Court to determine powers of NITDA - ITREALMS

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A social enterprise and advocates for digital rights in Africans, Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has dragged the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to court for the determination of the agency powers, reports ITREALMS.

This, PIN said, has become necessary due to growing number of people with access to the internet and the increasing usage of digital technology in business, healthcare, commerce, banking, and other parts of the economy has created the need to develop more laws and policies around these issues.

IT industry doubles contribution to GDP – Peter Jack

ITRealms:

The contributions of the Information Technology (IT) industry into the Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), reports ITRealms.

This expose was given by the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Peter Jack while responding to question to ITRealms at the ongoing GITEX in Dubai.

He said that over the last five years, IT has doubled its contribution to Nigeria's GDP from 4.5 per cent to 10 per cent, thereby accounting for about N50 billion of the N500 billion of the Nigerian economy.

This he noted was invariably after the rebasing of the country’s economy.

He also expressed support for the Nigerian university that emerged finalist in the GITEX Student Lab competition, saying he was not surprised.

Jack also urge them to ensure they win top prize and encouraging other universities in the country to leverage technologies by equipping their students adequately.

“Our concern is to expose the young talents in Nigeria to opportunities that abound in the technology space,” he declared.

Pointing out that starting from last year, Nigeria became the official country partner of GITEX and that year, NITDA showcased five Nigerian technology start-ups to share their solutions to the rest of the world. 

“This year, we brought 14 technology startups and other established companies from Nigeria to showcase their solutions to the world,” he said.

The Nigerian Pavilion, Mr. Jack further said, is strategically located in such a way that it catches the attention of every investor that attended this year's GITEX in Dubai. 

“We are giving opportunities to the technology start-ups to tell the world about their solutions and how these solutions could address country specific and organisational challenges,” he assured.

Equally, the DG also said that NITDA and the Federal Government precisely is using the occasion of Nigeria Day in GITEX to sell the Nigerian brand and woo potential investors to invest in the Nigerian technology market.

 

+ITRealms DSA +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 
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Innovation Dinner to address Nigeria IT leaders’ challenges

ITRealms:

 

This year’s IT News Africa Innovation Dinner to be held on the 16^th of September, 2015 for senior technology executives in Lagos will address the many challenges faced by today’s Information Technology (IT) leaders in Nigeria, and provide a roadmap towards delivering sustainable business, ITRealms reports.

The Africa’s technology news leader said that Dimension Data, an ICT services and solutions provider in conjunction with VCE, an EMC Federation Company and  world market leader in converged infrastructure, will be the lead sponsor of the Dinner which has the theme: “Transform to Better Perform: Information Technology’s role in driving competitive advantage, customer value and business growth in an uncertain economic environment.”

According to information, the Dinner will also review a recent World Bank report  that warns that Nigeria will face a series of tough challenges in 2015 and 2016. These challenges include the looming prospect of higher borrowing costs as the West African country adapts to a new era of low prices for oil and other key commodities.

Low oil prices, ITRealms gathered, have considerably reduced growth in commodity-exporting countries (Angola, Nigeria), and also slowed activity in non-oil sectors. In responding to the challenging business environment, senior managements are  increasingly looking to IT to provide innovation and transformation, reduce costs and improve business efficiency.

These challenges will require a new vision and operating model for IT infrastructure and service delivery, one that is far more responsive, adaptive, scalable and efficient than yesterday’s version.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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Chams advocates IT propelled insurance expansion

ITRealms

The Managing Director, Chams Plc, Sir Demola Aladekomo has called on insurance companies to leverage on the tools of Information Technology for efficient service delivery, ITRealms reports.

He said, with swift accessibility of information and automation of business processes made possible by technology, Aladekomo urged insurance companies to take advantage of IT tools such as mobile phones, ATMs, POS, online retail websites and kiosks to offer real-time services and products to members of the public for market penetration to expand their businesses to new frontiers.

As the guest speaker at the Insurance Industry 2015 Mega Conference where he was represented by the Managing Director, Chams Access Limited, Funke Alomo-Oluwa, ITRealms learnt, Aladekomo delivered a paper entitled "Information Technology as a Strategy for Market Penetration and Expansion."   The ICT guru added that "Insurance must be seen, felt and sold like commodity that it is. It should be sold everywhere.

"There is a need for insurance companies and her professional bodies to leverage this platform by partnering with relevant companies and agencies in the technology sector to create and provide specialized services which would help update their internal and external operations."

According to The Guardian, Aladekomo, who is also the Chairman of Smart City Resort Plc, remarked that insurance companies can maximize the use of IT in building an efficient data base, conducting data analytics and recovery of lost items via systematic tracking. Smart City Resort Plc is the holding company for the SmartCity Innovation Hub.

The SmartCity Innovaton Hub is an A-grade technology development infrastructure promoted by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology, ITRealms reports.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE with additional reports by The Guardian

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Pix: Sir Demola Aladekomo

Equipment Hall partners varsity on Prestigio Multiband

ITRealms
 
The Equipment Hall Limited, an Information Technology company has concluded plans to partner with Covenant University in improving the Department of ICT of the institution by introducing Prestigio Multiband, ITRealms reports.

The Managing Director of Equipment Hall Limited, Mr. Gbolahan Olayomi made this known when he paid a courtesy visit to the management of Covenant University at Canaan Land, Ota.

Prestige, ITRealms gathered, is one of the leading network devices manufacturing companies in the world even as it also produces best network devices and awesome customer support.

Olayomi stated that the anticipated business collaboration with the university will take the ICT department of the institution to another level in terms of knowledge, training and exposure of students in ICT, saying that the programme, Prestigio Multiband, would be introduced to the department to help achieve the desired effects.

 "Everything taught can be recorded, saved and sent straightaway to the students," he said.
On his part, vice chancellor of the university, Professor Charles Ayo, ITRealms also reports, said the idea was a welcome development provided it would help enhance the vision and goal of the institution.

 "Based on what we have seen today, we would like to fine-tune the issue of partnership to make it suitable for what we require as an institution," he stated.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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Signal Alliance, Microsoft partner NIA on cloud adoption

ITRealms:

Signal Alliance and Microsoft Nigeria are collaborating with the Nigerian Insurance Association (NIA) to promote cloud technology adoption and information Technology (IT)-driven insurance solutions for the robust development, with limited free usage offer, reports ITRealms.

In a recent joint workshop with NIA, ITRealms gathered the parties agreed to develop technology solutions that will enhance the practice of Insurance in the country as it was attended by some big players including participants from NEM Insurance, IEI, FBN Insurance, and Cornerstone Insurance among others.

Speaking on the workshop, Signal Alliance (SA) Enterprise Solutions Development Lead, Mr Anthony Nwankwo said their  vast knowledge in deploying technology in the Nigeria financial services sector and global experience of SA partner Microsoft have been made available to enable this sector operate more efficiently.

“Thereby giving workers and customers a whole new experience,” he said.

Nwankwo also said the fact that Cloud is the way to go for the insurance companies because it will enable them to achieve economies of scale – increase volume output or productivity with fewer people; Reduce spending on technology infrastructure through pay-as-you-go model (weekly, quarterly or yearly).

In addition, he said cloud offers insurance companies options to streamline  their processes and enable them to get more work done in less time with less people; Capital cost reduction. They don’t need to spend additional money on hardware, software or licensing fees; Mobility and Improve accessibility. It will enable their workers to have access anytime, anywhere; Keep to budget and monitor projects more effectively; and Minimize licensing new software. Stretch and grow without the need to buy expensive software licenses or programs.

For Audu Dunni Oladokun, NIA Chairman Education Sub-Committee, “The knowledge shared at this roundtable has shown us how trending technologies can transform insurance businesses in Nigeria.”

The forum noted that there was need to automate the process of design and approval by incorporating secured digital signatures in a holistic manner that will ensure speed, convenience and mobile access.

 Ola Williams of Microsoft expressed Microsoft readiness through Signal Alliance to see to the success of the effort of any insurance company that wants to fast track cloud technology adoption in a bid to be more productive and efficient in their operations.

At the roundtable, various technologies and solutions for insurance business were discussed. It includes; Customer Relationship Management, Business Intelligence, Data Analysis, Cloud Computing, Mobility, Software development and Unified Communications.

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Pix: Mrs Adanma Onuegbu, CEO of Signal Alliance

Cisco names Siyabonga Madyibi GAD for Africa

Worldwide leader in Information Technology (IT), Cisco Africa, has named Mr Siyabonga Madyibi as its first-ever Government Affairs Director (GAD) for Africa, reports ITRealms.

In his new role, ITRealms reports that Siyabonga, who has over 14 years’ experience in telecom policy, will lead Cisco's government affairs and public policy strategy in Africa, engaging with top government officials and key policy makers in Africa. 

ITRealms also reports that he would be focusing initially on South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria by working in close partnership and alignment with Cisco’s Africa Leadership team, led by David Meads, the Vice President for Africa at Cisco, on policies and relationships that will advance Cisco’s businesses on the continent. 

Reacting to his appointment, Mr. Madyibi said, he looks forward to leading Cisco’s Government Affairs programme in Africa given its important and integral role in Cisco’s strategy for growth in Africa.

“With the technology market currently growing at an exponential rate and governments playing an important role helping to develop the opportunities that are being created, Cisco aims to actively partner with government departments to help drive this growth and build on these opportunities,” he said.

Cisco, ITRealms gathered noted that as the home to nine of the world’s fifteen fastest growing economies, Africa is ripe for transformation making it an increasingly attractive environment for global business investments.

Technology, Cisco officials asserted to ITRealms, is at an inflection point, in which it can transform African economies and create many new opportunities, with the increased digitization of countries.  Subsequently, governments throughout the continent are now increasingly becoming aware of the importance of growth in ICT and the benefits it can offer. 

Cisco projects that 50 billion devices - or “things” - will be connected to the internet by 2020, offering a platform for African countries to use this to achieve greater broadband penetration across the continent leading to improvements that will better social and economic prosperity for its citizens.

For the past decade Siyabonga has led the government and regulatory strategy for Dimension Data in Africa. Before that, he worked with the South African Regulator, ICASA, and for MTN, one of the leading mobile operators in the telecoms sector in Africa. Siyabonga holds a BA Law degree from the University of Cape Town and an LLB degree from the University of Natal.

Equally speaking, Pastora Valero, Senior Director, Government Affairs, Cisco Europe, Middle East & Africa and Russia CIS (EMEAR) said they are delighted to have Siyabonga on board especially at a time when they are witnessing considerable growth and investment in ICT throughout Africa which makes proactive engagement with governments a vital strategic imperative for us at Cisco.

“I look forward to working with him as a key contributor to our global Government Affairs team as we actively support African governments in the drive to increase access to affordable, reliable technology,” Valero said.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +Cisco  @CiscoNigeria
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CPN ready for IT Assembly 2014, Prof. Bacon leads keynote

ITRealms:

The Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) has advanced plans for the hosting of its 2014 edition of the Information Technology (IT) Assembly slated to hold between June 18 and 19 at Nicon Luxury, Abuja, ITRealms reports.

Confirming this, the chairman in council of CPN, Hajia Sekinat Olusola Yusuf, told ITRealms the assembly is an exclusive networking event for senior and upcoming IT decision makers, consultants, entrepreneurs, practitioners, teachers, students, systems administrators and other interested members of the public, on the theme: Harnessing the potentials of IT professionals for national development.

She disclosed ITRealms that President, British Computer Society, Prof. Liz Bacon, would give the keynote at this year’s IT Assembly.

Mrs. Yusuf also told ITRealms that the rationale for the assembly is based on the fact that development of any nation is usually measured by the degree and extent of the socio-cultural, economic and political improvements that are brought to bear through the enterprises of IT.

“There is no gainsaying that the present world order is one strictly ruled by the power of information,” she declared, adding that there is a direct link between a nation’s material prosperity and that of her information-wealth, hence, IT is the vital resource which provides impetus for a nation’s technological advancement.

She described this year’s IT Assembly as unique in many ways including that it’s issue-based and topic focused.

“We’re doing so many things differently this year. There will be no parallel sessions this year. This is to enable all attendees participate fully in all the plenary sessions,” she said, pointing out that this would enable all attendees to participate fully in all the plenary sessions.

Mrs. Yusuf accompanied by the CPN registrar, Mr. Shehu Sekiru, Head, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Idowu Olusile and Head, Technical, Mr. Ibrahim, emphasised that IT Assembly believes that it is time Nigeria begins to take advantage of its vast resources and enormous potentials in IT to address daunting national challenges.

In furtherance of achieving its theme, CPN, she said, would be comparing notes with the keynote address to be delivered by the President, British Computer Society, Prof. Liz Bacon, to ensure that CPN approach is in tandem with the global best practices.

Equally, the Assembly, she said, would provide a platform for some industry innovative showcase of products and services, thus offering participants the opportunity to appreciate emerging technologies, trends and risks associated with transformation of various industries using IT.

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IT holds solution to terrorism in Nigeria – Aladekomo

Sir Demola Aladekomo, NCS president

The president of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) Sir Demola Aladekomo has declared that Information Technology (IT) holds the key to the solution on rising terrorism in Nigeria.
 

Speaking to ITRealms at NCS headquarters, on Thursday, Aladekomo, noted that this is evident at the recent Boston bombing in the United States and another in the United Kingdom.

According to him, IT was key in identifying and resolving the myth around the Boston bombing within few weeks of terror.

According to him, Nigeria has the professional, who have been groomed over the years alongside the technical competence to deliver the country from the armpit of terrorists.

What is required, he said is the enabling political will and trust to engage the nation’s IT professionals instead of the government’s re-occurring disposition for anything foreign.

He also noted that it has been in the news that event most of the terrorists in causing mayhem in the northern part of the country are not Nigerians, recalling that a few years back, Nigerians were rated as the happiest people on earth, hence they are not keen in committing suicide.

Wondering since the alleged suspects are not Nigerians, how are we sure that those supporting these deadly acts of terrorism are not foreigners.

Aladekomo further condemned the award of Nigeria’s national smart Identity cards to Mastercard, a foreign firm to produce 13 million cards.

Such act, he lamented create capital flight for Nigeria and lack of employment for the youths.

All these, he said, encouraged NCS to build its theme for this year’s international conference to be hosted in the State of Osun at the Royal Park Hotel, Iloko Ijesa, as “e-Government and National Security.”

 

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