Nigerian Dr. Nwankpa heads ECE dept @ Drexel University

ITRealms:

A Nigerian professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dr. Chika Nwankpa, has been appointed Head, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Drexel University in the United States, reports ITRealms. 

Dean, College of Engineering, Drexel University, Dr. Joseph B. Hughes, affirmed this in a public statement sighted by ITRealms, saying that Dr. Chika Nwankpa has been with Drexel since 1990, starting as an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He became an Associate Professor in 1995 and a Full Professor in 2002. 

Dr. Nwankpa, ITRealms gathered, earned his M.Engr.Sc. from St. Petersburg Polytechnic State University in Russia and a Ph.D. from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, Illinois and has been serving as Interim Department Head for the last 11 months.

According to the dean, Dr. Nwankpa until his present appointment has been serving as the Director for the Center for Electric Power Engineering (CEPE), which supports the research and instructional program of Drexel University in academic areas associated with electric energy and power.  

In pursuit of these goals, Hughes said, the CEPE works with electric utilities, state and federal agencies, private industries, nonprofit organizations and other universities on a wide spectrum of projects.  He has been involved in investigating nonlinear dynamics associated with power systems and electronics leading to the development of stochastic models representative of energy consumption and renewable energy sources. 

ITRealms also reports that Dr. Nwankpa’s work has led to development of novel real-time computation techniques that capture these dynamics.

“The importance of this work lies in the ability to lower energy costs. The benefit to society will be an infrastructure characterized by lower energy costs with increased security and sustainable and secure multiple energy-type delivery systems,” Dr. Hughes said.

An author of some 47 refereed journal papers and 125 conference papers, Dr. Nwankpa has been the result of work that has been supported by grants totaling over $10 million, about N1.9 billion.

Decorated previously with the prestigious Presidential Faculty Fellow Award, Dr. Nwankpa was elected Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), an honor reserved for 1 per cent of over 400,000 members.

ITRealms further gathered that the ECE department has an enrollment of 842 undergraduate and 161 graduate students, with Dr. Nwankpa depicting exceptional leadership as interim department head and is well deserving of this permanent position.

“Please join me in congratulating Dr. Nwankpa and wishing him well in his new role,” Dr. Hughes said.

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Pix: Dr. Chika Nwankpa, courtesy, Dexel University.

Nigerian Team Charis shines @ Technovation 2015, wins $10,000

ITRealms:

Young women from Nigeria and India are celebrating their entrepreneurial success after being awarded $10,000 each in seed funding for their mobile app ideas at the 2015 Technovation World Pitch Competition recently in San Francisco, United States of America (USA), reports ITRealms.

Investigations by ITRealms, showed that estimated 400 apps were submitted to Technovation from 28 countries.

These 400 apps, ITRealms gathered were narrowed down to top 10 finalists from Brazil, India, Mexico, Nigeria and the United States, whose teams were flown into San Francisco for a series of events which culminated in the two day World Pitch Conference.

According to Events and Engagement Director, Technovation, Allie Holmes, on June 24, all teams pitched their apps to an audience of tech professionals and a panel of judges from Yahoo, Yelp, Google, Hackbright Academy and the Salesforce.com Foundation, and on June 25 learned with two teams awarded $10,000 each to develop their app and bring it to market.

“This year, the first place awards went to Team Charis from Nigeria (High School Division) and Team Pentechan from India (Middle School Division),” Holmes said.

ITRealms further showed that High School Winners, which is Nigerian Team Charis took first place in the high school division for their app “Discardious,” a mobile solution to the problem of improper waste disposal in Nigeria.

Team Charis’ members are Nmesoma Ogbonna, Sonam Kumar, Charlotte Takem, Praise Emem David-Oku, and Grace Akpoiroro, all of whom attend iKapture Afterschool Academy. They were mentored and coached by Yemurayi Chinyand and Grace Ihejiamaizu.

Also, the second place was awarded to Team WoCo, a team from Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, for their app PraisePop. Team AMEKA from Winchester, MA took third place for their app Safeguard Driving.

For the Middle School Winners, which Team Pentechan from India emerged first place for their app “Sellexo”, an online marketplace for users to buy and sell dry waste.

Team Pentechan’s members are:  Anupama Nhavalore, Navyasree Balamuralidhar, Sanjana Vasanth, Mahima Mehendale, and Swasthi P Rao all of whom attend New Horizon Public School in Bangalore, India. Team Pentechan was mentored and coached by Pratheeksha K. S., Dipika Rajendran, and Aravamudhan Narayanan

Team AAT from New York City took the second place prize in the middle school division for their app ConcussionChecker.

The two first place teams will receive $10,000 in seed funding to continue developing their app and bring it to market when they return home.

All World Pitch events were sponsored by AVG, CA Technologies, LinkedIn, Rackspace and Yahoo. 

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Tampering with critical infrastructure now punishable

ITRealms:

The newly signed into law Cyber crime Act has made it clear that those who tamper with critical infrastructure, computer-related forgery could now be dully punished, reports ITRealms.

An extract from the Cybercrime Act signed into law by the immediate past president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan on May 15, 2015, available to ITRealms indicated that its objective  among others will include to provide an effective and unified legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection prosecution and punishment of cybericrimes in Nigeria.

“Ensure the protection of critical national information infrastructure,” part of the Act read.

Also, it would promote cyber security and the protection of computer systems and networks electronic communications, data and computer programmes intellectual property and privacy rights.

Speaking on this development, Director, Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tony Ojobo underscored the fact that on Part II – Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure, stressed the importance of protecting or preservation of critical information infrastructure; the general management of critical information infrastructure, noting that access to transfer and control of data in any critical information infrastructure.

“Infrastructural or procedural rules and requirements for securing the integrity and authenticity of data or information contained in any designated critical national information infrastructure,” he said.

He highlighted that the theft of electronic devices, electronic signature, child pornography and related offences, racism and xenophobic offences are punishable under the Act.

According to the objectives of this Act, ITRealms gathered it will “provide an effective and unified legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection prosecution and punishment of cybercrimes in Nigeria.

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Ikpoki, McKelvey, Fakharany for Tech+ 2015

ITRealms

 The Managing Director, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Michael Ikpoki and Co-Founder Square, Mr. Jim McKelvey as well as the Regional Business Lead, Google X, West Africa, Mr. Wael Fakharanny would be leading industry experts to deliver keynotes at the  2015 Tech+ Conference and Exhibition, ITRealms reports.

The Conference which is powered by MTN and billed for July 24 and 25 at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, ITRealms learnt,  would dwell on the theme ‘Leadership in Digital Technology’ even as Vice President and Area Business Head, West Africa Mastercard, Ms Omokehinde Ojomuyide, Director, Enterprise, Samsung, Charles Ojei,CEO, Gamsole, Abiola Olaniyan, his counterpart at Jumia Africa, Nicolas Martin, and Regional Director, M-Net (West), Ms Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu among others would grace the occasion.

ITRealms also learnt the conference would serve as a gathering of industry players in various fields of human endeavour including the unveiling of Coscharis latest addition to the world of auto brands: the Jaguar Landrover said to be both exotic and high class.

Abiona Babarinde, General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Services, Coscharis, disclosed that the company is identifying with Tech+ because of  the importance and  value creation derivable from such an exhibition and conference adding that it is  actually the first time Coscharis will be unveiling its brand at an exhibition, saying it has always been a-stand-alone activity. He stated that guests at Coscharis’ stand will experientially test-drive the latest Jaguar Landrover if they so wish, adding that all the company’s Landrover collections will be on parade, ITRealms learnt.

The General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Richard Iweanoje,on his part, said that MTN is a key driver as the country moves away from voice-centric business to web2.0, a digital era where business and human activities are driven by technology.

Iweanoje said being Africa, Nigeria and technology’s biggest brand, MTN will always be at the forefront of technology related -Conferences and Exhibitions such as this because MTN believes in what technology can do in the future, stating that the company is a key player in the quest to realize digitized Nigeria. He stated that the company will bring technology to the people, free internet connectivity, internet of things and demonstration of where the future will be.

Bertille Guitton, extolling  Jumia, an online shopping service company said the company is about making life easier for people, adding that in the three years of operation in Nigeria, Jumia has simplified commerce, hence her  participation in Tech+ Conference as it will provide a platform to showcase Jumia’s  online services. She concluded that the CEO of the company will be speaking at the conference.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Marketing Connect, Tunji Adeyinka, the organizers of the conference, ITRealms reports, had earlier stated that the 2015 Tech+ Conference and Exhibition will serve as a gathering of divers groups of people for ideas, networking and exhibitions, adding that the conference is not limited to any sector, stating that registration for participation is online which attracts some benefits even as he said  on spot registration is not ruled out, emphasizing that participation is free to the public .To register all one needs do is  text: www.techplus.com.ng even as he encouraged the media to tweet using #TECH+ 2015.

TECH+is an online solution to problems associated with technology. It provides key to hiccups in computer technologies, mobile devices, tablets or even where to purchase the best mobile and computer devices, Tech+ also answers questions relating to traffic and locations.

Cyriacus Nnaji/ GEE

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MTN leads technology influencers to Tech+ exhibition

ITRealms:

MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd is leading key industry players to a two-day Tech+ conference and exhibition, holding later this month in Lagos, reports ITRealms.

Tech+ which prides itself as Nigeria’s major technology conference and exhibitions, ITRealms reports, is slated for July 24 and 25, 2015 at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. 

Some of the industry influencers backing the two-day show comprised Coscharis Motors, Huawei, Jumia, Google, Samsung, Terragon Group, Enplug Africa, Atlantic Exhibition and Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA) among others.

Speaking at a media conference in Lagos, Richard Iweanoge, GM, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, noted that the global impact of technology across all areas of human endeavour has made it more imperative that people stay in touch with the world around them to be able to identify with technological advancements that could reshape their world.

“As we all know, technology is fast evolving and the world has become a global village where people from across the globe can communicate with one another with just a touch of a button. At times like these, it is important that we stay in touch with the world around us and keep track of the latest innovations that impact our world and our current existence.

“Technology is equally shaping the world of business. Enterprise teams now collaborate face-to-face without travel. And with all their business info in the Cloud, SMEs can transact business from anywhere in the world with ease. MTN Business our B2B arm is proud to be associated with these developments," he said.

Also speaking in her brief remarks, Head of Communications, Jumia, BertilleGuitton said her company’s involvement in TECH+ stems from the important roles Technology has played in making life easier. She stated that the company has deployed Technology to simplify commerce in the last three years of operations in the country.

Meanwhile, Coscharis Motors has announced plans to launch the Jaguar XE range at the Tech+ Conference and Exhibitions.

The General Manager, Marketing & Corporate Services, Coscharis Group, Abiona Babarinde revealed this while speaking at the formal unveiling of TECH+ Conference and Exhibitions.

According to him, the launch ‘is to highlight the importance we attach to the Conference’.

“We operate a business that thrives on innovations. This is why we are the unique market leaders in the elite automobile sector. The Jaquar XE compact range is a statement on Technological advancement and TECH+ Conference and Exhibitions offer a unique platform to unveil it to the Nigerian public, “he said.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)  

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