Women, girls advised to take up careers in ICT

 ITRealms

The Managing Director, Edo State Information and Communications Technology Agency (ICTA), Mrs. Olayemi Keri, Tuesday in Lagos, advised young women and girls to make Information and Communications Technology part of their career since technology is the major enabler that will drive their career choices, ITRealms reports.

Keri, who was the Chairman of the occasion to mark the International Girls in ICT Day with the theme ‘Girls, Women and Innovation’ which was organised by e-Business Life Communication Limited, publishers of e-Business Life Magazine, emphasized that apart from the fact that there are enough jobs and sources of income in the industry, girls in ICT is meant to further push the campaign to bridge the gender gap in Information and Communications Technology all over the world, stating that in today’s world information dissemination is made possible through ICT. 

On her part, the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of e-Business Life Magazine and convener of the occasion, Ufuoma Emuophedaro, in her welcome address, stated that the event was designed specifically to sensitize young girls in particular and women in general to take up careers in ICT as the industry has limitless opportunities, adding that the emphasis is not just on social media but also deploying such facility to find a beneficial career in ICT which is aimed at shaping their future positively.

ITRealms also reports that Mrs. Lynda St. Nwafor, Chief Technical Officer, MTN Nigeria, speaking during the occasion, offered words of encouragement to young women and girls to take up jobs in ICT saying that professionally there is no difference between men and women, adding that pregnancy is not a disease. She also reiterated the role of women in human resources through child-bearing and as such pregnancy through marriage should not dissuade women from taking up challenging careers especially in ICT.

Girls in ICT Day was established in 2010 by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), as a special programme designed to encourage girls and young women to take up careers in the information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. It is also designed to consciously discuss and analyze some gender-based hindrances towards bridging the gender gap in Information and Communications Technology sub sector of the economy.

Cyriacus Nnaji/ ED,OPs 

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ITU celebrates 150th anniversary, sets May 17 as WTIS Day

ITRealms

International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in line with its role as the United Nations specialized agency for ICTs, celebrates its 150^th anniversary award on 17 May in Geneva, Switzerland, with the theme “Telecommunications and ICTs: drivers of innovation”, and sets to annually observed May 17 as World Telecommunication and Information Society (WTIS) Day, ITRealms reports.

ITRealms gathered that forward-looking movers and shakers in the ICT industry, like Bill Gates, Robert E. Kahn, Thomas Wiegand, Mark I. Krivocheev, Martin Cooper and Ken Sakamura amongst others, would be honoured by  will be honoured with ITU’s 150^th Anniversary Award. As well recognition will be accorded to ITU’s Founding Member States and to its long-standing industry members.

The event is also to feature Panel discussion on “ICT’s Driving a Sustainable Future” with Luis Von Ahn, CEO & founder, DuoLingo; Philip Walton, COO, BRCK; Jian Wang, CTO, Alibaba; Ulf Ewaldsson, CTO, Ericsson; and Gabriela Styf Sjöman, CTO, Telecom Italia Group.

ITU has been interwoven with landmark inventions and innovations in communications over the past 150 years. In the 1850s, soon after Samuel Morse started a service in the United States, ITRealms learnt that telegraph lines crossed national borders and new international agreements had to be forged.

On 17 May 1865, twenty nations gathered in Paris to sign an international framework and formed the International Telegraph Union; the signing of the International Telegraph Convention in Paris in 1865 today culminates into a memorable day, as ITU annually marks May 17 as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

Daniel Nsolibe/Ed, Ops.

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Nigeria: Mobile broadband over riding Fixed broadband - Jejdling

ITRealms

Ericsson Consumer Lab in a new survey report contained in its 2015 consumer insight summary report 'Internet Goes Mobile', has discovered that out of the total number of people that use mobile broadband, more than 95 per cent of Nigerians are more at ease with the mobile broadband services, as it provides easy access on their Smartphone’s, across devices such as laptops, mobile phones and tablets, than the fixed broadband services from wireless fidelity (WiFi) technology, ITRealms reports.

Confirming the report, Head of Region Sub-Saharan Africa at Ericsson, Fredrik Jejdling said the findings would enable service providers to begin to consider expanding their internet broadband capacities, towards mobile broadband, so as to meet up with the increase in demand for mobile broadband that is expected.

He added that, “More Nigerians are beginning to use the mobile broadband services more than ever before, to upload and download contents and information, through the social media, while on the move.”

The study highlights the underlying desires of telecoms consumers, as well as their perceptions of current telecoms operations and services.

ITRealms gathered that in achieving this, it made use of data compiled through a total of 1,653 one-on-one interviews with Nigerians between the ages of 15 to 59 years, with a research sample representing 30 million people between social classes in metropolitan areas, which represent about 40 percent of Nigeria’s urban population.

It further revealed that 56 per cent of mobile phone users are satisfied with data speed and voice connection quality, while over 50 per cent of those who switch between fixed and mobile broadband, do so due to changing locations or the availability of connections.

To enable internet service providers meet up with the expected rise in the demand for mobile broadband services, ITRealms gathered that stake holders in the ICT sector has called on the government to act fast to increase broadband deployment in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

Daniel Nsolibe/Ed, Ops.

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DHL Technology conference, experts set to tap into Africa’s technology growth

ITRealms

The DHL 5^th annual Global Technology conference, under the theme, “Connecting Markets, Trends and People”, came to an end in Dubai with over 300 experts and delegates predicting continued strong growth in the technology sector across African countries, and setting modalities on how to best navigate existing challenges and trade barriers and tap into the growth, ITRealms reports.

ITRealms gathered that the conference, a three day program of plenary sessions and workshops, covered several technological topics including the latest trends, innovations and solutions impacting the technology supply chain and focusing on the Middle East and Africa as key regions of interest with high growth potential.

Ashish Thakkar, Founder and CEO of Mara Group, in a keynote address on ‘Inspiring Africa and capturing chances’, made his case for doing business in Africa and advised companies to move beyond negative media hype and become familiar with African countries on the ground in order to explore and tap into the tremendous potential that exists.

With the internet usage on mobile phones, predicted to increase 20-fold in the next five years in Africa, which is double the rate of growth in the rest of the world. The technology experts also predicted a continued growth in the technology sector across Africa, with savvy entrepreneurs such as Shagaya and Oviosu leading the way in e-commerce and mobile payments, and technology segments such as mobile phones.

Delegates at DHL’s Technology conference as ITRealms gathered, learnt about African consumers’ preferences, such as paying retailers via mobile phone rather than cash and an increasing appetite for well-priced mobile devices, fuelled by a rapidly growing middle class.

Confirming this, Rob Siegers, President, Global Technology Sector, DHL said: “The technology sector is a highly dynamic industry and the pace of change is rapid.   We currently see two distinct trends: the advance of new technologies, such as the Internet of Things, big data, cloud computing and others which are changing business models as technology companies are looking to enhance their products by building services around them – and an increasing focus on tapping into growth in emerging nations”.

He also added that, “While growth is slowing in some of the traditional markets, emerging nations are gaining importance for technology companies, and Africa is of particular interest to many of our customers”.  

Charles Brewer, Managing Director of DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa, stating the company’s vision for the conference said, “We had a team of logistics experts from across Africa on hand to facilitate knowledge sharing and networking, demonstrating that DHL is a strong partner to the technology sector across the continent.”

DHL, as gathered by ITRealms, is the world’s leading logistics service provider and has been in Africa for 37 years, well positioned to support customers with their end-to-end supply chains and tailor-made logistics solutions to help them overcome challenges and tap into the continent’s tremendous growth opportunities.  

Daniel Nsolibe/Ed,Ops.

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BoICT 2015: Openshopen.ng is eCommerce platform of the year

ITRealms:

The electronic commerce (ecommerce) platform, Openshopen.ng from the Computer Warehouse Group Plc was proclaimed the ecommerce platform of the year at the 2015 Beacon of Information and Communication Technology (BoICT) awards in Lagos, recently, reports ITRealms.

Openshopen.ng, ITRealms also reports, won the award after having the highest number of votes in the said category based on an online poll that featured over two hundred thousand entries via email and on the awards electronic voting portal.

Speaking on the credibility of the process, the Chairman of the event and Chief Executive Officer, Zinox Technologies limited, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh observed “I know that those that won the awards tonight deserved them because I can confidently say that the publisher, whom I know very well, is a man of integrity and he will give you what you deserve.”

Presenting the award, Mr. Chris Uwaje, former President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), observed that CWG Plc is known for rolling out IT solutions that are remarkable for standard, customer satisfaction and reliability. “Once again, CWG, with Openshopen has shown us that indigenous IT firms have the capacity to provide the needed back-up for our growing economy”, he added.

Speaking on the significance of the award, Mr. Austin Okere, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc, said “Winning the award of the ecommerce platform of the year in just less than one year of introducing our solution to the Nigerian market speaks volume of the unique value Openshopen offers to SMEs and how they have come to appreciate it”. “Our ecommerce platform has the capacity to support over 100 million stores. It offers businesses the advantage of building and promoting their own brands rather than just dumping their goods and their fates in the hands of third parties, whose brands they are invariably promoting. By displaying their goods online, entrepreneurs significantly increase their sales, thereby creating jobs and ensuring inclusive growth for the economy”, he pointed out.

Openshopen is an ecommerce platform that enables SMEs sell their products online by opening an online store on www.openshopen.ng. It differs from other online shopping platforms, in that it allows merchants sell directly to buyers and have the privilege of promoting their brands, unlike other platforms that require merchants to submit their wares for sale. With Openshopen, store owners can sell their products and receive payments, from any location and are guaranteed of uninterrupted uptime. Merchants have also commended the flexibility of the platform which allows them to open and manage their store with relative ease. 

Six years since inception, the BoICT awards ceremony has been an annual convergence of key players in the ICT industry and a platform to review the strides of the industry in the preceding year and set a benchmark for recognizing and validating achievements in the year ahead. 

Some of the personalities at this year’s event include Chief Leo Stan-Ekeh; Mr. Chris Uwaje, former President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON); Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, the former president of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG); Mr. Soni Irabor, CEO Inspiration FM and Mr. Peter Bankole, Director of Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University among others.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 

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Pix R-L: Success Nmerife, Head Marketing Communications, Computer Warehouse Group Plc, receiving the ecommerce platform of the year award from Mr. Chris Uwaje,immediate past  President, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) at the BoICT awards held in Lagos

Spectranet unveils new logo, offers 5GB free data

ITRealms 

Chief Executive Officer, Spectranet 4G LTE, David Venn, at a media launch in Lagos, announced a monthly rollover of any unused data and a minimum of 5GB free data for its subscribers as it unveils a new corporate identity targeted at providing fast and affordable internet connectivity to Nigerians, ITRealms reports.

ITRealms gathered that Venn, speaking at the event said consumers all over the world, including Nigerian consumers, are increasingly embracing the Internet as the next revolution in gaining access to information and entertainment, deepening social relationships, as an alternative to traditional means of communication and directly making their voice heard in public debates.

“Internet has become part of our lifestyle in Nigeria and we can see its impact felt in almost every facet of our lives. The individual is now a major player in the happenings around him, powered by Information Communication Technology.” He said.

The Internet Service Provider CEO, ITRealms learnt also described the new logo as the hallmark of a new spirit, noting that the firm understands the needs of its customers very well and has kept on improving services to offer the best internet solution in the country.

ITRealms gathered that Spectranet has gone beyond 3G and is the 1st 4G LTE Network in Nigeria which brings numerous benefits that provide a powerful internet broadband experience that is way beyond current 3G performance.

Daniel Nsolibe/Ed, Ops.

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Etisalat, NCC to boost investments in local innovations

ITRealms

Vice president, Regulatory and Public Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Dikko, at a quarterly seminar organised by the Nigeria Information and Communications Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) in Lagos, said it would partner with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to boost growth of Nigeria’s telecom sector by promoting investments in local innovations as it has increased its subscribers’ base to over 22 million in less than six years of operation, ITRealms reports.

ITRealms gathered that Mr. Dikko, represented by the company’s spokesperson, Chineze Amanfo, noted that to enhance local capacity building in the sector, the company, as part of its innovative strides, instituted the Etisalat Prize for Innovation Award which encourages indigenous software developers to create apps that will enhance the growth of the mobile industry.

Executive Vice Chairman NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah, represented by the NCC executive commissioner, Dr Mike Onyia, ITRealms learnt said that innovation from a regulatory point of view, has catapulted growth in the sector to the height that it has achieved today, with the uncountable number of apps riding on telecom networks.

“NCC adopted technology neutrality in its licensing process to provide opportunity for creativity and innovation in the provision of services. Restriction of service to specific technologies, as we discovered, may not allow for innovation, so we have allowed for choice of technologies for multiple operators using regulatory tools designed to encourage local innovation in the provision of services.” He said.

Juwah, ITRealms learnt, also added that innovation provides mutual benefit to bother the service provider and consumer of the service, adding that NCC would continue to encourage innovations in all aspects of the industry, as it is appropriate to predict that when broadband services become very much available in Nigeria as planned, it will also come with inevitable push for more innovations in the ways services are delivered today.

ITRealms also gathered that Etisalat Nigeria is partnering with the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, in association with Etisalat Academy in Dubai and Billmort University, United Kingdom to train Nigerian engineers towards developing a pool of manpower for the telecom industry.

Daniel Nsolibe/Ed, Ops.

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