CWG plc names Agada CEO, Okere EVC

ITRealms:

Erstwhile Chief Technology Officer of the Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc, Mr. James Agada, has been promoted to the post of a Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Computer Warehouse Group Plc (CWG), reports ITRealms.

The CWG Board of Directors, ITRealms report disclosed this in a press statement made available to our newsroom, notifying all stakeholders and the general public of changes in the Company’s executive management.

As said by the board, Mr James Agada, formerly the Chief Technology Officer of the Company is now appointed the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company.

ITRealms reports that Mr Agada is a highly innovative and versatile technology expert who holds both a first class degree and a Master’s Degree in Electronic Engineering, with specialization in Digital Systems, from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He also holds an MBA from the International Graduate School of Management (IESE), Navara, Spain and prides himself with vast experience in consulting, software development, implementation and support. He was pro tem president, Lagos Chapter of the Nigeria Computer Society, and was conferred with the “Titans of Tech Merit Award” in 2013, by Technology Africa. Prior to his appointment as the Company’s MD/CEO, Mr. Agada was responsible for the Company’s research and development unit. He was also the Executive Director overseeing the Company’s former software division, ExpertEdge.

Reacting, Mr Agada expressed appreciation to the Board of Directors of CWG for the confidence reposed on him by way of the latest elevation, asserting “I know the times are difficult and the challenges are many especially given the business performance of the company in the last few years.

Our first task is to return CWG Plc to sustainable profitability this year. We will be taking tough decisions to reduce our costs. We will also be investing to grow profitable business. Maintaining this balance between cost reduction and the needed investment for growth will be the big tasking effort that is facing us. I assure you of my commitment to put in my utmost best to ensure CWG Plc returns to a growing profitable path” he said.

Mr Kunle Ayodeji has also been appointed as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Ayodeji is a seasoned professional with enormous experience in the fields of banking, financial consulting and private equity. Prior to his joining CWG, Mr. Ayodeji was an Investment Principal with Aureos Capital (“Aureos”) and later became an Associate Director with The Abraaj Group (“Abraaj”), where he was instrumental in the investment of over US$45 million of Abraaj Funds. Before joining Aureos in 2007, Mr. Ayodeji was a Senior Consultant with KPMG Nigeria where he was involved with the valuation, due diligence and feasibility studies for various corporations and state governments. He also worked with Triumphbank Plc in Lagos, Nigeria. 

Mr. Ayodeji had been a member of the Board committees of both the Company’s Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (where he was the pioneer Chairman), as well as the General Purpose Committee, before he joined CWG in March, 2015 as Executive Director, Finance and Operations. Mr. Ayodeji holds a B.Sc. in Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria and an MBA from University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

ITRealms further gathered that Mr. Austin Okere continues as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Company. Mr. Okere who founded the Company, previously filled the role of the Executive Vice Chairman in addition to his role as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Okere is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Columbia Business School (CBS), New York, a Fellow of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria, and also serves on the World Economic Forum Business Council on Innovation and Intrapreneurship, Board of National Competiveness Council of Nigeria, and the Initiative for Global Development (IGD) will continue to contribute enormously to the continuous growth of the Company through his wealth of knowledge in the ICT industry and Entrepreneurial development.

To strengthen the finance function of the Company, Mrs. Obianuju Ejeh-Nnabuife has also been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer. She has enormous experience in the areas of audit, financial and risk advisory, financial control and treasury. She commenced her career at KPMG, where she provided audit and advisory services to banks, discount houses and insurance companies. She was one of the pioneer staff of the finance and treasury division at Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), the African-focused Development Financial Institute. 

She also worked in other sectors such as the Retail and Oil and Gas in both Nigeria and the Middle East. Mrs Ejeh-Nnabuife holds an MBA from Manchester Business School, UK. She also has a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Benin. She is an associate Member of ICAN and a CFA Charterholder.

Announcing the appointments, the Company Secretary, Mr. Okey Ejibe expressed his conviction that the Company’s business performance and standard would continually improve.

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Openmall targets 34m small scale businesses

ITRealms:

The Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), a leading provider of information and communication technology solutions has brought Openmall, an online shopping platform to the International Trade Fair Complex (ITFC) Lagos even as it targets 34 million small scale businesses, ITRealms reports.

The Chief Technology Officer, CWG, James Agada, said the intention of creating the platform is to provide online shop for small scale businesses to display their goods and services for prospective buyers, adding that it is designed to make them grow bigger than what they are currently. He also said that Openmall ensures about 20 per cent discount compared to what is bought in other e-commerce platforms because his company, unlike others, does not have its own products so there is no quest for profit maximization.

Agada who was speaking at the ITFC Openmalllaunch,Thursday, stated that Openmall will enhance job creation, saying that if eachof the 34 million small businesses can  employ one more person in their business, another 34 million jobs willhave been created, adding that the platform will put in value to the Nigerian economy disclosing that if this number of businesses came on board with a minimum of N10, 000 each, it will definitely inject billions of Naira into the nation’s economy.

He said Openmall has neither shop nor product to sell but operates a customer desk that interfaces between the buyers and sellers, saying that Openmall operates an escrow account system in which the platform ensures that both the buyer and seller honour their terms of agreement.

“When the buyer confirms interest in a particular goods or service he pays and the money enters Openmall account, the seller provides the item which is delivered to the buyer before the money is then released to the seller, all these within 24 hours,” Agada said.

He said the group is partnering with market associations, NGOs, market, leaders,currier service companies in case of distant customers and banks, adding that arrangement is on the way to work with the banks to provide soft loans to the small businesses in order to enable them stay on business. He said while the smallest online shop costs N2,500 a month, the biggest size goes for N10,000 a month.

The Business Development Manager, Openmall, Chidi Asiegbu, ITRealms gathered, said the society is changing with emerging technologies and people should embrace the change and advised business owners to own a website through Openmall platform, saying that the platform will remove logistics both on the part of the buyer and the seller, adding that the online shop also offers the seller platform for advertising his goods and services on his own shop which is embedded in Openmall.

Asiegbu informed guests that the company will be in the Complex for another five days to enable interested business owners to come and book their online shops.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Okere @ CBS to share economic breakthroughs in emerging markets

 ITRealms:

Founder, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc and member of the World Economic Forum Business Council on Intrapreneurship and Innovation, Mr. Austin Okere would be returning to the Columbia Business School (CBS) in New York on October 27, 2015, reports ITRealms.

In a public statement endorsed by CWG, ITRealms gathered that Mr. Okere would be teach at the Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center at CBS on “Riding on the Sharing Economy to break into Emerging Markets.”

For what has been tagged the CWG 2.0, Mr. Okere would be using the platform to draw attention to partnership opportunities in the sub-Saharan Africa.

ITRealms also reports that Mr. Okere’s engagement would open on October 27 by 12:30pm till 2pm at Uris Hall 326 with a refreshment of pizza available for participants.

Okere was quoted as underscoring the fact that shifting consumer behavior and the penetration of broadband and mobile technology has given rise to a new sharing economy aptly referred to as the On-Demand economy.

He also pointed out that this has created platform for partnerships to break into the high growth emerging economies with innovative products and services.

“Come and explore and engage,” he invited.

ITRealms recalls that Mr. Okere with his experience as the founder of CWG since 23 years ago is indicative of the growth that the company has made as it records a $130 million revenue, listed as the largest ICT security on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE).

Recently, ITRealms recollects, the World Economic Forum recognized CWG as a WEF Global Growth Company in addition to several other recognition across the continent of Africa.

Interested participants are urged to register at http://bit.ly/EIROKERESPR15, while appointment could be scheduled via Chris Bustamante.

 +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

CWG, confirmed data centre, cloud services player – EMP boss

ITRealms:

The Chief Executive Officer, Emerging Markets Payments Group (EMP), Mr. Murat Ozulku, has declared the Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) as a reputed brand in data centrea nd cloud services management sector in the country, reports ITRealms.

led a delegation of the Company’s executives on a working visit to the corporate head office of Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc in Lagos. The visit aims at deepening the partnership between both firms.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc, Mr. Austin Okere, observed that in line with the firm’s cloud services under the new CWG2.0 business model, the group operates a data centre for her use, as well as the use of her customers. 

“The Data Centre is a state of the art category 3 facility manned by a complement of experienced and certified technical personnel,” he said.

In addition, he said, CWG adheres strictly to a Standard Operating Procedure and provides a checklist for all clients’ equipment to ensure that they meet best practices including dual power and network sources for all devices. 

“This is further complemented with Managed Services for Level 2 and level 3 technical support. With this facility, we have been able to offer EMP the platform they require to support their customers in Africa and the Middle East with unparalleled payment services” he said.

The visiting Chief Executive Officer, EMP Financial Payments Solutions, Mr. Murat Ozulku, remarked that they aimed at strengthening the relationship between the two companies and build upon mutual aspirations. 

“CWG is a recognized brand in the Data Centre and Cloud Services management sector, and a strong partner that has given us the technical backup we need to support the rapid growth in our clientele across Nigeria,” he said. Stressing that the visit would gives them the unique opportunity to discuss ways of collaboration and expand the range of innovative solutions, to engender fast growing payment industry in Africa and beyond. 

EMP delivers electronic payments services to more than 130 banks and 30,000 merchants across 45 countries. The company is committed to supporting the rapid and secure expansion of the payments industry in these fast growing markets. It is noteworthy that EMP was the first processing company to introduce cutting-edge Europay, Mastercard and Visa chip-and-pin technology to Africa and thus making the African payments industry more secure.

True to her mission of deploying technologies that enable growth, CWG boasts of technology innovation and services that have improved the operations of financial institutions in Nigeria. It will be recalled that CWG recently powered the migration of United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Associated Discount House (ADH) to the Finacle 10 banking solution. 

She also champions the course of financial inclusion in West Africa using her FinEdge Financial Platform to power products such as MTN XaaS in collaboration with MTN for Microfinance banking, and the Diamond Yello Account, in collaboration with Diamond Bank and MTN for Mobile Money applications.

 +ITRealms DSA +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +CWG Africa @EMP Nigeria

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Pix: L-R: Mr. James Agada, Group Chief Technology Officer, CWG Plc; Mr. Hany Fawzy, Chief Information Officer, EMP; Mr. Austin Okere, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc; and Mr. Adetoyese Oyerinde, Data Centre Manager, CWG Plc at the corporate head office of CWG Plc, in Lagos

CWG board elevates Austin Okere to VC/CEO, Ayodeji, Onyia too

ITRealms:

Rising from its recent meeting the Board of Directors of Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc has elevated the erstwhile Group Managing Director, Mr. Austin Okere the Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, reports ITRealms.

The CWG board speaking through the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Phillip Obioha informed ITRealms that, as part of the company strategy to strengthen its structures towards achieving its short and long term goals, confirms the appointment of Messrs Kunle Ayodeji and Okey Onyia as the Executive Director and Vice President, Sales respectively.

While Mr. Okere’s assumed the Vice Chairman role immediately, he takes up this latest position as an ardent entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in Information Technology Industry.
Okere who is Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Columbia Business School (CBS), New York, is a member of the World Economic Forum Business Council on Global Growth Companies, Board of National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria, ICT Advisory Board to Hon. Minister of Communication Technology, and the Initiative for Global Development (IGD); a Washington-based nonprofit organization that drives poverty reduction by catalyzing business growth and investment in the developing world. His wealth of knowledge in IT and Entrepreneurial development will contribute enormously to the continuous growth of the company.

For Mr. Kunle Ayodeji the new Executive Director, he would oversee the Operstions and finances of CWG, even as  he brings on board over 15 years’ experience in the fields of banking, financial consulting and private equity management. Prior to joining CWG, Mr. Ayodeji was an Investment Principal with Aureos Capital and later became an Associate Director with The Abraaj Group. He was also with KPMG Professional Services prior to joining Aureos Capital. His expertise in finance and strategy will play a crucial role in strengthening the Company’s growth.

On the other hand, the new Vice President, Sales, Mr. Okey Onyia comes to this position with 15 years of relevant industry experience to his new role having previously served in Senior Sales Management roles for leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in Nigeria including Hewlett Packard Nigeria and most recently at Oracle Corporation. He will be responsible for delivering on the Company’s revenue targets with a view to driving the Company towards profitable growth.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

GIMAC Cameroon visits CWG facility, seeks collaboration

ITRealms:

The Managing Director of Cameroon’s interbank agency, “Groupement Interbancaire Monétique de l'Afrique Centrale (GIMAC), Mr. Valentin Mbozo’o led a delegation of the agency on a working visit to the corporate head office of Computer Warehouse Group Plc (CWG) in Lagos, recently, reports ITRealms.

The objective of the team, ITRealms gathered was to appraise CWG’s cloud offerings and identify areas of potential collaboration between both firms.

Welcoming the visitors, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at CWG, Mr. James Agada, explained that CWG has garnered a rich history of offering business enabling IT solutions to the finance industry in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“CWG has rolled out a plethora of innovation products and excellent support services to financial institutions in Nigeria that has improved their customers’ experience and expanded the business scope.”

He also said that CWG in partnership with First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) plc powered Firstmonie, an innovative product that enables customers to access financial and other value added services offered through their mobile phones.

“We have recently followed up with Diamond Yello account in conjunction with Diamond bank and MTN. We have also deployed the Finacle banking application to leading banks to enhance their operations. We deployed about a third of the aggregate ATMs in the country and support quite a number as we speak.” “Today, the visit by GIMAC bears the possibility of replicating this history in Cameroon and Francophone Africa,” he explained.

                          

For GIMAC, the visit presented the team with a unique opportunity for the agency to partner with CWG in her bid to extend her scope of operations and service delivery.

As said by Mr. Mbozo’o, their objective at GIMAC, code named vision 2017 is to introduce a unique payment card that will be adopted in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) countries by 2017 to enable a functional, regulatory financial ecosystem in the entire region in the nearest future.

“We have seen that CWG has the technical expertise and the credibility to help actualize our vision and we are willing to partner with them to make this vision a reality” he declared.

Also speaking, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc, Mr. Austin Okere, observed that growing GIMAC’s transaction base to include the unbanked and underbanked population is a precursor for a successful actualization of her vision and that CWG has the capacity to boost the transaction base geometrically through financial inclusion and SME empowerment.

“We have rolled out a number of solutions that address the issue of financial inclusion. FINEDGE is designed to give Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) sustainability and mechanisms for control. With it they can automate their services and serve the SMEs community effectively. Diamond Yello account has brought banking to the door step of everyone capable of operating a mobile phone. We introduced SMERP; an ERP solution that allows SMEs keep their inventory and track sales. Another is Openshopen, an e-commerce platform that will help them boost their visibility and improve sales. With these, not only will the SMEs be able to secure loans and increase profitability but MFIs will feel safe to grant them these loans,” he said.

Okere emphasized that in all CWG has created a technology platform in the cloud where the various players in the economy transact using technology. Stressing that CWG believes that GIMAC will leverage on the unique opportunities offer thereof through these solutions to actualize its vision.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Pix: (L-R): Mr. James Agada, CTO, CWG Plc; Mr. Austin Okere, CEO CWG Plc; Mr. Valentin Mbozo’o, MD GIMAC and Mr. Valentine Essimbi Jean Valentin, Head Applications, GIMAC; during Groupement Interbancaire Monétique de l'Afrique Centrale (GIMAC) during a working visit to Computer Warehouse Group Plc (CWG)’s corporate head office in Lagos recently.

‘CWG is Oracle partner of the year award 2015’

ITRealms:

Acclaimed leading Pan-African Information and Communication Technology (ICT) company,  the Computer Warehouse Group Plc (CWG),  is the Oracle partner of the year 2015, reports ITRealms.

This, ITRealms gathered follows an award presentation to CWG at the Oracle ‘Spread the Red’ event which held in Lagos to celebrate outstanding partners in the country.

ITRealms recalls that Oracle Specialized Partner of the Year Award is given to Oracle partners in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) in commemoration of their outstanding performance in identified areas, which includes specialization in Oracle products sales, excellent customer service delivery and innovative value added services.

In addition, ITRealms reports that ‘Partner of the year award winners’ are adjudged by a panel of executives from Oracle EMEA Alliances and Channels. They are also considered as the regions nomination for the Oracle Global Award.

Oracle Nigeria country manager, Mr. Bayo Sanni, said CWG’s commitment to both companies’ partnership drive is satisfactory.

“CWG has been a dependable partner in the Nigerian market space overtime. And, this special award represents our appreciation of their contributions to our business and indeed the entire industry in the out-gone year. “It is also an assurance of our commitment to continue to work closely with you on driving the Oracle business in the bid to actualize our mutual business priorities in 2015”, he said.

For the Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc, Mr. Austin Okere, the award is a testimony to CWG’s commitment to the provision of business enabling technology solutions in diverse sectors of the economy.

“Our business profile is defined by the deployment of consumer-centric IT products and solutions over the years. In turn, this has distinguished us to be a partner of choice to Original Equipment Manufacturers. The Oracle Partnership award is in recognition of this commitment,” he said.

He pointed out that for his team, this award calls for greater commitments, pointing out that CWG could only build on this to do better.

“We are poised to continue to provide these excellent services and products in the form of solution sales, installation, hands-on trainings, integration, migration, support services to solution optimization and enhancement”, Okere said.

ITRealms further gathered that the Oracle award adds to CWG’s list of local and international recognitions over the years.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Pix: (L-R) Austin Okere, Founder and Group CEO, CWG Plc; Adebayo Sanni, Country Managing Director, Oracle; Abdulahmed O. Mustapha, DG, Lagos State Financial Systems Management Bureau and Toju Onaiwu, Director, Software, Edo State ICT Agency  during an official visit to Oracle in Lagos recently.