VAS regulatory framework to promote local ICT innovations - Danbatta

ITRealms:

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has stressed the essence of the proposed regulatory framework for the provision of Value Added Services in Nigeria, saying that it will promote Information and Communication Technology (ICT) innovations locally, reports ITRealms.

Danbatta in his opening remarks at the commission's Consultative form on the Draft Regulatory Framework for the Provision of Value Added Services in Nigeria at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, Wednesday, he spoke on the the Commission's goals towards creating a level playing field for all stakeholders to ensure that they each gets equal value for their role in ICT, which will also in turn promote ICT innovation locally.

Th EVC also said that it would increase investment in youth, promote Small & Medium Enterprises (SME's), as well as providing access to optimized and affordable broadband services in the country.


He noted that it is important to develop and encourage quality local content in Nigeria by rewarding content developers who are major players in the Value Added Services (VAS) segment of the industry.

"That when finished, the regulatory framework will compliment the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003) and respective licences issued by the Commission in providing guiding principles, standards and protocols for Value Added Services operating in the industry," he said.

Danbatta equally said that the forum is part of the Commission's rule-making process and its guiding principle of carrying out representative and wide consultations in the development of regulatory instruments as stipulated by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003).

Omo-Ettu reiterates call for converged regulator

ITRealms:

Telecommunications engineer and Chief Executive Officer of Telecoms Answers Associates (TAA), Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu has reiterated calls for a converged regulator for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, reports ITRealms.

Speaking at the Telecom Industry Advisory Council Inaugural Meeting in Lagos, Mr. Omo-Ettu in a presentation on Communication Technology industry development issues of the moment, drew attention to some important documents which specifically addressed strategic industry development.

He listed some of these documents to include the National ICT Policy of 2013; the National Broadband Plan with a set goal between 2013 and 2018; and guidelines for Nigerian Content Development in ICT, an entrepreneurship blueprint of 2013.

In addition, he listed the Communiqué of the 2016 Communications Sector Retreat in Ibadan, and EVC’s 8-point Agenda for Telecommunication 2016 - 2020.

According to him, outside these five documents, and absence of any critique of them which may suggest either a deviation or additional strengthening should be viable documents to implement in full measure to assure steady development.

He called for the recognition of these documents, especially the top-two documents of communique of Ibadan retreat and EVC’s 8-point agenda, for full implementation.

“It is important to suggest that the implementation of these functions be pushed,” he said.

Omo-Ettu stressed that the ICT Policy already assumes a converged regulator for the communication technology industry, even as the Broadband Roadmap prescribes various inter-relational tasks and functions which diverse sectors of the economy must perform for Nigeria to attain the 2018 target of a five-fold increase in broadband penetration over the 2013 status.

“It is important to suggest that the implementation of these functions be pushed,” Omo-Ettu enjoined.

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GITEX 2015: Convergence is redefining innovation world - Experts

ITRealms:

Information and Communication Technology experts at the 35 GITEX have observed that constant emergence of convergence forces have redefined the innovation world, ITRealms report.

Leading the pack of experts in this proposition is the Vice President of Alibaba Group, Mr. Sicheng Yu, who dwelt on this at the first session on 'The Future of Innovation and the Converging Forces of Change.'

Mr Yu said the world is currently experiencing a number of converging forces that will both rewrite the rules of business and redefine the world of innovation.

“Each of these driving forces has the potential of blindsiding us if we do not spend time crafting stories about the world to come," he warned.

He also called on all stakeholders to take advantage of the Internet of Things, noting it have become disruptive technologies.

The technology of IoT, Mr. Yu noted, would in the future, help cars to communicate with each other on the roads and assist a great deal in decongesting traffic on our roads.

More innovations, he said, are being developed daily and enjoined countries within the Middle East and Africa to grab this opportunities with two hands rather than waiting to leapfrog.

This, he said, could be done through the promotion of big data, cloud computing and the internet.

“We are already experiencing increase in the demand for big data services across the globe but big data cannot work effectively, without cloud computing that is largely driven by the internet,” Yu said.

At Alibaba, he said, they would continue to use their platforms to ensure system and applications work faster for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), so as to design business efficiency capable of reducing cost of doing business.

For the Chief Technology Officer, Accenture, Mr. Paul Daugherty, whose theme was on 'Transformation in the Digital Business Era,'  pointed out that the global companies are reimagining and strategically transforming into digital businesses in order to achieve internal efficiencies, external growth and return to the role of disrupters.

Daugherty underscored the need for digital transformation across globe, stressing that the world needs three mega trends that will shape businesses.

These trends, he said, comprise connected world, data connectivity, intelligence and automation, emphasizing that over 3.5 billion people were already connected to the internet, but this figure is expected to double very quickly due to clamour for access through innovations that leverage IoT technologies.

ITRealms recalls that Nigeria through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the government agency responsible for the implementation of Information Technology (IT) policy in the country has assembled a delegation made up of public and private sector players within the ICT sector.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +GitexTechWeek +Alibaba.com +Accenture 

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Etisalat equips GGC Dala's ICT Centre

ITRealms:

Etisalat Nigeria has lifted the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre of Girls’ Government College, Dala, Kano State in North West Nigeria with the donation of 30 pieces of desk top computers, reports ITRealms.

The State’s Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Education, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, while unveiling the centre alongside other facilities renovated by Etisalat in the school as part of its Adopt-A-School initiative, commended the pan-Nigeria intervention programme aimed at facilitating the delivery of quality education through the creation of conducive learning environment for primary and secondary school students.

Speaking about the intervention programme, the Vice President, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko, said the company aims to help drive the delivery of quality education.

“The whole aim is to drive the delivery of quality education. What we have done is to create an enabling environment for conducive learning which in turn drives improvement in learning. As an innovative company, we are about driving sustainable development using education as one of the key platforms, “he said.

Dikko, who was represented by the company’s Head, Government and Community Relations, Mohammed Suley-Yusuf, also reiterated the company’s commitment to partnering with the Kano state government in achieving its developmental goals in critical areas particularly education.

 “Etisalat is proud to be able to contribute positively to achieving the government’s objective of improving Kano State especially in the area of Education. We will continue to collaborate to move the state and indeed the nation forward, even as we work towards being the telecommunications partner of choice for Nigeria. We laud Kano State government, for recognising the potential of and encouraging public private partnership, “he said.

Also speaking in his address, the Kano State deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar commended Etisalat for combining its core business function of providing quality telecoms services with strategic contributions to the development of the society in various areas through some initiatives like the Adopt-A-School programme.

“Today, we are witnessing the result of a strategic partnership. We as a people are particularly glad because it is very clear to us that given our population as the most densely populated state in the country, the three tiers of Government cannot single-handedly bear the huge funding burden of education without external support. Therefore, it is very heart-warming to see Etisalat take this initiative of adopting a school for life with the objective of making sure that it brings about positive infrastructural development and enhanced quality of learning through the provision of educational materials,” he said.

The Deputy Governor also noted that the intervention will help the Abdullahi Ganduje-led administration in achieving its objective of ‘providing education for all’ especially for the girl child.

According to him, Kano State needs about 15,000 classrooms in state-owned secondary schools to enable them take in the 30% of secondary school prospects who have not been able to transit to secondary school upon completing primary education.

Beside the ICT Centre, other renovated facilities under the first phase of the project which the deputy Governor commissioned include the school’s library which was fitted with furniture and books, Kwankwaso Hostel Block, a modern science laboratory, solar-powered potable water facility and seven classrooms with chairs and tables.

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ITU recognizes political leadership in achieving SDG via ICTs

ITRealms:

Raising from the global launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has emphasized the vital role that information and communication technology (ICT) in meeting the new SDG at a special award ceremony held in the United Nations (UN) headquarters, New York, Saturday by honouring nine distinguished contributors to exceptional leadership.

ITRealms reports that ITU used the occasion to officially recognized these Heads of State and Heads of Government for their efforts to improve access to ICT networks and services, stressing that the celebration of the power of information and communications technology to drive the global 2030 development agenda.

ITRealms also reports that the ICTs in Sustainable Development Award re-affirms ITU’s commitment to enabling development through ICTs.

Chief, Media Relations and Public Information at ITU, Sarah Parkes informed ITRealms that recipients of the prestigious award include Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; Mr Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji; Mr Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Gabonese Republic; Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya; and Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Others include Mr Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda; General Prayuth Chan-ocha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand; Mr Tabaré Vázquez, President of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay and Mr Meltek Sato Kilman Livtuvanu, Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu.

Parkes equally said the award was conferred by ITU Secretary-General, Mr. Houlin Zhao at a gala dinner hosted by the Global Sustainability Foundation (GSF), which celebrated ITU’s role in ‘Connecting the World’. Speakers at the event heralded the catalytic role that ICTs play in the achievement of the SDGs. 

In addition, Zhao said the leaders recognized at this event set the benchmark for improving access, affordability and application of ICTs to drive socio-economic development.

“With the international community on the brink of agreeing a bold 2030 agenda, it is clear ICTs have a fundamental role to play in the achievement of the new Sustainable Development Goals. ITU will be doing everything in its power to support our members – both government and private industry – in driving sustainable development through ICTs, and will work tirelessly to ensure the benefits of ICTs are available and accessible to all the world’s people,” he said.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)  
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TD shines with 2 awards at Budapest

ITRealms:

Once again, Technology Distributions (TD), the biggest Information and Communication Technology (ICT) distributors in Sub-Saharan Africa, has clinched the APC West African Distributor of the Year award for 2014, reports ITRealms.

At a prestigious ceremony held in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, TD was proclaimed as such, while a staff of the company, Uche Nnadi, smiled home with the West African Product Manager of the Year award.

The glamorous event which held from May 10^th –14^th, 2015 had in attendance over 70 delegates from the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region including distributor account managers, product managers, distributor representatives and directors of the American-based integrated power management and cooling systems  manufacturers. APC joined the Schneider Electric conglomerate in 2007 which saw the formation of the Critical Power & Cooling Services (CPCS) Business Unit, which includes the APC and MGE UPS Systems brands.

The awards ceremony, which offered APC an opportunity to review the regional business terrain, also witnessed the communication of new product releases and upgrades on existing versions as well as the sharing of marketing initiatives with the participants drawn from various countries in the Middle East and Africa region.

Speaking on the double honours claimed by TD at the event, General Manager, TD Volume Segment, Mrs. Adesuwa Igho-Okere who represented the Chief Executive, Mrs. Chioma Ekeh at the occasion, noted that the awards were fitting rewards for the company’s landmark achievements in growing APC footprints in the region as well as its undeniable status as the biggest driver of technological revolution on the continent.

“I am delighted to receive this award on behalf of the entire Management and staff of Technology Distributions. This award is a reflection of the hard work, excellence in service delivery and operational efficiency which sets us apart in the distribution of ICT devices in the West African region and on the continent as a whole.

“The selection of TD as APC’s West African distributor of the year for the second year in a row is no mean feat especially considering the intense competition from other distributors in the region. This award is only going to spur us to greater heights in our mission of making ICT products accessible, affordable and usable across Africa through the building of an efficient distribution network,” she enthused.

Also expressing his excitement at the recognition, Mr. Uche Nnadi, who received the Product Manager of the year award, affirmed his intent to retain the award for the coming year by meeting and surpassing his targets for the current financial year.

“Although the award came as a surprise to me in view of the calibre of contenders from the region, I am determined to work even harder to retain the award for 2015. The can-do spirit which TD emphasizes is what brought me this recognition in the first place and I intend to fully maintain that tempo.”

With branches in major cities coupled with expansion into other African capitals, TD has forged a reputation for being the prime ICT distributor in the West African sub-region. Backed by its status as the pioneer manufacturer-accredited local distributor for the sub-region, TD has successfully represented a number of globally renowned brands which has helped maintain its position as the market leader.

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Ekeh, Zinox boss urges Nigerian women in ICT, be more ambitious

DigitalSENSE Business News:

Chairman of Zinox Group, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, has urged Nigerian women in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry in the 21^st Century to be more ambitious since they have all it takes to achieve that, , reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

He also said that with the right mix of innovation, business focus, accountability and ambition, women entrepreneurs could lead the on-going evolution of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry in the 21^st Century, reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

Ekeh who was speaking at the Women in ICT session hosted by Technology Distributions at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, told DigitalSENSE Business News that evolution of women in ICT at the top, would definitely relegate their male counterparts.

Dr. Ekeh who was the guest speaker at the meeting outlined a number of statistics which showed that IBM which now has Ginni Rometty, a female as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), citing the increasing role of women in the corporate sector, and enjoined them to play in the global arena by being more ambitious in growing their businesses with target of bigger ventures.

Women, he told DigitalSENSE Business News are naturally more structured, trustworthy, less greed and more prayerful than men.

“These innate qualities have strategically endowed women with the basic ingredients for leadership. As entrepreneurs, all you need to do is combine these innate qualities with absolute commitment, capacity for innovation, credibility and sound digital knowledge and very soon, the male folk will be struggling to keep pace with the women in the industry,” he said.

According to him, “ICT is a business of the future, one that you can bequeath to your children and unborn generations. It is an industry of constant innovation, requiring a sound business model and structure. Hence, I encourage you to enhance your knowledge in the digital business and build capacity which will in turn enable you accommodate the short term business shocks and eventually take charge of the digital economy.”

Dr. Ekeh also urged participants to leverage on the emerging force of electronic commerce (e-Commerce) and mobile commerce (m-Commerce) which has the potential of laying a foundation for women to control the wealth and leadership of nations in the third quarter of the century. 

While assuring the women ICT entrepreneurs of the utmost support from Technology Distributions in their respective roles as business partners, the Zinox Boss cautioned against excessive borrowing and emotional decisions which he says are two factors capable of negating business success.

Equally speaking, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Technology Distributions Limited, Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, counseled the women entrepreneurs to break out of the outdated stereotypes that have long held them back and take their rightful place in the scheme of things, especially with regards to driving the revolution in the ICT industry.

Noting that women are credible, balanced, emotionally intelligent beings, proven masters of crisis and opportunity management as well as great managers of resources; Mrs. Ekeh challenged the participants to borrow a leaf from Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer,  Sheryl Sandberg, who has urged women to seek leadership roles and own their success.

“It is no accident that women make up over half of the world’s population. Why then are there so few women occupying positions of authority?  It is high time for us to unleash our potential and begin to take charge of things happening around us. There is a growing trend of more women in ICT which is quite encouraging and despite the challenges in the system, we must capitalize on this to lead the revolutions in the industry,” she said.

DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that Technology Distributions, one of the largest ICT distribution companies in Africa with over 65 per cent spread of ICT products distribution in the West African sub-region and boasts of a strong gender-sensitive structure, with over 80 per cent of women occupying managerial positions in the company.

 
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pix: Zinox chairman, Leo-Stan Ekeh

Jack explains NITDA advisory board on local content

ITRealms:

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Dr. Peter Jack has explained the reasons behind the recent inauguration of an advisory board and a National Coordinating Office for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Local Content (NCOILC), reports ITRealms.

Speaking to ITRealms during the commencement of the 2014 eNigeria Summit in Abuja, he said that the setting up of the advisory and eventual NCOILC was part of the implementation plan emanating from the eNigeria 2013 Communique.

According to him, in 2013 it was recommended that a special purpose institutional structure be developed based on guidelines, hence the advisory board which was inaugurated on June 30, 2014.

He also told ITRealms that a National Coordinating Office for ICT Local Content has been established under the supervision of NITDA.

“The board of the office has membership from ICT trade associations, regulatory bodies in critical sectors of the economy and multinational companies among others,” he said.

Mr. Jack equally told ITRealms that the coordinating office for Nigerian Content Development in ICT has already established a collaborative relationship with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in Oil and Gas in order to benefit from their experience.

As said by him, it was in view of the foregoing that the focus of eNigeria 2014 was on Technology start-ups and young innovators.

He stressed that this consideration is timely particularly at this time that World Bank and United Kingdom Department of International Development (DFID) are supporting Nigeria to create jobs.

He pointed out that Nigeria targets some 460,000 jobs to be created across eight critical sectors in the nation’s economy with ICT as top most priority.

ITRealms recalls that this year’s eNigeria theme is “Creating Market Opportunities for Indigenous ICT Products and Services.”

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Pix: Peter Jack, DG, NITDA speaking at eNigeria 2014.