Tasks Systems elevates Oduntan, Faola, Okpalaeke

ITRealms:

Foremost Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions company, the Task Systems Limited, has elevated three of its own, namely Mrs. Olufunke Oduntan, Mr. Lekan Faola and Mr. Stanley Okpalaeke, reports ITRealms.

The new managerial appointment, ITRealms reports saw the erstwhile Executive Director, Mrs. Olufunke Oduntan elevated to the position of Managing Director, while Mr. Lekan Faola joins the company as General Manager (Solutions).

The former Managing Director, Mr. Stanley Okpalaeke is now Group Executive Director in charge of Strategy/New business at Zinox Group Headquarters.

ITRealms gathered that both appointments take effect from April 1, 2016.

A press statement made available to ITRealms, the company, a subsidiary of the Zinox Group affirms that Mrs. Oduntan’s selection is a result of years of outstanding and meritorious performance which made her an unarguably excellent choice to fill the vacant role of Managing Director.

A graduate of Business Administration from the Lagos State University, Mrs. Oduntan also holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) Degree in Business Administration from the University of Lagos, Akoka.

Mrs. Oduntan has a wealth of experience in marketing Information Technology & Telecommunications and has also participated in several trainings within and outside the country.

A conscientious business leader with a penchant for service delivery, Mrs. Oduntan has previously worked with companies such as Virgin Technologies Limited, Siemens Nigeria and Zinox Technologies Limited, before joining the Task Team.

Formerly General Manager, IT Infrastructure Strategies at sister company, Zinox Technologies Ltd., Mr. Faola’s appointment as Chief Solutions Architect at Task Systems is a result of over 18 years of sound business development experience in Information Technology, Telecommunications and Networking.

A highly trained engineer, Mr. Faola has proven ability to enter new markets, attract new customers and grow the business in competitive environments. He also boasts a solid understanding of government, corporate, international and emerging markets with a successful track record in Business & Territory Development, Go-to-market strategy, Channel development, Strategic planning and Relationship management.

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Nigerian telecom industry is gender sensitive - NCC boss

ITRealms:

The Nigerian telecom industry has been described as gender sensitive due to it gives every gender equal opportunities, especially women to rise to the leadership position in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, reports ITRealms.

This position was proclaimed by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief a Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta in a keynote to the e-BusinessLife magazine organized International Girls in ICT 2016 in Lagos on Thursday.

Danbatta noted that the evidence of the industry being gender sensitive follows its provision of the enabling environment that has enabled women to rise to the topmost echelon of leadership in the ICT sector. 

"What this means is that in the future growth of this sector that currently provides about 10 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is expected to be a major plank in the diversification agenda of the economy from oil, women would be among the major drivers," he said.

In addition, Danbatta said that the digitally inclined girls of today, will be in the leadership position of the economy of this country in the next decade, and beyond, stressing that a digitally skilled generation of women will bring about a refreshing dimension in the quest to improve and diversify the nation’s economy.

The impact and contributions that women have made in the development of the telecom industry since the revolution of 2001, he said, cannot be over emphasis.

"We believe that the future holds even more for women as the digital space continues to widen with more services and more applications that tend to cover every facet of human endeavour," he said.

Girls in ICT 2016: Education prepares girls for great future - Danbatta

ITRealms:

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has identified education as key of great future for girls, especially in attracting girls to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, reports ITRealms.

In a speech at the 2016 the e-BusinessLife magazine organized International Girls in ICT in Lagos on today, Thursday, Prof. Danbatta said that Nigerian telecom industry is not unmindful of the fact that ICT is not a standalone in the attainment of career or academic excellence.

"Its also a message to girls that preparing for a great future demands taking education very seriously to enable them attain a level where they will be able to appreciate the importance of ICT and embrace it as careers," he said.

According to him, it is instructive that ICT provides the biggest resource in the academic lives. Noting for instance, that the Internet, which is a major repository of academic resources, is increasingly becoming accessible to many Nigerians. 

"As at the last count, more than 97 Million Nigerian have access to the Internet. This figure is expected to increase exponentially if all the current plans for infrastructure expansion and broadband deployments across the country come into fruition. Cost of smartphones capable of accessing the Internet and different apps are also becoming affordable," he said.

The Commission, Danbatta said has continued to provide facilities under the Digital Access Programme (DAP) where we provide computers and access to support secondary and vocational schools. Pointed out that whilst this support is not provided for girls schools alone, the idea is to enable students, including women to embrace the digital world as early as the secondary school stage.

"We have been able to provide sponsorship for digital innovations to encourage creativity in the ICT world. Girls are always in the team of innovators at successive competitions hosted by the ITU at the annual ITU World events and the Commission has provided sponsorships to successful participants," he said.

These, the NCC boss noted, are some of the ways that the Commission has contributed to empowering girls to choose careers in the ICT industry in line with the objectives.

Nigeria seeks ICT as alternative revenue source @CeBIT-16

ITRealms:

The Nigerian delegation to the 2016 CeBIT led by the Acting Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, is seeking alternative revenue in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, reports ITRealms.

Olatunji, who represented the Honourable Minister of Communication, Barrister Adebayo Shittu made this disclosure at a meeting with the management of Deutsche Messe, organisers of CeBIT, to explore ways of collaboration and how Nigeria as a country can actively play and participate at CeBIT.

Dr. Olatunji told the organisers that Nigeria is looking towards ICT as a very good avenue to tap into so as to shore up her revenue inflow especially as price of oil is falling at the international market.

Having explained that the Honourable Minister would have personally attended CeBIT 2016 but was engaged in another international programme on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Dr. Olatunji told his hosts:

“One unique feature of Nigeria is a huge population of nearly 180 million people who are very IT savvy. And, currently the government is looking for alternative revenue channels to oil, hence the government is ready to support the activities focused on ICT.

“And, backing up the government’s efforts, stakeholders in the private sector are coming up with various solutions,” he stated, adding:

“So, I think CeBIT is the platform where we can really showcase and promote what we have; and even look for markets for what we have in Nigeria; look for investors for the young innovators that are coming up; investors that will say if I put in this amount of money in this idea or solution, in the next five or 10 years, this is what will likely be the turnover for me.”

Explaining the uniqueness of Africa’s largest economy, Dr. Olatunji said:

“Because the market in Nigeria alone is enough to convince an investor to say I really must go into this market; Nigeria is like putting five to six countries in Africa into one country, because of the population. And a very high percentage of the population are the youths, and they are really ready and willing to adopt and use ICT.

“So next year, yes, we are willing to work with you; we are willing to partner with you. And, I am happy that our very important personalities in the government, from the National Assembly, are here with us.

“In fact, their presence is a clear testimony to government’s overall preparedness and willingness to adopt ICT as a reliable alternative to oil for economic growth, for earning foreign exchange and for growing a self-reliant population.

“We are glad to further assure you that we will work with you on the part of the Agency in implementing government’s policies in the area of ICT development in Nigeria.

“For CeBIT 2017, we will start working towards it immediately; we will not wait till close to 2017 before making the moves. In particular, we are very keen on working to bring our young innovators to CeBIT 2017 as a country, among other key areas to showcase.”

Also speaking, the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on ICT, Honourable Mohammed Onawo, said, he was impressed with attendance and what he has seen at CeBIT.

“While we were going round on the guided tour, we visited SAP; and they demonstrated to us software where everything that is done in government can easily be monitored. I was excited about that; because what makes most of our governments fail in the Third World is lack of proper monitoring.

“For instance when budgets are not monitored, a lot of things are done under assumptions; results are not achieved at the end of the day. And, I will really want to take that back home.”

For the chairman, Senate Committee on ICT, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, the opportunity of being at CeBIT 2016 is really commendable.

“I compare it to what happened in my country some months ago – and I thought if the guy in question was in Europe or America probably investors would have identified his talent.

“This Nigerian in a rural area in the country, manufactured an aircraft, and everybody watched in amazement; and, like a joke, he was able to fly the aircraft. He tried it once; the second time, it landed on water. When he was interviewed, he said that is IT (information technology). But if nobody identifies him that’s how he could remain with his initiative.

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Pix: Nigeria delegation to CeBIT 2016

Girls In ICT Day 2016: Emuophedaro urges support for girls

ITRealms:

The Convener of the eBusiness Life International Girls in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Day Celebration, Mrs Ufuoma Emuophedaro has urged stakeholders to support the forthcoming event to be held in Lagos, on April 28, 2016, reports ITRealms.

The one-day event is part of a global campaign initiated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to encourage young girls and women to pursue careers in ICT.

According to Mrs Emuophedaro, studies have shown that there are few women choosing careers in ICT, hence the need to expand the local technology talent pool to include more women.

She called on other stakeholders to join hands with her organization to further invest in girls and young women by supporting the Girls in ICT campaign and empowering them, giving them the confidence to pursue ICT studies and careers.

Also, she noted that jobs as ICT creators often offer higher salaries and lower gender-based pay gaps than in other fields.

“Girls in ICT Day events make girls and young women aware of the vast possibilities ICTs offer, quelling misconceptions about the sector and inviting them to envision their future as ICT creators,” she said.

This year, the event would comprise App development and quiz competitions between female students from selected secondary schools; round-table discussions; interactive and motivational talk from renowned women ICT professionals, among others.

The ITU, in initiating the campaign had noted that encouraging women and girls to pursue ICT careers also fosters a more dynamic technology sector, posing extensive benefits for companies.

“It states that a more gender-balanced workforce reflects the customer base more accurately, enhances productivity and innovation and leads to better financial results of any company,” ITU said, stressing that ICTs drive growth and innovation worldwide, infiltrating all aspects of life.

In addition, ITU noted that ongoing advances in ICTs effectively make digital literacy a prerequisite for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities and are leading to a projected shortage of at least 2 million ICT employees worldwide by 2020.

As more companies partner with eBusiness Life to ensure the success of this year’s event, the Marketing Manager, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Anne Ihugba says the company concerns itself about the future and welfare of the young girls. “It is not about us, or the companies participating, we want to make sure the children get the best”.

Ihugba further implore other corporate organisations to join hands and make a success out of the children.

“Partners should be committed. It is a platform for competition,” she said.

Uj.N. Dominic/ED. OPs
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ICT proficiency crucial to national development - Danbatta

ITRealms:

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Garba Danbatta has said that proficiency in Information and communication technology (ICT) is a crucial element to national development, reports ITRealms.

Danbatta made this assertion at the third edition of the Nigeria Digital Agenda held in Lagos by Centre for Cybe Awareness and Development (CECAD).

He also noted that such element of national development empowers individuals, institutions and society as a whole.

According to Danbatta who was represented at the event by Diretor, Special Duties, Mrs. Iyabo Sholanke, listed some three outlines that form a strong digital agenda to include education of the people on the importance and benefits of embracing ICT as part of their daily lives.

In addition, he said such an agenda will comprise an improved access to ICT and provides channels to acquire digital literacy skills will result in improving socio-economic benefits, reducing digital divide and enhancing social and financial inclusion.

He further said that the theme of the forum on “Beyond Oil – ICT, A Veritable Alternative’ is timely and apt. to the present administration’s change agenda which is geared towards exploring other avenues for the creation of wealth for the nation rather than depending almost exclusively on the obviously dwindling revenue from oil.

“In this connection, ICT is definitely a veritable alternative source of revenue for the country,” he said.

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Pix: Panelist at the event: Ekuwem, NITDA rep, Uwaje, Bayero, Mrs. Sholanke of NCC, Lanre Ajayi and Rep form HotSauce.

Zinox group acquires Xputer

ITRealms:

Acclaimed foremost Information and Communication Technology (ICT) group, Zinox Group, has acquired Xputer, a leading and strategic software development and management company based in Ibadan, ITRealms confirms.

The investment which value was still under lock, ITRealms gathered was sealed in September 2015 to avail Zinox led by serial digital entrepreneur, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, further its range of capabilities in line with its vision of becoming the single largest 360 degrees ICT Group in Africa.

Set up in 2004, Xputer Technologies is a fast growing Information Technology outfit, with proven capabilities in designing, developing,  deploying and supporting cutting-edge software solutions for small and medium scale businesses, with a number of critical projects in the retail, service and educational sectors to its name.

Expressing his delight on the development, Chief Executive Officer, Xputer Technologies, Abimbola Omotoso affirmed the far-reaching implications the investment will have in taking the company to the next level.

"Our core specialty is in providing and delivering custom-built software solutions that have powered a number of businesses in various sectors,” he said, stressing that the solutions provided have varied in scale, complexity and technological platforms, but in all, Xputer Technologies has been able to accumulate a large repertoire of technical skill, experience and a retinue of satisfied clients that has placed it in a strong position to succeed.

He also pointed out that with Zinox Group's investment, Xputer has now relocated our Head Office to Lagos since last year and still maintain our core Research and Development unit in Ibadan because of the serenity.

"We are quite an ambitious team that is conscious of the future needs of this generation and generations unborn on simplifying operations both at personal and corporate levels. We are also looking at simplification of digital lifestyle of this restless generation,” he said.

Emphasising, "Hence when the opportunity to partner with the Zinox Group of companies came our way, the decision was one we embraced wholeheartedly as the long awaited push required to become a force to reckon with in the IT industry in the country and beyond.”

Equally speaking on the acquisition, Zinox Group Executive Director and Company Secretary,  Barr.  Chris Eze Ozims disclosed that the move was in line with the ambition of becoming the largest 360 degrees ICT conglomerate on the continent.

"With the investment in Xputer, we have taken a step closer towards our long-term vision of becoming the undisputed leader in the area of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Africa.

"The Zinox Group remains the only ICT Group with core experience and proven proficiency in all areas of the industry: hardware manufacturing, distribution, software solutions, retail, support and much more.

"Our motivation is to continue to innovate, diversify and respond proactively to the dynamic nature of the market in fulfilling and surpassing our customers' expectations."

Founded by a team of ICT technocrats led by Leo Stan Ekeh, Zinox Technologies Group has flourished into one of the leading ICT ecosystems in Africa.

With well over a decade of pioneering efforts and excellent service delivery, Zinox enjoys widespread acclaim as Nigeria's foremost ICT company. In addition to its enviable status as pioneer manufacturers of Nigeria's first internationally certified branded computers and mobile devices, the company has deployed some of the biggest projects in the continent, while institutionalizing high-end ICT solutions which have contributed in moving the sector and the Nigerian economy to the next level.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)   

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Multiple taxation: NCC, NGF, MDAs tinker on harmonizing thoughts

ITRealms:

 

The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) alongside other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are tinkering on modalities to end multiple taxations, regulations in the information and communication technology (ICT) industry, reports ITRealms.

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta gave this indication at the end of meeting with a delegation from ATC Wireless Infrastructure Company of Nigeria (ATC Nigeria) in his office who paid him a courtesy call.

Danbatta said the Commission is also engaging other agencies of government in talks with a view to improving relationship with telecommunications Service Providers who are often the victims of these taxes and multiple regulations.

The EVC said that NCC as a responsible regulatory agency is worried about multiple regulations and taxes because they do not augur well for smooth development of the telecommunications sector “so we have decided to engage all stakeholders especially other government agencies in order to cushion the pains operators go through”.

“The NCC is particularly worried about the indiscriminate way base transceiver stations are sealed by agencies and some State governments and we have appealed to these agencies and the State Governors to show some understanding,” he said.

Stressing that NCC is particularly in talks with them to understand the implications of these actions as they affect quality of service and other sundry matters, including power supply.

He therefore implored ATC Nigeria to ensure regular power supply to the managed base stations in order to make a difference, because government has created an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Earlier in his remarks, Chief Executive of ATC Nigeria, Mr. Gordon Porter said his team came to familiarize itself with the NCC management and to “tell you what we do, how we do it and why we do what we do”.

ATC recently acquired 4716 cell sites from Bharti Airtel Nigeria and for the past 146 days it has deployed 1,000 generators and replaced 600 air-condition units.

So far, over $11Million has been invested by the company on these towers with a view to improving quality of service very significantly.

Porter said, ATC has been in constant talks with host communities with a view to improving relations and right-of-way.

Porter explained that although it has a commercial relationship with Airtel, it is interested in working with other operators especially on the issue of co-location adding that ATC hopes to inject about $100Million in the business in the next two years.

The EVC received the visitors in the presence of Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, Chief of Staff to the EVC, Mr. Usman Malah, while Porter led Ms Lucretia Fontaine, Director, Corporate Advisory & International Compliance, Nigeria, Mr. Onyeaghana Oji, Regional Manager, Regulatory and Mr. Dubem Agbakoba, Head, Health, Safety and Environment.

  +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 

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Johnson to declare open A4AI-Nigeria Coalition Tuesday

 ITRealms:

The recently appointed Honorary Chairperson of Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI)-Nigeria Coalition and the immediate past Minister of Communication Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson, would on Tuesday, November 24, declare open (A4AI) stakeholders meeting in Lagos, ITRealms reports.

In a press release by the Communications Officer, World Wide Web Foundation, Lauran Potter, she said that the Internet and the access to information and services that comes with it has become a key component of everyday life in many countries.

Johnson spoke preparatory to her opening a meeting of stakeholders working to increase access to affordable Internet in Nigeria. The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI)-Nigeria Coalition will convene at the Victoria Crown Plaza Hotel to discuss ongoing efforts to reduce broadband prices in the country, and to deliberate best practices for overcoming key obstacles to improved affordability.

ITRealms  gathered that Dr Johnson who will be joined at the meeting by Dr Ernest Ndukwe, former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian National Communications Commission (NCC), who currently serves as the National Coordinator for the A4AI-Nigeria Coalition, said, “the importance of expanding access to affordable broadband so that all Nigeria’s citizens can come online cannot be overstated. I look forward to working with the A4AI-Nigeria Coalition to ensure that we develop and advocate for the policies needed to ensure Internet for all.”

Low levels of affordability remain a significant barrier to Internet and broadband access in Nigeria, where just over 42 per cent of citizens are online. A recent study by A4AI – the world’s broadest technology sector coalition working to bring down the price of broadband – revealed that Nigeria does not meet the UN target of entry-level broadband priced at 5 per cent or less of average income for those living in poverty.  

The A4AI-Nigeria Coalition comprises over 100 stakeholders from across Nigeria’s public, private, and civil society sectors, who are working together to tackle barriers to affordability in Nigeria, including pricing transparency, infrastructure sharing, and consumer awareness. This meeting will mark the group’s third since the Coalition was formed in March 2014, and will be opened by DrOmobola Johnson, who was recently appointed Honorary Chairperson of A4AI, ITRealms learnt.

Ndukwe said, “The A4AI-Nigeria Coalition has been hard at work since March 2014 debating the primary barriers to increased Internet access and affordability in Nigeria and the best ways to overcome these challenges. We have worked with the Federal Ministry of Communications and Nigerian Communications Commission to monitor TV white spaces trials and develop appropriate policy recommendations; drafted a document that spells out the benefits of the Internet to sensitise users and non-users; and developed policy recommendations to improve infrastructure sharing and the use of open access across Nigeria.

“Yet much work remains to make affordable Internet across Nigeria a reality. This meeting will allow us the unique opportunity to assess our progress to date, and to determine priorities and next steps for our work going forward. We look forward to sharing our conclusions with you after the meeting, and to continuing our work toward the important goal of universal access,” he concluded.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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