Introduce typing @ primary schools now – ATCON boss

Concerned by the poor application of technological tools nowadays, the newly elected president of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu has said that Nigeria needs to introduce typing at the primary school levels.

This, he said, has become imperative in the face of the fact that typing has become a way of life in this era of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) where every actor needs to key in whatever they wish to communicate to one another, be it a Short Messaging Service (SMS), electronic mail (email) and usage of computers for data gathering and dissemination.

Speaking at a one-day seminar by the ICT Directorate of Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) in conjunction with Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) and supported by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Omo-Ettu said that the time has come for the government to make typing tutorials compulsory beginning with primary schools.

Omo-Ettu, who spoke on “Unfinished business of the ‘Learning to Earn’ Campaign in Nigeria” just before his election weekend, commended NIG for its crusade on positive application of ‘access’, especially NIG president, Mr. Lanre Ajayi and Mrs. Ibukun Odusote among those who made the first move of bringing Nigeria into the internet knowledge.

According to him, at the beginning, about 15 years ago, stakeholders were more interested in awareness and Information Technology (IT) appreciation, noting that Internet has simplified, faster, clearer and potentially cheaper information transfer tool.

He maintained that Nigeria’s campaign teams at inception for IT applications did a good job with several parts of the campaign including the articulations of demands to be fulfilled by the government, yet much were still untouched.

“A lot were not even touched at all,” he declared, stressing that part of what they said at the time of commencing internet awareness in the country included that IT would make things faster, better, and cheaper as well as that jobs would be provided on a larger scale.

In addition, he said, they pointed out that there was unlimited access to global information and therefore, there is market; the opportunities would be unlimited; IT skills were critical and desirable as well as that government should invest in IT resources.

Regrettably, he said that at that time, they did not stress that skills from fundamental levels were critical.

“We gave impression that once one was IT-literate, manna would fall from heaven,” he said, emphasizing that they had stressed literacy and not proficiency.

“We did not stress typing in primary schools but we asked that computer training be introduced in schools. We did not ask for change of content of engineering curriculum to veer towards business but we asked that computing processes be emphasized,” he asserted.

Omo-Ettu also said that they had clamoured that content of education had to change to underscore productivity, just as they did not tell the governments that attitudes matter and even essential to growth.

This, he attributed to the government officials reacting ‘positively’ by buying computers, a lot as furniture for their offices; schools, where IT was emphasized, talked about computers and browsing.

“Yet, they did not emphasize the art of typing to skills level,” he said, pointing out that it should be made the tool to a solution but is an end in itself.

He decried that 15 years after the campaign started, Nigeria still produce graduate journalists who cannot type their stories and graduate engineers who cannot solve problems.

“We still produce lawyers who write their draft long hand for others to type out,” he lamented, underlining the fact that the time for change is now because jobs presently require that skills be available.

He further defined job as “‘solutions’ not mere ‘presence at a desk’” urging Nigerian school system to teach ethics which hitherto was called civics.

“Let all school children type before leaving primary school and let our graduate engineers know business; Let the need for a tool precede the acquisition of the tool,” he advised.


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Optimising biotech with ‘pure water’ science

Looking inwards is part of the efforts of making scientific discoveries. REMMY NWEKE canvasses that there could be a better way of harnessing the Benue ‘pure water’ using scientific methods than outright ban on the product.

“Science and the scientific process must inform and guide decisions of administration on a wide range of issues, including improvement of public health, protection of the environment, increased efficiency in the use of energy and other resources, mitigation of the threat of climate change, and protection of national security,” (A White House memorandum on scientific integrity, March 9, 2009).

Recently, the Benue State House of Assembly reportedly passed a bill on prohibition of locally made gin, otherwise called Ogogoro, but what many Nigerians including some of those in the corridors of power unaware of is that this product is a bio technology produce, which has since been christened ‘pure water’ due to its easy access, which could actually be optimized.

A definition by experts at whatis.techtarget.com, showed that biotechnology is the use of biological processes, organisms, or systems to manufacture products intended to improve the quality of human life. Before now, biotechnologists were basically farmers who developed improved species of plants and animals by cross breeding.

Nowadays, biotechnology has expanded in sophistication, scope and application.

However, the experts explained that the science of biotechnology could be simplified through sub-disciplines known as red, white, green and blue. For the Red biotechnology, which involves medical processes such as getting organisms to produce new drugs, or using stem cells to regenerate damaged human tissues and perhaps re-grow entire organs. While the White often referred to as ‘gray’ biotechnology entails industrial processes such as the production of new chemicals or the development of new fuels for vehicles, which the local ‘pure water’ could be said to be part of.

In addition, experts at www.whatis.techtarget.com said that Green biotechnology pertains to agriculture and involves such processes as the development of pest-resistant grains or the accelerated evolution of disease-resistant animals. Just as Blue biotechnology is talked about seldomly, through it comprises processes in marine and aquatic environments, such as controlling the proliferation of noxious water-borne organisms.

Definitely, biotechnology, like other growing technologies, has the budding for abuse. Therefore, it could be said that it was the concern against the abuse that led to legislations such as the one by Benue State House of Assembly, few months ago.

Hence, it was not out of place to found the news that producers and consumers of the local gin ‘Ogogoro’ in Benue State, alternatively took to some criminal inventiveness to dodge the law banning the sale and consumption of this produce, thereby shunning arrest and prosecution by law enforcement organizations.

ITRealms Online, gathered that the law banning possession, sale and consumption of the product was signed into existence on July 17, 2009. This law also empowers the Police, the Nigeria Civil Defense Corps, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), vigilante and traditional rulers to make certain enforcement and compliance with the law within their areas of jurisdiction.

Also recently, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reported that aside from ‘code naming’ the product ‘pure water’ and in some cases ‘sapele water,’ enthusiasts of this brand of local gin went on to put it together in form of sachet water, to make it easy for distribution without any hindrance on the streets and communities reputed for its consumption and as matter of fact easier for its consumers.

As such, a consumer was quoted as saying, “Now that the product is being packaged and dispensed as sachet water, we can readily say that there is a relative sense of relief, particularly from constant harassment by law enforcement agencies.”

But in his reaction, Commander, NDLEA Zone 12, Makurdi, capital of Benue State, Mr. Samuel Azige, informed that officials of the agency and other sister organisations have to join forces to make certain the compliance in the State.

For Azige, the public has been sensitized on the essence of avoiding production, sale and consumption of the alleged illicit gin, stressing that the basic challenge here is that his agency is handicapped by the lack of logistics to effectively enforce the law.

Though it sounds disheartening to note that over 7 million Nigerians suffer from sickle cell anemia, which paved the way for the establishment of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) by the Federal Government, to facilitate a change among other things.

However, for the Egyptian’s Agriculture Minister, Amin Ahmed Abaza in a recent chat with Daily Champion, while on official visit to the country, said the 21st century is the African’s century and it is largely believed that what is going to change the continent is a revolution in agriculture.

It is, therefore crucial for this government under the current leadership of Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, alongside the Governor’s Forum, to take a closer look at the nation’s science and technology policies with particular interest in biotechnology development bearing in mind the assertion of the Egyptian Minister Abaza and United States’ Memorandum of 2009 if Nigeria is to transform her biotechnology dreams into realities, with regard to optimizing the Benue’s experience and mass production of ‘pure water’ for scientific gains.

This is because it is not enough to ban the production of this local brand and invention which has been there since time immemorial, and even existed beyond Benue State, rather, what one expects the government at all levels to do is to tap into the ingenuity of these citizens by transforming the mechanism and methodologies of manufacturing these products, may be, in a better reformed manner to not only become a revenue earner, but expand the knowledge base of such individuals that could be involved in this exercise.

This is considerate, particularly taking note of the fact that no raw material existed without supposedly ‘dangerous’ experiment.

so, it is understandable that NAFDAC and other related agencies were concerned and have expressed same in trying to live up to their expectations, but we must realise that if for instance the substance could be adequately manufactured, it could become an alternative energy supply for a given community and the bigger the required quantity is made available or produced depending on the availability of other collaborating chemicals, the better.

In other words, those involved in this act, when well harnessed could become employers of labour, thereby reducing the number of unemployed Nigerians, especially the youth.

Like the saying goes, a stitch in time, saves nine, therefore, the earlier we start looking inwards, the better we handled the darkness of today for tomorrow’s brightness, before then, maybe we should start with the updating of the biotechnology page at the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology’s website, http://www.fmst.gov.ng/biotechnology_policy.php. After-all, charity begins at home.

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Facebook: Elegbe advises firms to leverage on Internet marketing

The chief executive officer, Interswitch Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mitchell Elegbe has advised Nigerian firms to leverage on Internet marketing, mostly now that the acclaimed leader in social media has officially launched its presence and partnership with WildFusion Nigeria.

This is coming as experts advised Nigerians on responsible use of Facebook, mostly in the corporate world.

Elegbe who was represented at the occasion by the chief commercial officer, Interswitch, Mrs. Titi Adeniji-Aderoju disclosed that presently, Nigeria has about 400 webmerchants who are generating about N9 million with estimated 500,000 transactions monthly.

He said that when compared with the population of the nation at about 150 million, it shows that there are lots of rooms for more people to come on board in terms of leveraging the opportunities created by the Internet and given that over 1.2 million are subscribed to Facebook as at March 2010.

“You can leverage on Internet by embracing internet marketing,” he advised, stressing that when you have the number and the population is there, then, there is
a huge market to tap.

He also advised Nigerian businesses to start with owning a website, but warned that it is not enough, rather the website needed the necessary buzz and traffic, which could be maximized with the Facebook advertising modules.

“A website without effective marketing is like building a gas station in the middle of the road,” he declared.

Elegbe equally said that time is really changing with most traditional marketing medium like television, radio, newspapers and magazines no longer generating the kind of revenue hitherto known before the advent of Internet.

Those who want to go into businesses nowadays, he said, must start out small with clear definition of what they want to do and specifically on marketing.

According to him, access to FB during working hours would be best managed if corporate organisations introduce fair guidelines, so as not to shot themselves on the foot.

He cited an instance that in some organisation, 9am to 5pm are usually tagged as purely working hours, although staff can access Facebook and other social networking sites at lunch period and after work hours.

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Habari Media Group of South Africa, Mr. Adrain Hewlett, disclosed that 1,240,700 Nigerians are already enjoying Facebook which cut across 66 per cent of male and 34 per cent female with demography comprising 13 – 17 age group forming 16 per cent, while 18 to 24 age bracket made up the 33 per cent, 25to 34 constituting 44 per cent, just as 35 and above formed 16 per cent of the figure of Nigerians on Facebook.

Nigeria, he said, is among the 500 largest countries across the globe with over 392 million monthly page viewers, assuring that Facebook is about honest, because any falsehood would be countered by those who know such a person very well.

Facebook, he further said, has developed basically because it’s a listening company.
In his comments, the Chief executive officer, Wild Fusion, Mr. Abasiama Idaresit declared that a great deal of opportunities abound for Facebook in Nigeria, especially in online advertising.

“Facebook is really very popular among Nigerians and it may interest you to know that the population of Nigerians on Facebook just surpassed the 1.14 million mark,” he said, stressing that from the latest statistics from Facebook, the social media platform is among the top three most visited sites by Nigerians and the most popular age demographic globally is 35-49.

He also quoted a recent BBC report on “Superpower” which indicated that Nigerian internet population stood at about 24 million people in 2008 based on the information sourced from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

This data, he said, places Nigeria as Africa’s biggest internet market audience against South Africa and Egypt.

According to him, the internet offers a great platform to reach millions of Nigerians with amazing targeting possibilities including age, gender, interest and behavioral targeting.

He explained that in order to give credence to this new partnership, his firm and Facebook representatives on the continent, Habari Group of South Africa hosted brand and marketing personnel and some FB enthusiasts from major Nigerian blue chip companies.

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CWG partners Wincor, Gilat on automated gas stations

The Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) and its partners led by Wincor Nixdorf and Gilat Satellite Networks are warming up for the cash automation of gas stations in the country.

CWG has three subsidiaries namely the Computer Warehouse Limited, ExpertEdge Software Systems and DCC, the communications outfit of the conglomerate.

The Group Managing Director, ExpertEdge Software, Mr. James Agada, disclosed this at a business seminar for the oil and gas sector in Lagos, with the theme: Optimizing business performance and profitability.

He said that this kind of cash automation has been executed in some parts of Africa including Burkina Faso, just as he assured that at CWG, they would deliver on this promise alongside their partners.

Also speaking, the Group Managing director, Computer Warehouse Limited, Mr. Dayo Abegunde, said that the kind of ATMs to be deployed at have been fully tested for Nigerian currency notes, especially how to detect counterfeit notes.

He said that with the Petrol card solution, for instance, it guarantees revenue and increases sales and profitability as well as the risk of robbery.

According to him, gas station automation would prevail on the cashless settlement of petroleum products delivery with automatic print out on physical receipts.

Billings, he explained are done based on pricelist and not subjective calculation of attendants or cashiers.

Just as the platform would ensure that tank level measure tracking of dispensers, thereby entrenching possible control of network of the petrol stations from the comfort of your office.

“There is possibility of remote control of pumps through pulse interface,” he said.
Equally speaking, Robert Bell of Isreali’s Gilat Satellite Networks, noted that fibre optic cables are spreading throughout Africa with network back shifting to satellite.

Fibre optic, he said, cannot be an alternative to satellite, citing an instance that fibre is slow in deployment, while satellite is easier and enables faster communication.

Mr. Bell, further said that fibre and satellite, need synergy to give the best of services to the African continent.

As said by him, Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd is a leading provider of satellite communications products and services for over 20 years, event as it is reputed to be in the forefront of Very Small Aperture (VSAT) technology and services.

Lately, he pointed out that Gilat has continues to be an innovator and developer of new satellite technologies, offering solutions to serve the communications needs of carriers, enterprises, governments, service providers and consumers around the globe.

Gilat Satellite Networks, he said, is organized into three business units namely, Gilat Network Systems (GNS) provides satellite network solutions and professional services, to operators worldwide; Spacenet Inc. provides managed VSAT and hybrid network services for enterprise, government and residential customers in North America and Spacenet Rural Communications provides rural Internet and telephony services primarily in Latin America.


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NITEL sale: Expert appeals to government

Managing Director, Voicewares Networks Limited (VNL), Mr. Gerry Ekesiani, has reiterated his recent appeal to the federal government to conclude issues surrounding the sale of the first national operator, the Nigerian Telecommunications Plc (NITEL).

Ekesiani, who restated his position on the sale of NITEL in Lagos after emerging the first vice president of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), said that the federal government need to urgently resolve the impasse affecting the recent sales of NITEL to New Generation Consortium, which emerged winner of a bid process organized by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

This, he said, would enable the industry to be focused, warning that leaving such matters unresolved now would amount to further depreciation of NITEL at the expense of the Nigerian people.

Ekesiani, the former Managing Director of Geosana Digital Communications Limited, observed that the bid conducted by BPE was adjudged transparent by stakeholders, stressing that New Generation Consortium Limited made the highest bid and was rightly awarded the preferred bidder status.

“Therefore, winner of the auction process,” he declared, wondering why anybody should mislead the federal government to put on hold a process that was successfully concluded.

Ekesiani recalled that the bidding exercise was given live television coverage and every stage of the bid’s opening was done in the open and nobody complained about the entire process till the bid process was concluded.

He maintained that it was very strange for any person or group of persons to come up after the exercise was successfully concluded to say that the process was full of irregularities. He therefore, called on acting president Goodluck Jonathan to wade into the matter in the interest of Nigeria’s economic progress.

Noteworthy is that a few weeks back, New Generation Consortium was declared winner of the bidding exercise, there were allegations of denial by China Unicom regarding its involvement as technical partners to the consortium.

Later, it was learnt that the same Chinese firm confirmed that China Unicom (Europe) Operations Limited was indeed involved as technical partners to New Generation Consortium.

Ekesiani further said that he expected that with the above clearance, the privatization process would have been allowed to take its full course, but that was not to be.

“Rather, it was learnt that allegation of other flaws in the processes was made and this led to the setting up of an ad hoc panel by the National Council on Privatization (NCP) to review the transaction,” he said.

It was also gathered that the panel reportedly confirmed that there were flaws in the sales process and therefore recommended the cancellation of the transaction.

However, a source close to BPE suggested that the federal government panel, may have been in a hurry to recommend the cancelation of the sales process, despite that the panel met once on March 15, 2010 and did not conduct any literature review on March 13, 2010 as stated in its report to the presidency, and therefore could not have conducted a proper review of the bidding process to be able to come up with a comprehensive and balanced report.

According to our sources, the panel chairman only requested that three copies of the background report be prepared by the secretariat to be submitted to his orderly on March 13, 2010 so that he and two other members would meet to review the report.

“It was not clear whether other panel members participated in the literature review,” our source hinted.

Pointing out that in the best interest of NITEL and its subsidiary, MTEL and their employees, FG need to detail an offer letter urgently to new buyers, the New Generation Consortium, to speed up repositioning, so that it would commence the payment of $2.5billion which could settle all outstanding liabilities without recourse to government coffers.

“This would, of course, bring succor to hundreds of thousands of Nigerians whose lives have been negatively affected by the indebtedness of NITEL to creditors and staff,” our source opined.

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Sanwoolu applauds Visafone

•As 4 winners emerge

Lagos State Commissioner for Establishment, Labour and Training, Mr. Jide Sanwoolu has commended Visafone Communications Limited in its efforts at giving back to its customers.

The commissioner spoke at the second national draw of the Visafone 10 cars in 10 weeks promo, which produced four new winners at the weekend in Lagos.

He also said that the raffle draw for subscribers is not like lottery but a way of giving back to the subscribers on the network and urged other telecom operators to emulate this and encouraged them to get involve with activities that would spur more customers for their networks.

In addition, he said that telecom operators deserve some encouragement from the government because their operations generally have elevated the life style of Nigerians and went on to improve the way citizens now lives.

The latest draw which produced four winners of brand new Kia Rio cars, also produced several others won over 700 other fantastic prizes, which ranges from generator sets, LCD TV’s, Home Theatres, Washing Machines, CK Music phones, Motorola V9m phones and N1, 000 free airtime.

Managing director, Visafone Mr. R. Balachandran, who was represented by the Deputy General Manager, Marketing and Strategies, Mr. Clifford Onyeike, said the event was another demonstration of the company’s resolve to add value to the lives of its numerous subscribers.

“Visafone has been consistently and enthusiastically recognising and rewarding customers since its launch. It is the loyalty and consistent support of our customers which has made us Nigeria’s fourth largest operator in just two years from launch, and we always seek to reciprocate that loyalty every opportunity we get,” he said.

Excited winners who were contact immediately lauded Visafone as a brand that cares for the subscribers, and always delivers on its promises.

ITRealms Online recalled that Visafone recently unveiled the 10 Cars in 10 Weeks initiative to reward subscribers for their unwavering loyalty to the brand. The first draw produced two winners of Kia Rio cars and 142 other winners.

In this initiative, 10 lucky subscribers will win 10 brand new Kia Rio cars in 10 weeks. Both new subscribers activating new lines and existing subscribers recharging at least N400 in a week have an opportunity to win a car and other fantastic prizes.

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MTN’s 21 days of Yello care kicks off, supports 1Goal, malaria campiagn

MTN Nigerian has commenced this year’s edition of its 21 days of Yello Care, just as it launched United Against Malaria (UAM) and signed on to 1 Goal Education for All initiative.

Declaring the event open in a ceremony at its headquarters in Ikoyi-Lagos, the managing director, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ahmad Farroukh said that the annual event which is on its forth year is MTN Group’s community care initiative which harps on the commitment to transforming the communities in which MTN operate.

“Indeed, the management and staff of MTN Nigeria are excited at another opportunity to give back and prepared to once again contribute to a successful Y’ello Care programme,” he said, stressing that already, over 1,200 MTNers have registered as volunteers.

He enjoined volunteers to demonstrate the MTN spirit of caring, guided by its values of leadership, innovation, relationship, integrity and can-do.

In her address to the occasion, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mrs. Funmi Omonigbenigun, said that as Africa’s first and only global sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, MTN has an unprecedented opportunity to merge its passion for Africa, with the continent’s passion for football to drive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and to ensure that Africa’s world cup leaves a lasting legacy.

This year’s edition of the Y’ello Care, she said, avails volunteers to plug into two global campaign of United Against Malaria and 1 Goal, explaining that MTN has rolled out a ‘Kick Out Malaria’ campaign to reach its consumers in various operating countries and aims to distribute 1 million musquito nets through the 2010 Yello Care platform and other CSR activities.

On the 1 Goal – Education for All initiative, she said, that MTN is seizing the power of football to ensure education for all by collecting the names and backing from the public footballers, celebrities to make a united plea to governments to meet their targets on the ‘Education for All’ international community to provide quality public education to all children and adults by 2015.

“Today, about 75 million children are out of school around the world and MTNers have been asked to support the 1 Goal campaign in order to ensure that our names are part of the millions of names delivered ahead of the United Nations (UN) meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in September 2010,” she said.

Later the MTN Nigeria boss, Mr. Farroukh officially logged on to 1 Goal website to sign up in support of the campaign.

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Zinox partners TD Plus on support service

Technology Distribution (TD) Plus is partnering with Zinox Computers to offer world class support services.

This partnership entails that all Zinox computers, no matter where they are bought, would be accepted by TD Plus who henceforth shall be responsible for all warranty and support issues on behalf of Zinox.

According to the Managing Director, Zinox Computers, Mr. Mukoro Emomine, this partnership is also unique in that TD Plus is authorized to effect across the counter repairs and recommends immediate product replacement when necessary.

He explained that Zinox went into the deal with TD Plus, due to growing challenges of hardware manufacturing, which dictates that Zinox team concentrates fully on manufacturing.

The Zinox management, he said, was determined that the quality of Zinox Computers must be a head taller than any other Personal Computers (PC) brand in the market place.

He noted that the growing numbers of PCs which require service from the Nigerian market and the West Africa gave rise to the deal and has increased from 250 systems per week in 1991 to 3,000 systems weekly as at the end of March 31, 2010.

Mr. Mukoro said that the choice of TD Plus as the company to handle the support services was based on the company’s professionalism, national spread, technical depth and experienced customer service orientation.

Additionally, he said, that there was no company in Nigeria that was comparable to TD Plus in terms of support because of the company’s pedigree.
Mukoro further urged all users of Zinox Computers to refer their support issues to TD Plus.

Affirming the deal, Head of TD Plus, Mr. Louis Iwegbuna said that his company is a specialized support company that has signed on Zinox to enable the company to concentrate on its area of core competence.

As said by him, they are already offering support to Zinox users at various levels including helpdesk, which enables users to phone in and get instant support by talking to experts who tell them what to do; the on-line support, which enables users to check the status of the machines on-line or even to download drivers on-line; the carry-in, which offers across the counter support to customers while they wait; and the on-site support for customers with over 500 systems deployed at a site.

Iwegbuna also said that TD Plus trains engineers for organizations with large deployments to trouble shoot and send an inventory to TD Plus, stressing that there are time limits attached to every chore to ensure that customers experience minimal downtime. He said that usually, the company offers a replacement if the issue would take more than 48 hours to resolve.

Pointing out that experience has shown that the few problems that users have with Zinox computers arise from the fact that many are first time users. Secondly, most of the problems are software related not necessarily with the hardware.

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Starcomms refreshes Bonuzee promo

Starcomms has refreshed its Bonuzee Loyalty promo as part of effort at rewarding Smart Centre operators in the country. The Promo is designed to reward diligence and good business sense.

Chief Commercial Officer of Starcomms, Mr. Tushar Maheshwari, said that the promo, which is in its third edition, has been making millionaires of Smart Centre operators in the country since 2007.

He recalled that in the last edition that took place between March and June 2008, Starcomms gave out brand new cars and millions of Naira to subscribers who participated in the Bonuzee Millionaire-a-Week promo.

Also, he said, the company gave out motorcycles, talkie phones and Smart Centre mobile phones as well as free airtime to the lucky winners in the Starcomms Bonuzee Millionaire -a- Week promo.

Further, he said that the three-tier promo is meant to reward and encourage existing and prospective Smart Centre operators.

“To be eligible for the promo, a subscriber must have a Smart Centre phone, fill and submit a Bonuzee promo form at any Starcomms dealer or distributor and then, continue to Starcomms Smart center line for business with minimum N 600 daily or monthly N12,000 for 3- months. The promo ends on 30th June 2010,” he explained.

Mr. Maheshwari equally disclosed that there are fantastic prizes for grabs, including brand new cars, LCD television sets, Microwaves, DVD players, Smart Centre phones and Millions of naira in cash to be won.

According to him, to qualify for the quarterly draws, a Smart Centre operator must use a minimum of N600 daily for thirty days continuously or N12, 000 monthly, stressing that the quarterly prizes for the draws are LCD television sets, microwaves, DVD players, and millions of naira in cash.

“To qualify for the monthly draws, a Smart Centre operator must use a minimum of N500 daily or N10,000 monthly and prizes for the monthly draws includes cash prizes, recharge cards for hundreds of winners as well as handsets with free airtime,” he said.

He encouraging other call centre operators to embrace and get started as Smart Centre operators, Maheshwari said that it offers more economic empowerment, more profit and business opportunity adding that with the spread of Starcomms network coverage, business is sure to boom for the operators.

He highlighted that Starcomms has rolled out a scheme for new smart center operators to join the network with N1,250 handset prize and on usage of N5,000 or more per month for next 3- months can earn back N 1,250 Free airtime.

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Internet, most efficient means of communication – Onwuliri

Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Prof. Celestine Onwuliri, has described Internet as the most efficient means of communication for man in this century.

Prof. Onwuliri made this assertion in a welcome address he read at the one-day seminar on Internet for Jobs (I4J) Initiative of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) organized in collaboration with FUTO and sponsored by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

According to him, issues relating to globalization have been made easier because of the availability of internet in all parts of the world, which tends to confirm the ‘global village’ theory.

He also said that the Internet is one innovation of science and technology that has attempted to redefine human activities and functions, noting that like all inventions and innovations, the Internet has its strengths and weaknesses which could be exploited fully to man’s benefit or his disadvantage.

The VC listed some of the disadvantages of the Internet to include the copious expression in its use for various kinds of theft of personal information such as scams, spamming, virus threat, unrestricted platforms for online pornography and cybersex, which he said, is doing much harm to many users especially the mental health of adolescents.

On the other hand, the internet, he said, as a resource tool has several advantages, which could be exploited for man’s political, soc-economic, cultural, educational, religious and recreational developments.

As said by him, he cited an instance that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) must also be anchored on this premise among other issues that relate to good governance, rule of law, transparency and accountability.

These, he noted are currently driving the policy thrust of the present administration in the country, enunciated in the Seven-Point Agenda.

He, therefore, challenged participants to deliberate on ways and means of building capacity to create jobs using the internet.

“I, therefore, wish to sincerely commend the organizers of this seminar for their thoughtfulness in putting together today’s occasion with the theme: “Internet for Jobs: Building Capacity to Create Jobs using the Internet,” he said.

He disclosed that FUTO has entered partnership with Afri-Hub for the development of a mega-digital centre in the university community and the achievement of the Computerized Nigeria Project (CNP) with Zinox Technologies, have enabled some staff to own laptops for enhanced service delivery.

FUTO, he said, currently maintains two official websites, www.futo.edu.ng and www.futongr.com in addition to a portal www.futoeduportal.com which have been deployed for various service delivery such as staff internet browsing, online course registration, payment of school fees, administration of post university matriculation examination (PUME) screening exercise to name a few.

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Frenszo voice chat achieves 100,000 hits per day

The new value added service recently introduced by Glo Mobile, the Frenszo Voice Chat, is exciting subscribers on the network, recording on average, an estimated 100,000 hits per day.

Head, Value Added Services at Glo, Mr. Samson Isa, while affirming this, said that the new offer has attracted the interest of subscribers who have been visiting the portal enmasse on a daily basis.

According to him, the Frenszo phone chat has been designed as an exclusive social networking service for Glo subscribers.

“The service enables registered subscribers to find and make friends on the chat service based on defined profiles,” he said.

Mr. Isa also said that the new service has been recording an average of 100,000 hits per day, describing the response by subscribers as amazing.

“In the first few days of introducing the service, we recorded over 30,000 hits per day. Now the figure has shot up to an average of 100,000 daily hits and it is still growing,” Isa declared.

Further, he said, Frenszo Voice Chat is a unique, innovative and interesting platform for people to meet like-minded friends with similar interest from any region in Nigeria and stay in touch.

He noted that in order to be part of this product, subscribers need to activate the service on their mobiles by dialing the short code 547, then, follow the voice prompt and listen to the pre-recorded profile of other users on the system.

“To enjoy the full features of the service, first time users need to register their profile on the chat engine by recording short and interesting information about themselves,” he said.

He explained that Frenszo Voice Chat allows for anonymous conversation in a secure environment with spam and abusive language control.

“The chat can also be done through SMS. Once registered, the subscriber can manage his account, edit his profile, block/unblock any friend’s chat ID, edit search criteria and or opt for regional chat rooms. All these contribute to making the Frenszo Voice Chat the most robust and dynamic chat service available,” Isa said.

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Talk-for-Love: Zain presents final prizes to winners

Zain Nigeria has presented prizes to the last 10 winners in its Talk for love promo.

The promo which was essentially designed to reward customers during the 2010 Valentine season was one of the ways Zain demonstrated its commitment to creating a ‘wonderful world’ for all its esteemed customers.

Marketing Director, Zain Nigeria, Mr. Mostafa Younes said that during the period, a whooping sum of N42 million worth of air time were given to 8,400 customers, while about 600 consumers were also provided with a Zain Valetine’s pack and dinner at fabulous restaurants in winners’ locations across the country.

He also said that last ten winners include Daniel Ikechukwu, Akintayo Kayode, Laolu Magbodu, Mr. Adebayo, Mura Musa, Mrs. Amen Etim ,Miss Nkiru Obiawo, Doctor Kachukwu to name a few.

He further disclosed that eventual winners of the grand prize will also be given an all expense paid trip to Dubai with $3,000 shopping allowance along with their loved ones and a romantic trip to the City of Gold.

“Our commitment to reward our customers will not end here, as we have an on-going promo, ‘wake up a millionaire’, an initiative that has been rewarding Nigerians across the country with huge cash prizes, this yet underscores the fact that we shall keep going the extra-mile to make all our customers happy,” he said.

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Ekesiani tasks Jonathan on NITEL

Chief Executive Officer, Voicewares Networks Limited, Mr. Gerry Ekesiani, has tasked the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to ensure quick resolution of the stalemate relating to the recent sale of the Nigeria Telecommunications Plc (NITEL).

Speaking in Abuja recently, Ekesiani said that to allow the issue to filter for a long time or even away is not in the best interest of the country and the company, NITEL.

Intervening on the matter, now he said, would forestall any idea that could course the company to further decay at the expense of the Nigerian people.

Ekesiani, who was the former Managing Director of Geosana Digital Communications Limited and immediate past second Vice President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) made the call after an industry stakeholders’ session with the new Minister of State for Information and Communications, Mr. Labaran Maku, which gave him an opportunity to meet with telecom industry operators.

Ekesiani noted that the bid conducted by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) was adjudged as very transparent and that New Generation Consortium Limited made the highest bid and was rightly awarded the preferred bidder.

“Therefore, winner of the auction process,” he said, and wondered why anybody should put on hold a process that was successfully concluded.

He urged the acting president Goodluck Jonathan to wade into the matter in the interest of Nigeria’s economic progress.

ITRealms Online recalls that Voicewares Networks Limited, a national rural telephony programme (NRTP) operstor in Enugu zone which covers Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Benue States offers fixed wired lines and fixed wireless to the unserved and underserved senatorial zones of the six states. It is expected to roll out services in June this year.

Equally, ITRealms Online notes that Federal lawmakers had earlier applauded the Bureau of Public Enterprises for its recent sale of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) and Mobile Telecommunications (Mtel) to New Generation Consortium Limited.

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