including nine in second class upper, 17 in second class lower, 13 in third class and one emerging pass in the 2009 set.

ITRealms Online recalled that in the 2007 and 2008 class in the faculty, there was no first class, while four recorded second class upper credit, two in the second class lower, whereas six were successful in the third class.

These awards were in tandem with the University of Lagos Act of 1967, which empowered the university to grant degrees, diplomas, certificates and other distinctions as well as to award medals, prizes and other titles. It also provided that the chancellor shall preside at all meetings of the congregation held for conferring degrees.

According to the Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Tolu Odugbemi at the occasion tagged “A Dream Come True – Not A Nightmare” there were 3,525 graduating students for the 2009 convocation.

He explained that in the faculty of Arts for instance, there were 316, Education 470, Environmental Sciences 226, Science 329, Social Science 444 and Distance Learning Institute (DLI) recording 1,740.

The occasion, he said, was unique because the university conferred honourary doctorate degrees on eminent Africans, scholars, researchers and seasoned diplomats within and outside the country.

He named some of the beneficiaries to include Dr. Kofi Annan with Doctor of Laws, Prof. C.O. Taiwo, and Prof. Umaru Shehu got Doctor of Science respectively and Chief Emeka Anayoku was decorated with Doctor of Literature.

Disclosing that arrangements have been advanced by the DLI of the university to offer additional eight new courses, including B.Sc in Economics, Computer Science; environmental science; nursing, marine biology, fisheries, microbiology and public administration.

DLI, he said, has full accreditation of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

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Adeleke to preside @ Nigeria Internet Governance Forum ‘10

PRESIDENT of the Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), Chief Samuel Adeleke has been named the chairman of the 2010 edition of annual Nigeria Digital Sense forum, which focuses on the evolutions on the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

Disclosing this in Lagos, last weekend, the organizers through the Executive Director, Operations, Digital Sense Africa, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, said the best person to take over the chairmanship of the event from Chief Chima Onyekwere, is Adeleke.

She calls to mind that Chief Onyekwere who presided over the forum last year at the Golden Gate Ikoyi-Lagos, is the chairman of Linkserve Group, the pioneer ISP firm in the country, while Adeleke is the chairman and chief executive officer, Steineng Limited since January 1999.

She expressed belief that the exploit will be repeated when the 2010 edition of the forum scheduled for Friday, April 16 at the same venue opens, as plans have been advanced to gather stakeholders to x-ray the ‘Five years of IGF: The way forward for Nigeria’.

In his acceptance speech to preside over the annual Nigeria Digital Sense forum, Chief Adeleke regretted not being available during the last year’s forum physically which he said, was followed religiously through the internet.

He also said that there is no doubt the feat of last edition of the forum would be repeated this year given the quality of speakers and attendance as well as the arrangements on ground to make it a success.

Adeleke further commended the organizers of the forum, DSA, for their foresight in finding value in putting such a forum together for the education and enlightenment of Nigerians, especially the internet community in the country, more so on the growing relevance of Internet Governance Forum.

For him, the need to consistently keep Nigeria and its internet community on their toes at this era where information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have continuously been identified as veritable tool for development.

He promised to mobilize the membership of ISPAN to participate at the 2010 edition of the Nigeria Digital Sense forum and beyond.

“We need to mobilize and participate in this forum for our own good and good of our customers using a global best bench mark,” he said.

The Digital Sense Africa boss, further noted that Chief Adeleke was the executive chairman, Digitek Teevee Engineering Company Limited, which is a telecommunications entity of over 13 years standing.

According to her, Chief Sam Adeleke was educated at the University of Plymouth and graduated with B.Sc in communication engineering in 1978.

Additionally, she said, he been saddled with the leadership of ISPAN in the past six years, hence contributing immensely to the development of Internet in the country.

Meanwhile, Digital Sense Africa has said the 2010 edition billed for the first month in second quarter is timely, following the necessity to vend Nigeria’s position to other West African nations prior to the global IGF.

DSA boss said, this could be well expressed during the regional Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

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.

The global IGF for this year, she noted, is coming much earlier than that of 2009, thus the decision to hold the Nigeria Digital Sense forum in April.

She pointed out that the global Internet Governance Forum will hold in Vilnius, Lithuania between September 14 and 17, 2010.

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SMC launches POS e-Tax solution

Signals Mega Concept (SMC) Limited, an information and communication (ICT) marketing company, has introduced Point-of-Sales electronic tax (POS e-TAX) into the market, reports CHARLES OKOH.

Speaking to ITRealms Online, the Managing Director, SMC, Mr. Benjamin Onigbinde, said POS e-Tax is an electronic tax payment solution that runs on Point of Sales Terminals with designated tax card.

“The proportion of the population that pays tax is very small; most of these are through PAYEE system where tax is deducted directly from income. The logistics of this tax collection has not made it easy for would-be tax payers to pay their taxes,” he said.

He highlighted some of the challenges to include; handling at payment points, security, accountability, and long queues at payment point.

According to him for the government’s revenue drive to achieve a maximum impact, a system that will make the tax payment easy and convenient needs to be put in place.

Onigbinde also said the scope of the solution covers deployment of statewide online Point of Sales (POS) Terminals, production of a special designed tax card. This, he explained, is a solution that runs online sophisticated network system linking tax offices, and other revenue collection agencies to the participating banks.

“POS e-TAX will not only solve the problem of tax collection but will create a database of information that will be valuable to the government,” he said

Onigbinde listed the benefit to include; improve revenue collection, remove cash leakage because there will be no cash payment, improve service delivery and standard, better reach to tax payers and easy to dispense, administrative convenience (easier reconciliation) and more information to assist decision making.

The solution, he stressed, would assist the government in developing and implementing tax administration system that would increase its revenue drive and reduce cost of administration.

“First, this involves capturing of data on population of eligible taxpayers, and the issuing of ‘Tax Card’ to all tax payers that will make database identification of the cardholders foolproof. It is expected that this solution if properly implemented will lead to increase in government revenue in billions of naira and also reduce the cost of tax administration,” he said.

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NCC board: NATCOMS advocates consumer representation

One of the consumer rights groups in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has advocated for a consumer representative in the board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The national president of NATCOMS, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, made this call while evaluating ‘A Decade of NCC’s Telecommunications Consumerism,’ just as he solicited voice call tariff reduction to N20.00.

He said that this call has become vital because it was provided for in the Nigeria Communications Act.

According to him, if the operators pay their dues to NCC as stipulated by the Act based on subscribers’ patronage of these operators, it is therefore imperative to have a consumer representation in the board of NCC.

NATCOMS cited an instance, with the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), where the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is represented in the board.

“There are many other government agencies, councils, commissions, parastatals that are having relevant industry non-governmental organizations as board members,” he said.

Some of these, he said included the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) having a representative of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) in the board.

NATCOMS, Ogunbanjo said, would like to know who is representing “the Consumer in the board of NCC as provided for in the Nigerian Communications Commission Act?”

While commending the NCC for the slash in the Short Messaging Service (SMS) tariffs, NATCOMS urged the regulator to make it free as is in the case of Ghana, Gambia, Australia and Switzerland.

Although he noted it took NCC about 18 months to graduate SMS inter-connect rate to its present rate of N1.94, NATCOMS boss canvassed for it to be free.

“Why is SMS not FREE also in Nigeria, considering the volume of Subscribers in Nigeria?” NATCOMS boss wondered.

Stressing that though NCC has disclosed plans to reduce SMS interconnect rate to N1.02 by January 2013, it would be good to make it absolutely free service due to the surge in growth of telecommunications users in the country.

He charged the NCC, to go beyond fixing the inter-connect rate, which NATCOMS said is the base rate by extending the reduction to the price cum tariff cap.

“If the tariff reduction is to make any meaning to subscribers and consumers, the current leadership of NCC must also reduce the price cum tariff cap from the very, very high N50.00 mark to reasonable N20.00 for voice calls in view of the volume of subscribers in Nigeria, as well as reducing the price and tariff cap of N15.00 to N2.00 for SMS / Text messaging,” he said.

Ogunbanjo also cited Sierra Leone, arguing that the Telecommunications Regulator holds consumers’ consultations before tariffs are fixed.

NATCOMS, therefore called on NCC to emulate this aspect from its counterpart in Sierra Leone, as any step taken would affect all Nigerians.

“Telecommunications in Nigeria has gone beyond being the exclusive preserve of the rich and wealthy, fashion, power and status symbol; it is now a necessity and a must-have piece of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) gadget for the poor, artisans, villagers as well as the down-trodden,” he declared.

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Speakers line up for Broadband forum

The Founding chief executive officer, eShekels, Mr. Fola Odufuwa, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo and president, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Chief Chris Uwaje, have confirmed their participations at the inaugural edition billed for March this year.

The organizers disclosed to ITRealms Online, saying that the ace industry analyst, management consultant and founding CEO of eShekels, Mr. Fola Odufuwa while confirming his participation said he will be temporarily coming out of his sabbatical to speak at the eWorld Forum.

Mr. Odufuwa is expected to speak on ‘Keying Nigeria into Global Broadband Trends.’
Also, eWorld management, the organizers of the forum, said that Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Mr. Gbenga Adebayo has accepted to speak at the event.

Aaron Ukodie, the Managing Editor of eWorld hinted in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online that additionally, the President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) and Nigeria’s ICT Oracle, Mr. Chris Uwaje has also accepted to be a discussant at the Forum.

He will particularly x-ray Broadband Implication for the local environment.

This development comes on the heels of the endorsement for the event from the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).

President of ATCON, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem who in January 14, 2010 letter signed by his Executive Secretary, Ajibola Olude had conveyed the endorsement of the event by ATCON NEC will speak on Broadband Ways To the 2015 Digital Harvest for the Digital Banquet. The ATCON NEC members said they see eWorld Forum “as a good step in the right direction because it will give the industry the privilege to plot both the present and the future of broadband in Nigeria”.

The March 2010 date was appropriate. It will enable careful planning and involvement of all, according to the President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem had earlier told eWorld.

ATCON is set to mobilize all the over 200 member companies to support the forum.

This was part of the outcome of the meeting between eWorld and the ATCON president.
The Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) President, Mr. Lanre Ajayi who also endorsed the Forum will speak on Bridging the Digital Divide through Broadband.

The two-day event will also feature exhibitions of emerging broadband companies, products and services.


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Zain Africa Challenge underscores corporate philosophy – Oparah

THE Head of Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility, Zain Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Oparah has said that the firm’s annual Africa Challenge television quiz show involving 32 Universities across the continent is a tangible expression of the telco’s brand philosophy of “a wonderful world” reports CHARLES OKOH.

Speaking at the National Qualifying Tournament (NQT) held recently in Abuja, involving 16 universities across the nation, he expressed confidence on the ability of the nation’s representatives in not only doing well but retaining the trophy won by the University of Ibadan last year.

A press statement to ITRealms Online listed the five institutions that qualified for Season IV of the Zain Africa Challenge to include: University of Ibadan (UI); University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka; University of Abuja; University of Maiduguri and University of Jos (UNIJOS) and that these universities will compete against 28 other universities in Africa for this season’s trophy.

“It was a special experience that the nation in her first participation in the tournament last year, brought back the winners’ trophy. The country’s representatives at this year’s tournament again have all it takes to win the trophy back-to-back,.” Oparah said.

He extolled the tremendous talent of Nigerian students, urging the representatives not only to bring back the trophy, but to use the platform as provided by the company to make friends across the continent because, as future leaders, they need to expand their circle of influence and globalize their perspectives to meet the increasingly high standards of leadership.

For students of the University of Ibadan, the qualifying tournament brought back special memories as its representatives, once again, showcased amazing intellectual ability, easily earning one of the five slots for the nation.

The statement also said with the qualification, UI will not only represent Nigeria at the International Festival in Uganda’s capital, Kampala later in the year, but will also defend the highly prized trophy it won last year, UI conquered 31 Universities in Africa to emerge winner of the Zain Africa Challenge Season III.

The 16 Universities, which participated in the National Qualifying Tournament (NQT) were selected by the National Universities Commission (NUC). They included Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Bowen University; Federal University of Technology, Owerri and Katsina State University (now Musa Yar’ Adua University, Katsina).

Others were Niger Delta University; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife; University of Abuja; Ambrose Ali University; University of Calabar; University of Jos; University of Maiduguri; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Federal University of Technology, Akure; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Lagos, Akoka and University of Ibadan.


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WSIS forum 2010 opens consultation

The forum on the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) has opened consultation for its 2010 roundtable by calling for participation.

ITRealms Online recalled that the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) are organizing the open consultation for the forum.

They therefore invited all individuals, networks and organizations interested in this issue to participate in the three-fold process, consisting of an online discussion, a questionnaire and a review meeting.

According to UNESCO portal, 2010 is a turning point towards the achievement of the WSIS goals by 2015, hence, this year’s Forum, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland from May, 10 to 14, 2010, is an important opportunity to review the progress made in the WSIS implementation during the last five years and to reconsider strategies for the remaining five years.

And following the outcomes of the 2009 WSIS Action Line Facilitators Meeting on May, 22 2009, as well as several exchanges among WSIS stakeholders, an open consultation, focusing on the themes of the 2010 Forum, has been set up.

Details of the process to be followed prior to the forum which comes in three phases indicated that an online multi-stakeholder consultation is taking place on the online WSIS Community platform until February 5. While stakeholders are to express and exchange their ideas in order to generate possible themes and potential speakers for the 2010 Forum.


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Symantec security solution scale tests

Symantec Corporation has, announced that its industry-leading security products received top reviews from two respected independent testing bodies, AV-Comparatives and AV-Test.org.

Symantec was awarded Best Anti-Virus Product of 2009 by AV-Comparatives, an accolade that honors top results across numerous tests in key protection and performance areas of security.

Also the firm received a first place award in a new real-world test of Internet security suites by AV-Test.org, which evaluated leading security products in their ability to protect users during common activities such as surfing the Internet and downloading files.

These independent reports, officials of the firm said, have continued to reinforce Symantec’s leadership position in providing protection against today’s evolving real-world threats.

Senior vice president, Security Technology and Response, Symantec, Mr. Stephen Trilling, noted that these new tests evaluate each product’s entire set of protection technologies against real malicious programs, just as they would be encountered by actual users.

“Symantec’s double-win in these independent reviews demonstrates how all of our security technologies work together to provide unrivaled effectiveness against today’s Internet threats,” he said.

He pointed out that over the past few years, the threat landscape distribution model has undergone a fundamental shift away from relatively small numbers of threats that affect many millions of users, toward a distribution model where many millions of new threats are released every month that each targets just a handful of users across the globe.

To provide some perspective on the size and scope of this issue, he said that in 2009, Symantec security software blocked more than 2.5 billion attempted attacks across the world.

“Given this environment, traditional antivirus-only solutions have become less effective,” he said, stressing that to address this, Symantec has shifted toward a defense-in-depth approach that uses many different security layers to protect users.

The AV-Comparatives and AV-Test.org tests, he said, reflected a shift in testing methodologies to evaluate the overall holistic protection offered by the latest security products.

He explained that AV-Comparatives have awarded Symantec its top Gold award of Best Anti-Virus Product of 2009.

The award is based on the results of a series of tests performed throughout 2009 that examined Norton AntiVirus and other vendors’ products across eight different test categories, including: On-Demand Malware Detection, Proactive On-Demand Malware Detection, False Positives, On-Demand Scanning Speed, Overall Performance (Low-System Impact), On-Demand Potentially Unwanted Applications Detection, Malware Removal Capabilities and Whole-Product Dynamic Protection.


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Globacom solicits support for Haiti quake victims

Leading national telecoms operator, Globacom Limited, is soliciting aids for the earthquake victims in Haiti.

Management of Globacom, weekend disclosed that the need to assist victims through the raising of funds for rehabilitation of victims occasioned by the recent earthquake in Haiti gave rise to the quest.

Affirming the commencement of the fundraising programme in Lagos, Glo’s Group Chief Operating Officer (GCOO), Mr. Mohamed Jameel noted that the Haiti quake was described as one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent human history and more massive in repercussion than the Asian Tsunami.

He pointed out that the Haitian earthquake disaster has seen near total destruction of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince and the loss of an estimated 200,000 lives.

Jameel said the appeal was being made in order to ensure that Nigerians have an opportunity to contribute their own quota to the salvage and rehabilitation effort being launched globally for the people of Haiti.

“This is a human disaster of almost unimaginable proportions and most Nigerians who are willing to help do not know how to contribute towards the relief effort,” he said.

Hence, Glo decided to launch this appeal by creation of a short code through which Nigerians could make donations to help the Haitian people.

The company, he said, urged Nigerians, especially subscribers on Glo network to make contributions of a minimum of N50 by sending the word HAITI to the short code 33090 which has been specially created for the purpose.

“Subscribers, however, are free to donate as many times as they wish to the relief effort by sending multiple SMS at the cost of N50 per SMS,” Jameel said.

He pointed out that all donations made by Nigerians through the short code will be presented on a monthly basis on behalf of the Nigerian people to the Nigerian Red Cross which is already on ground in Haiti via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Assuring that none of the proceeds will be withheld as the project is being undertaken on compassionate grounds and in line with Glo’s corporate responsibility obligations, he said, that Globacom has given support to an online campaign which will run through the social networks such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter; while Classic 93.7 FM has committed to help raise awareness by giving free hypes and airtime.

“We urge all Nigerians to help build awareness for this campaign through their social networks while other radio and television networks in the country are also welcome to donate free airtime to create awareness for this effort”, he said.

Head, Administration at the Nigerian Red Cross, Mrs Joy Umealor, in a letter, expressed appreciation on the concerns of the operator for coming up with the unique initiative.

“We want to express our appreciation to your company for coming up with this initiative as the proceeds will be presented to the Red Cross at a media event towards assisting the unfortunate victims of the disaster. Thank you for partnering with us to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims of this natural disaster,” she asserted.


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Volunteer corps take anti-graft campaign to Computer Village

MEMBERS of the National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corps (NAVC) last week took the fight against corruption and other anti-social conducts to the heart of Lagos, as they held a rally round the popular Computer Village in Ikeja and its environs.

The rally which began on Awolowo Way, where hand bills were distributed also took the members to Simbiat Abiola Way, Ola Ayeni Street, St Michaels Road and Otigba Street where the computer village is located as enlightenment campaigns against piracy of intellectual property were made.

Speaking on the activities of the group, which is a coalition of NYSC and ICPC, the president, Mr. Kelechi Anyalechi said the idea is to get young people to participate in the fight against corruption. He said if corruption among the young ones can be stopped there is hope for the nation.

“The young ones are the future of this nation and so we want to get them to form the right attitude towards the social malaise. We have had a symposium and we have decided to take it to the next level by coming to Ikeja to sensitize the people since this is the hub of Lagos. There are markets here, we want them to know that they can be patriotic and fight corruption at their level since there are lots of pirating of intellectual property here. We are sensitizing them because we found out that a lot of people are uninformed and so they need to be taught that they have a role to play in nation-building.”

He said corruption goes beyond taking bribe as it involves examination malpractices, sexual harassment, rape, selling sub-standard goods and inflating prices of goods and many more.

“We have been to schools on this campaign and we made them know that corruption is not all about embezzlement but also when they tell lies to their parents to collect money from them. We made them realize that if they can do that now when they get into political office they would be stealing in millions and billions. We campaign against indecent dressing, thuggery, cultism in schools as well, it has made an impact because we did not just go and talk to them, we interacted,” he said.

According to him, the group is planning a parent-teacher-student symposium which will involve the police, civil defence and those who relate with these young people where corruption take place in the homes, schools and public places and interact on the danger of these general social misbehaviours on the society.

On his part, the Secretary of the Group, Mr. Victor Aguwah said they are poised to see that they bring corruption to the barest minimum in the country and this will mean taking it to highest level. He condemned the recent attempted bombing of an airline by a Nigerian youth, describing it as an unfortunate incident which is not good for the nation.

“We believe Nigeria will change and will be great. We now want to have an International anti-corruption Volunteer club where people can freely join in schools,” he said.


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Gallant Systems offers free IT training

AS part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), a computer training centre, the Gallant Systems (GS), has embarked on free comprehensive computer training in public schools in Lagos.

Explaining the rationale behind the programme which began in December and will last till the end of January 2010, the Managing Director, GS, Mr. Samuel Adebanjo said the programme would expose the students to modern computer practical sessions.

“As many of them who have not had the opportunity of using computer are taught with laptops to further demystify the gadget called computer,” he said.

Also, he said participants were led into how to handle internet operations and use the electronic mail (e-mail) which has become a major tool of communication around the globe.

Equally speaking, the registrar, Mr. Tunde Alli said, the school is dangling four awards for the first batch of which one would be given free training in any area of choice in the packages offered in the college which includes programming web designing, management computer engineering, networking, graphics and many more.

The students, he said, were selected as best students from their various schools.

He listed the first batch of participating schools under District 4 to include; Lagos City Senior College, Birrel Avenue Senior High Schools, Wesley Senior Girls Secondary School, Wesley Junior Girls Secondary Schools, Nawar-Udeen, Senior High School and Aje Comprehensive Junior Grammar School.

Others, he said were Herbert Macaulay Junior Grammar Schools, Jibowu Junior High School. These schools, he stated, are expected to send 10 student-participants for each batch.


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Why MTN unveiled Group Connect by Appiah

The Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, MTN Group Connect, Mr. Derek Appiah, has given reasons why outfit was created by the MTN in the country.

According to him, its MTN resolve to empower Nigerian businesses, that led to the new service called MTN Group Connect.

Appiah, also said it will the populace to make telephone usage, mostly for a seamless conference calls at no extra cost beyond the cost of normal telephone calls.

The service, he emphasized, is another first from the stable of MTN Business, a division of MTN focused on providing a comprehensive range of business communication solutions to corporate Nigeria.

“With MTN Group Connect, companies, business people, professionals and other categories of telephone users will be able to hold secured, multi-party conversations over the phone, without the need to travel,” he explained.

Further, Appiah said, the service, which will be launched the month, was developed to meet the specific needs of businesses whose officials often have to hold meetings involving more than two people communicating from various locations.

Equally speaking, the Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Wale Goodluck said this is another service aimed at enhancing the efficiency of businesses in the country.

“With this service, you will save time and money you could have otherwise spent on travelling to attend meetings at distant locations,” he declared.

As innovation leaders in Nigeria’s telecom industry, MTN, Goodluck said, the operator will continue to roll out innovative, value-driven products and services that enrich the lives of businesses, enabling them to perform optimally.


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