Bimbo Abioye emerges ISPON president - ITREALMS

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The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has elected Bimbo Abioye as the latest president alongside eight others, for the next two years as members of the Executive Council, reports ITREALMS.

Abioye emerged president at the just concluded Annual General Meeting (AGM) of ISPON held in Lagos, Friday.

SystemSpecs, ISPON back NITRA quarterly forum - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Third Quarterly Forum of the Nigerian Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), under the supervision of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), has attracted more corporate organisations and industry associations with throwing of their weights behind the event scheduled for Thursday, August 30, 2018, reports ITREALMS.

The latest to declare support for the Forum which focuses on local content in the ICT sector with the theme: “Local Content Development In Nigeria’s ICT Sector: Stimulant for National Economic Recovery,” are indigenous software giants, SystemSpecs and indigenous software developers professional body, the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON).

A letter addressed to NITRA, dated August 13, 2018, and personally signed by Dr. Yele Okeremi, President of ISPON, reads in part: “On behalf of the National Executive Council and members of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), it is with pleasure that I endorse the NITRA Quarterly Forum 2018. This year’s event is centered on local content in ICT which is one of the top issues of ISPON’s advocacy.

“As a software practitioner with several decades in the Nigerian IT ecosystem, I understand the importance of the media and duly recognise the immense contribution the media has made to the IT ecosystem, particularly by proper reporting of the IT industry. NITRA can be said to be a body of professionals who know their onions and have made great contribution to our industry and ISPON is proud to be associated with them.”

Dr. Okeremi assured that the Forum will provide an opportunity for a critical analysis of the correlation between the promotion of local content and the growth of the Nigerian economy by seasoned technocrats with a focus for the adoption of this model by the relevant regulatory bodies. “Rest assured, ISPON will be present at the forum to contribute its quota to this laudable initiative,” he concluded.

Recall that the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Local Content Guidelines are intended to help restructure and develop a strong indigenous ICT industry by addressing three core areas as follows: Driving indigenous innovation; Developing the local ICT industry; and Establishing intellectual property regulation and protection standards.

It is argued that the provisions of the NITDA Guidelines, if properly implemented would enable the local ICT industry to contribute meaningfully towards the achievement of national development targets; and would stimulate and increase the production, sales, consumption of high quality information technology products and services developed by indigenous companies that serve the needs of the local and global market.

The NITRA Quarterly Forum, therefore, will not only highlight the opportunities and challenges of deploying local content in the country’s ICT sector, it will also provide knowledge and networking platform that will bring together technology innovators, developers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and other players in the nation’s ICT sector.   

Indigenous software powerhouse, SystemSpecs has remained committed to software development and is today Nigeria’s foremost software house. It remains firmly committed to its vision from inception, to become the software house of reference in Africa, and is convinced that this vision will give the continent its deserved recognition on the global software landscape.

The software giant is now regarded as the leading electronic financial transactions company, from Africa to the rest of the world, through the deployment and support of its flagship product, Remita, which powers the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Treasury Single Account project – the largest and most successful of its kind in Africa.

On the other hand, the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON as an industry professional body for indigenous software developers and practitioners in Nigeria, was established with the aim of creating an enabling environment for local content developers, and has been in the forefront of championing the advocacy for the application and utilisation of locally developed software in order to boost the country’s economy, GDP and give Nigeria an alternative to oil as a revenue earner.

Guided by a mission to impact on national development and the software ecosystem through innovation, sustainable development and pervasive application of Nigerian software and services in all spheres of human endeavour, ISPON has not relented in consistently advocating for support and patronage for Nigeria’s indigenous software.

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ISPON wants Nigerian banks to invest in tech startups

ITRealms:

The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), has called on banks in Nigeria to throw their weight on technology startups, reports ITRealms.

ISPON President, Chief Pius Okigbo, made this call and commended Nigerian banks for their foresights in funding various tech startups in the 1990s and 2000s such as Interswitch, ValuCard (Unified Payments Limited), ATMC, NIBSS, Credit Registry and CRC Credit Bureau, all financed by various consortia of Nigerian banks.

According to him, as technology startups increasingly penetrate traditional banking segments, including payments, wealth management and billing, major global banking giants are not sitting on the sidelines. Six major American banks - Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo - have made strategic investments in 30 technology companies since 2009, according to CB Insights data.

ISPON suggested that a second wave of investments in tech startups would require the establishment of Special Purpose Vehicles [SPVs] following global precedents, as was the case with Citi Bank that incorporated Citigroup Venture Capital business  through which it invested in i-Flex Solutions Limited,  driving the "FLEXCUBE' suite of products to adoption by more than 100 financial institutions in over 40 countries. 

Okigbo also said the six major American banks have invested in 30 tech companies since 2009, according to CB Insights data. 

Out of the six banks, he said, Citigroup has been the most active primarily through its Citi Ventures, which has invested in tech startups ranging from Betterment, Jumio and Square. Goldman Sachs has already ventured into financial tech startup with thematic investments across payments technology and big data finance.

Therefore, ISPON urged the banks to study how Deutsche Bank is building a strong ecosystem for innovations and take a lesson from it. Deutsche Bank would open three innovation laboratories in Berlin, London and Silicon Valley, as part of a EUR1 billion spend on digital initiatives over the next five years.

The giant German bank, Okigbo pointed, would help the organisation to develop new products and services from three global tech hubs, strengthening its ability to innovate and deepening relationships with smart tech startups. 

“Nigerian banks should take advantage of the huge innovation awakening that is sweeping across Africa and particularly Nigeria to refocus their plans and place their bets on fintech startups. It is particularly sad that no bank is participating in DEMO Africa, a flagship launch pad for emerging technology and trend hosted in Lagos in 2014.  Many venture capitalists from around the world were present”, Okigbo said.

+ITRealms DSA +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +DEMO Africa 

 

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ISPON rewards Imoke, Johnson at President’s dinner

ITRealms:

The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) last weekend, hosted stakeholders to its annual President’s dinner at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island in Lagos, with Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke and Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. Mrs. Omobola Johnson standing up to be counted, reports ITRealms.

This year’s edition, held on Friday, March 6, 2015, ITRealms also reports, had its theme: Software and Local Content in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Ecosystem, witnessed the presentation of awards to individuals and the state that have played key roles in ICT in the country. 

They included the Honourable Minster, Ministry of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, and the Executive Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke and Cross River State Government for supporting and promoting software in Cross River.

In his welcome address, the chairman of the occasion and immediate past president of ISPON, Dr. Chris Uwaje, ITRealms learnt, thanked the present leadership of ISPON for making this year’s President Dinner possible and stressed that it is time for less talk and more action on how to tap from this multibillion dollar sector of the economy through local content, ITRealms reports

Senator Imoke in his opening remarks, said, his people share a common vision with ISPON in positioning Cross River for application of ICT and the benefit therein as a leader in the technology. 

The minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson said ISPON is doing a good job and stressed the need to acquire relevant skill in the industry. According to her, ITRealms learnt, her ministry is working closely with both states and private sec

tor in ensuring the growth of ICT in the country

President of ISPON, Mr. Pius Okigbo, Jr. thanked all the guests, saying that he is happy that the President’s Dinner which usually takes place in February and which was nearly marred by the election time table, finally became a reality.

The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Dr. Ernest Nwakpa, spoke on the progress which NCDMB has made since the president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, signed the Local Content Policy into law in 2010, noting, they have been able to change the mindset of Nigerians to believe in the local content initiative.  

“How can we get our people to go entrepreneurial” he asked, stressing that this government is supportive of anybody wishing to do business in Nigeria. He went further to say that over the past 50 years past governments had concerned themselves with selling of oil and collecting royalties but all that have changed now since 2010, ITRealms gathered

He harped on capacity building, making sure that foreign companies doing business in Nigeria set up facility in Nigeria, that way, job creation and other ancillary services would be enhanced for Nigerian’s benefit. 

ITRealms further reports that Nwapa told ISPON to define what they want to do, noting that what is required basically is communication between ISPON, the oil and gas sector, maintaining that NCDMB is looking forward to working with ISPON.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

 

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Microsoft joins ISPON as corporate member

ITRealms:

Finally, Microsoft Nigeria has joined the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), ITRealms can authoritatively report.

ITRealms also reports that this follows extensive discussions and mapping out of strategies on how best to collaborate towards the development of the Nigerian software ecosystem.

Confirming this, President of ISPON, Mr. Pius Okigbo, Jr revealed that Microsoft Nigeria has officially formalized its corporate membership of the apex body for software developers in Nigeria.

At an official presentation of the certificate of membership to Microsoft Nigeria and handover of a white paper on sustenance of a strategic partnership between the duo, in brief ceremony attended by key officials on both sides, Mr. Okigbo, Jr. reiterated the resolve of ISPON to build indigenous capacity by bolstering software local content.

He stressed the importance of protecting and advocating intellectual property rights as it concerns indigenous software development through its various channels and events and stated that Microsoft Nigeria must play a key role in the realization of these goals.

In his response, Country Manager, Microsoft Nigeria Mr. Kabelo Makwane, expressed his pleasure at the approach of ISPON towards addressing these key issues and hammered on the fact that the partnership should be on a long term basis judging by the enormity and importance of the issues identified.

Further, he tasked ISPON to facilitate a unified and strong software industry which will speak with one voice and thereby lend credence in the advocacy of its cause.

Equally speaking, immediate past President of ISPON, Mr. Chris Uwaje, commended the new partnership and welcomed Microsoft on board, tasking the company to assert its role in the development of the Nigerian software ecosystem as Nigeria has a pool of young talented software developers, a large percentage of which will be churned into the software ecosystem in the next decade creating a vibrant software industry.

Microsoft Nigeria confirmed its acceptance of the strategic partnership with ISPON and pledged its support to participate at the forthcoming ISPON National Software Conference & Competition holding in Tinapa, Calabar, Cross River State in October.

Remmy Nweke:
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Okigbo jnr takes over at ISPON, promises dialogue, continuity

ITRealms:

Newly elected president of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) Mr. Pius Okigbo Jnr has promised to continue his leadership from where the erstwhile president, Chief Chris Uwaje may have stopped, reports ITRealms.

This is coming as he lamented the exclusion of the Nigerian Information Technology (IT) in the ongoing National Conference, which commence a few weeks ago.

Speaking to ITRealms exclusively he expressed confidence in dialogue and promised to continue to do his best in improving the local content and local software precisely.

He also told ITRealms that his leadership will engage the government to ensure that his desire to improve on the lots of the upcoming software start-ups in the country.

ITRealms recalls that his emergence was the outcome of the recent Annual General Meeting of ISPON.

Okigbo Jnr, who is the chairman, Infosoft Group was a former first vice president of ISPON equally lamented the inconsistency in the curriculum of tertiary institutions in the country to align with the demand of the industry.

For him it is not acceptable that students would spend four years in the universities only to graduate and expected to be retrained by the private sector.

Further, he described the exclusion of IT professionals in the national conference as unfortunate, even though it’s a position well deserved.

Okigbo Jnr who was accompanied by immediate past president of ISPON and some other members of the National Executive Council (NEC), Chief Chris Uwaje, the press conference signals the formal handover between himself and Uwaje, promises to carry the members of ISPON along.

Speaking earlier, Chief Uwaje commended ISPON members and industry stakeholders for supporting him and the organisation during his tenure.

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Pix; Uwaje signing the handover note while Pius Okigbo Jnr watches

ISPON mourns Madiba: He represents African software

ITRealms:

The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has joined the world in mourning the death of former South African president, Nelson Mandela, who died last Thursday in his country, reports ITRealms.

president, Chief Chris Uwaje in his remarks told ITRealms that Mandela represents and demonstrates perhaps, the most complex and greatest software out of Africa that the human mind had ever vision.

He also said that Mandela represents African software ever conceptualized, structurally defined, strategically codified and wholeheartedly delivered for the application and benefit of human progress.

“Madiba is ‘Knowledge Magic’ pure and simple. This is why ISPON mourns his unforgettable demise,” he explained.

Uwaje further emphasised that if man were God, Madiba Nelson Mandela would not have died!

“With his death, the world and indeed the entire humanity have lost an enigmatic knowledge fountain and a colossus in the wilderness of constructive logic,” he said.

During his short span of service to humanity eclipsed by the twenty- seven and a half (27.5) years of unjustified detention at Robin Island jail, he positively touched the lives of many billion people of all races.

ISPON thus, recognizes Madiba as a great reservoir of concentrated knowledge, an embodiment of constructive logic and an unrivaled master-software algorithm. His dynamic leadership attitude radiates a calculus-minded human model, one that only a Software Knowledge Super architect can codify.

Mandela has progressively but efficiently reduced our ignorance of human co-existence and relations and by extension, lightened-up the global pathway in search of Democracy architecture.

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Access to broadband not cheap – Jim Ovia

VC Covenant Univesity Prof. Charles Ayo, Jim Ovia second from left with ISPON president 
Chris Uwaje and wife, Prof Charles Uwadie ISPON VP John Obaro and Mr Agu

The chairman, Visafone Communications Limited, Mr. Jim Ovia, has warned that despite the clamour for broadband in the country, it may not be as affordable and cheap as most Nigerians were made to believe.

In a speech as a special guest speaker at the 2013 Presidential Dinner organized by the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) in Lagos, last weekend, Ovia insisted that the event signifies that software industry in Nigeria is recognized, given the attendance of the dinner.

“So, what is needed more is the passion not profit oriented at the initial times. So, the best way to invest in ICT, especially software, is the passion,” he said.

Ovia warned that access to broadband is not cheap and may not go down, ultimately.

Broadband refers to using signals over a wide range of frequencies in high-capacity telecommunications, especially as used for access to the Internet.

“Access to broadband is not cheap and may not go down eventually, the only technology that can be cheap today is the voice,” he asserted.

Hence, access to data at broadband speed, Ovia said, cannot be cheap, stressing though that internet penetration is about 23 per cent, but the broadband is about 2-3 per cent at present.

Nollywood is more popular now because its access online, urging that Nigerians should take advantage of Internet based on the anticipated evolution of broadband for more business and investment.

ITRealms recalls that the term broadband, according to experts at Wikipedia refers to the wide bandwidth characteristics of a transmission medium and its ability to transport multiple signals and traffic types simultaneously. The medium can be coax, optical fiber, twisted pair or wireless.

In contrast, baseband, describes a communication system in which information is transported across a single channel.

Prior to the invention of home broadband, dial-up Internet access was the only means by which one could access the Internet and download files such as songs, movies, e-mails, etc. It would take anywhere from 10–30 minutes to download one song (3.5 MB) and over 28 hours to download a movie 700 Mega Bytes (MB).

Dial-up Internet was also considered very inconvenient as it would impair the use of the home telephone line, and users would contemplate whether or not to get a second line, and if doing so was worth the cost.

In 1997, the cable modem was introduced, although the common use of broadband didn't begin rising until 2001. Having a broadband connection enabled one to download significantly faster than on dial-up.

As with many new technologies, most consumers were unable to afford the cost of faster Internet service.

However, high costs weren't a factor for long as by 2004, most average American households considered home broadband service to be affordable. Since its inception, broadband has continually strengthened and available connection speeds continue to rise.

Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times. Its origin is in physics, acoustics and radio systems engineering, where it had been used with a meaning similar to wideband. However, the term became popularized through the 1990s as a vague marketing term for Internet access.
 

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Tribute galore for late Chijioke Simeon Agu

Late Engr. Chijioke Simeon Agu, founder Neptune Software

It was a tribute galore for the first president of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Mr. Chijioke Simeon Agu, popular known as CSA at the ‘night of tributes’ hosted by the organization, Tuesday in Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja-Lagos.

The event for the man popularly described as Nigerian software lion, attracted who is who in the Information Technology (IT) industry, especially the software sub-sector.

Welcoming guest to the event, ISPON president, Chief Chris Uwaje, noted that though Engr Agu, the founder Neptune Software is late, which is a big loss to the IT community, and enjoined the industry to join his association to celebrate a man of vision who single handedly launched software Nigeria to where no other had been, who established innovative and strategic roadmap to the 21^st century knowledge economy via software.

He went on to describe Engr. Agu as the Nigerian Software General, adding that he provided the inspirational blanket to wrap cold in the on-going ferocious battle for national survivability in the global software wilderness.

In his tribute, president, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Sir Demola Aladekomo, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, Mr. Chinedu Onuoha said late Agu pioneered lots of things and is known for challenging staff to write any software needed which does not exist in order to meet a demand.

Vice President, ISPON, Mr. Pius Okigbo Jnr called for the renaming of the ISPON National Software Competition after late Mr. Agu, due to his immense contribution to the software industry in the country.

Chief Tony Ayodele of Polaris Software said he pushed the local software to a very high stand, which is very stressful because of lack of encouragement, especially by the government. He also called for the sustainability of late Agu’s crusade on local software.

For the Protocol officer to the Osun Govenor, Mr. Afolabi Sanusi, late Engr. Agu is a goal getter and has never regretted working for him until he joined the political scene and further prayed for his soul to rest in peace.

The daughter, Mrs. Nnenna Imokuede, described late father as a family man, adding that the tributes tonight has made the family, especially the children to understand their father better than ever. She expressed appreciation to ISPON for honouring their late father with this ‘Night of Tributes’.

Remmy Nweke

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