Zinox boost citizenship education with 50,000 constitutions

Zinox Group has concluded plans to boost citizenship education in some schools with the donation of 50,000 copies of Nigerian constitution.

Group Corporate Communications Adviser to Zinox, Mr. Echika Ezuka, said at the weekend that citizenship education plans to supply free 50,000 copies of the Nigerian constitution to select schools across the nation has been finalised.

According to him, the Nigerian constitution, paperback, has simplified explanatory notes making it legible to primary school pupils, hence, Zinox Group would supply the constitution to schools as soon as the new academic session opens - to further deepen the on-going democratic experience, stimulate interest in citizen education, and ultimately contribute to the development of a new breed of Nigerians.

He said that Zinox considered herself inextricably bound to Nigeria’s democratic experience with the successful provision of the technology backbone for two voters’ registration exercises; in 2006 and 2011.

Also, he said, that the supply of the constitution to schools would complement the commitment of the hardware providers to the development of a knowledge economy where every Nigerian has an equal opportunity to aspire to the top.

“The gesture intends to seize the public focus on the just concluded elections to draw attention to citizen education, a much neglected field of study in the Nigerian curriculum,” he said, stressing that a citizenry aware of its rights and duties would be more likely to provide effective leadership and followership, maintaining that such a citizenry would also exhibit traits of patriotism that would drive economic growth.

Further, Ezuka said that Zinox is poised to play an active role in the new resurgent Nigeria by capturing the aspirations and symbols of nationhood in the design and functionality of the brands that are about to be launched.

He pointed out that the architecture of the hardware would reinforce the patriotism that is evident in the product delivery of Zinox over the years.

“Every Zinox laptop or desktop would give the Nigerian a sense of pride and ownership in statehood. This benefit would be an addition to competitive pricing, unequalled after sales support, and flexible purchase conditions,” he said.

Ezuka emphasised that Zinox Computers pioneered the local manufacture of computers in Nigeria barely ten years ago as the country’s first internationally certified branded computers.

Remmy Nweke
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Ghana to host second annual AfPIF Confab

The city of Accra and capital of Ghana would this year, play host to the African Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF) to be held between 8 – 9 August this year.

AfPIF being organized by the Internet Society (ISOC) would be hosted by the Ghanaian National Information Technology Agency (NITA), with the theme: “Regional Interconnection: Outlining the business case.”

Senior Manager, Access and Development, Internet Society, Mr. Michuki Mwangi, noted that the world’s trusted source of Internet leadership, would be hosting the second African Peering and Interconnection Forum, scheduled to take place in Accra.

“Currently only 30 per cent of West African countries have national Internet Exchange Points, a low percentage compared to East and Southern Africa. We hope that this event will serve as a platform to examine the related issues and to identify strategies to remove the barriers to implementation,” Mwangi said.

He said that this event will address the key interconnection opportunities and challenges in the Africa and provide participants with insights into maximising regional opportunities, stating that the theme: “Regional Interconnection: Outlining the business case,” is aimed at foster a robust discussion on cross-border interconnection approaches, economics and challenges.

As a multi-stakeholder forum, he said, the event will bring together a range key players, such as infrastructure providers, service providers, IXPs and regulators and will aim to build on the success of the inaugural AfPIF event held in Nairobi, Kenya in August 2010.

ITRealms Online recalls that this second AfPIF conference is conceived as a non-profit event.

Remmy Nweke
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

DCC, Gamatronics showcase higher efficiency UPS

The communications subsidiary of the Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), DCC Networks and Gamatronics recently showcased higher efficiency Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) in Lagos.

The UPS, they said at the Energy Saving Summit, was specially made as an upgradable power supply. Gamatronics is a leading provider of cutting edge power module solutions and technology from Israel.

The forum, which was used to introduce the various ranges of modular UPS systems from Gamatronics, focused on engendering “Higher Efficiency in back-up solutions using Modular Uninterrupted Power Supply.”

Presentations enlightened participants, who are professionals from different sectors of the economy, on the various opportunities that can be generated from within a tightly integrated and tested solution with simplified management that reduces complexity, risks and costs of running a data centre.

The energy saving summit also availed the participants innumerable ways through which power efficiency can be increased and asset better utilized. It opened vista of opportunities for business enhancement and increase in productivity. The solution meets the growing complexity of the 21st century power needs, especially in heavy power dependent industries such as Information Technology (IT) centers, Datacenters, telecom companies among others. It is a complete solution that comes with power, control and management.

Sales Manager for Africa at Gamatronic, Mr. Mahmud Subhi, said, “the company offers full range of cutting edge power solutions such as Modular UPS+ solution in multiple capacities, wide range of non modular UPS systems, Modular Power systems for the telecom industry, Modular DC/AC inverters and converters, to name a few.

The Power+ is a parallel redundant UPS, which comprised of 1 to 10 UPS modules of 10kVAva each, a system controller, static switch module, and distribution block. The flexible system is user upgradeable from 10Kva to 100Kva, and the modules are designed for hot insertion.”

He explained further that the solution remained the true online battery in which the inverter supplies the power to the load and takes its power either from the AC input (via the rectifier) or from the battery. The rectifier is controlled to recharge the battery and maintain it in the charged condition. The battery is connected between the rectifier output and the inverter input on a common DC link.

“The unit is based on the successful Power+ technology developed in-house by leading Gamatronic research and development engineers, and is further improved by implementing latest power elements and algorithms available on power electronics market. The performance is extremely awesome and hence the unprecedented demand,” he said.

The General Manager, DCC Networks, Mr. Oladipo Raji, said it was essential for businesses to deploy the latest technological innovations to drive their operations in the current competitive ICT driven global market.

“Technology as we all know grows faster than businesses can easily catch up with. Technology growth responds to global trends and not local dynamics, whereas business responds to change in both local and global environment. There is need, therefore to improve on operational efficiency while reducing the cost of doing business and the cost of managing infrastructure to ensure high optimization,” Raji said.

Gamatronics, he said, is the power savings solution being introduced into the Nigerian market in partnership with Gamatronics is scalable and efficient. Computer Warehouse Group has a five year agenda for the African market and with the current workforce of 550 employees, the company has transited from being a hardware company to becoming a major player in managed services, offering innovative solutions to the African market.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D