NITRA, ALTON partner to shape telecom infrastructure security - ITREALMS.

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The Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) and the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) are partnering to host a joint-industry forum to discuss the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Bill and its implications for the telecom industry, reports ITREALMS.

The forum, scheduled for July 30, 2025, at CitiHeight Hotel, Ikeja, will bring together industry stakeholders to address key issues and questions surrounding the Bill. 

ICT Growth 4.0: Digital Encode, NeuRaL AI, NiRA support NITRA - ITREALMS

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A leading cyber security and Governance Risk Compliance (GRC) firm, the Digital Encode and Artificial Intelligence (AI) entity, NeuRaL AI, have expressed interest in collaborating with ICT industry media body, the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), on its forthcoming annual multi-stakeholder conference.

Also partnering with NITRA for this year’s event will be the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA). NiRA is the domain registry that manages Nigeria’s .NG Domain System, overseeing Nigeria’s country code top-level domain, .ng.

NCC partners NITRA on ICT Growth Conference 4.0 - ITREALMS

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The Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) gets ready for the fourth edition of the NITRA ICT Growth Conference, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida is billed to lead stakeholders to the annual roundtable to x-ray the industry and chart growth path, reports ITREALMS.

The fourth in the series, the event, which is scheduled to hold at the Citiheight Hotel, Ikeja Lagos on Thursday August 8, 2024 has its theme as “Impact of AI On National Development: Prospects, Policies, and Challenges in Nigeria”.

FinTech: NITRA to host multi-sectoral forum - ITREALMS

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The Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), has announced its upcoming event, tagged NITRA Financial Technology (FINTECH) Forum 2023, slated to hold on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at CitiHeight Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The event, which will gather industry stakeholders in the financial technology sector, and the ICT industry as a whole, both from the public and private sectors, will discuss and find ways of accelerating growth in the Fintech sector as a means of achieving laudable federal government set targets and policies.

NITRA felicitates Tijani, ready to collabo - ITREALMS

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Journalists in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry, under the aegis of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), has felicitated with the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, over his appointment.

In a letter to the Minister, the Chairman of the Association, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi noted that the news of his appointment was a cheery one knowing his antecedent to deliver viable results in past endeavours.

NITRA demands technocrat as FMoCDE Minister, sets agenda - ITREALMS

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The Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), has demanded for a technocrat to be nominated and appointed eventually as a competent Minister of Communications and Digital Economy by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, reports ITREALMS.

NITRA is a body of journalists in the Information and Communications Technology sector, made up of reporters and editors in broadcast, print and online media.

NITRA ICT Growth 2.0: Stakeholders task Nigerians on emerging technologies - ITREALMS

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Stakeholders in the country’s ICT sector have spoken of the need for Nigerians to brace up for the disruptions occasioned by the emergence of modern technologies, especially now that the country is on the verge of experiencing the Fifth Generation (5G) network commercial services.

The Stakeholders spoke during a panel session at the Nigerian Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) ICT Growth Conference 2.0, held on Thursday at Oriental Hotel, Lekki Lagos.

Uwaje chairs NITRA Growth conference, today - ITREALMS

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Stakeholders in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) will converge tomorrow, Thursday, to discuss and forge ways of tackling challenges in the various sub-sectors of the industry.

Tagged NITRA Growth Conference, the annual event organised by industry media group, the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) will throw light on issues around funding, fintech, digitisation, among others.

NITRA applauds Muoka, Ibietan on NIPR fellowship - ITREALMS

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The National body of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Journalists under the aegis of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) in Lagos, has applauded the stride in attainment of Fellowship position conferred on two management staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

The Fellowship investiture to the duo of Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Reuben Muoka, and Head, Media Relations in the Public Affairs Department, Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, has been described as a call to duty, as it places them on the pedestal of being reference points to anyone ascribing to PR professionalism in Nigeria.

NITRA rides on DigitVote for successful e-Voting, gets new exco - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

A landmark election conducted through electronic voting (e-Voting) by the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) gave birth to election of new Executive Committee (exco) to man its affairs for the next three years, reports ITREALMS.

NITRA wins Telecoms Industry Support Award'19 - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

In recognition of the industrial support by the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA), the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has applauded NITRA, reports ITREALMS.

The award was presented at a recent ceremony attended by several industry stakeholders in Lagos. According to the award organisers, NITRA won the award for its contribution to the telecoms industry since it was inaugurated in 2017, having been in operation since 2015.

NITRA received the award at the 20th Anniversary/Awards Nite of ALTON on Friday, November 29, 2019 at the Shell Hall, MUSON Center, Onikan, Lagos.

While receiving the award, NITRA Chairman, Emma Okonji, said the award is an indication of the immense work done by the Association to smoothen the operations of the telecoms industry across the country.

Okonji thanked the organisers of the award for the Association’s recognition for the prestigious award and promised that NITRA will always ensure that its members give their best to the industry for the operators, regulators, customers and other stakeholders to offer and get excellent services.

“We feel honoured for this award from ALTON. Beyond being a close partner with ALTON, we have been in the forefront of issues concerning the telecoms industry. This gesture is a spurring symbol for NITRA to contribute more to the industry and the country,” Okonji said.

The award ceremony was witnessed by Rear Admiral Alison Madueke (Rtd) who was the Chairman of the award; the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, who was represented at the event, among other industry stakeholders.

In his remarks in honour of NITRA, ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, commended the NITRA for her doggedness in setting agenda for the industry through the members’ objective reportage.

According to Adebayo, ALTON, which is an umbrella body of all licensed telecoms operators, would continue to protect telecoms investment in Nigeria and ensure telecoms expansion across the country.

NITRA, under the purview of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, is an umbrella body for journalists reporting Information and Communications Technology in Nigeria.

In commemoration of its 20 years Anniversary, ALTON celebrated the achievements and milestones recorded in Nigeria telecom industry so far.

Adebayo noted that 20 years after the liberalisation of the telecom sector in Nigeria, the section has attracted over $68 billion Foreign Direct Investment and contributed over N15 trillion to Nigeria economy.

He said the country has moved from one cellular mobile network with limited coverage and 26,500 connected lines to 4 GSM operators, 2 VoIP operators, 4 Fixed Wired operators with 172.9 million mobile subscriptions and teledensity at 123.5 percent.

“After 20 years, Nigeria boasts of over N15 trillion contribution to its economy, over 123 million internet subscriptions across various technology platforms (e.g. VoIP, GSM & Fixed Wired), with sector contribution to GDP at 11.4 percent and over USD68 billion Foreign Direct Investment. This is worth celebrating,” he said.

He added that Nigeria is today Africa’s largest telecoms market in terms of subscriptions, stressing that beyond growth in sheer numerical terms, telecoms have evolved from being a sparsely-available public utility to becoming a ‘social overhead capital.

*Correspondent/Editor

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Pix: Emma Okonji, Chairman, Nigeria Information Technology Reporters' Association (middle); Engr Chris Uwaje, Chairman, Connect Technologies, (right), and Chike Onwuegbuchi, Vice Chairman, (NITRA), during ‘Telecoms Industry Support Award’ presentation to NITRA by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria ALTON) at MUSON in Lagos, recently.

Zinox, Spectranet line-up behind NITRA 4th forum - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

As all roads will tomorrow, Friday, lead to CitiHeight in Lagos for the fourth Quarterly Forum of the Nigerian Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA), more corporate organizations have lined up behind the event, reports ITREALMS.

Confirming this to ITREALMS, NITRA Secretary-General, Mr. Justus Adejumoh said that the organisation under the supervision of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has concluded plans for this event scheduled at the CitiHeight Hotel, Opebi Link, Ikeja, Lagos.

As said by him, the latest to declare their support for the forum which has as its theme: “Achieving Last Mile Connectivity Through Affordable Broadband,” are indigenous Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) giants, Zinox Technologies and leading broadband services provider, Spectranet Nigeria.

NITRA will in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), address the challenges of broadband, especially last mile connectivity, at the fourth quarter forum.

The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta is the keynote speaker at the event expected to draw the largest gathering of ICT industry players under one roof.

The forum will not only highlight the opportunities and challenges of deploying affordable broadband in Nigeria but will look at the strategies being adopted by the NCC to achieve this.

Experts say that achieving last mile connectivity in Nigeria requires a concerted effort among Government, Civil Society Organizations, Policy makers, mobile operators, service providers, the academia etc. It also requires a combination of solutions ranging from policies to technologies, transparency to regulations among others.

Recall that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had in 2016, rolled out an 8-point agenda aimed at broadband access and penetration. Through the agenda, the NCC hopes to promote deployment of universally available, fast and reliable network infrastructure that will stimulate seamless broadband penetration to drive technology innovation and overall productivity of Nigeria’s economy.

Founded in 2001 by a team of ICT Technocrats led by serial entrepreneur, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Zinox has flourished into one of the leading ICT Ecosystems in Africa with strong interests in Computer hardware manufacturing, distribution, Critical ICT solutions, Telecoms, and world-class After-Sales Support hence it is rated the No.1 Integrated ICT solutions Group in Africa.

Spectranet Nigeria on the other hand, was awarded a License by the Nigerian Communications Commission in 2009 to promote Internet services across Nigeria. Spectranet prides itself as the first Internet Service Provider to launch 4G LTE internet service in Nigeria and aims to be a leader in the Internet Services space.

NITRA has in the last two years been engaging ICT stakeholders to brainstorm on various topical issues affecting the ICT industry in Nigeria through the Quarterly forum.

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Broadband challenges top NITRA Forum, as NCC, ALTON Lineup - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) Quarterly Forum has concluded plans to host the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Association Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to its Quarterly Forum with focus on broadband challenges, reports ITREALMS.

The forum, ITREALMS gathered, has been slated for Friday, December 14, 2018, at the CitiHeight Hotel, Opebi Link, Ikeja, Lagos.

NITRA, under the supervision of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, is an umbrella body for journalists reporting information and communications technology in Nigeria.

In collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), NITRA promises to address the challenges of broadband, especially with last mile connectivity, at this fourth quarter forum.

The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta is the keynote speaker at the event expected to draw the largest gathering of ICT industry players under one roof.

Themed: “Achieving Last Mile Connectivity Through Affordable Broadband,” the forum will not only highlight the opportunities and challenges of deploying affordable broadband in Nigeria but will look at the strategies being adopted by the NCC to achieve this.

Experts argue that in order to address Nigeria’s last mile connectivity, it’s important that the Government creates incentives that would encourage telcos to invest in connectivity in rural areas and other less profitable regions.

Achieving last mile connectivity in Nigeria, therefore, requires a concerted effort among Government, Civil Society Organizations, Policy makers, mobile operators, service providers, academia etc. It also requires a combination of solutions ranging from policies to technologies, transparency to regulations etc.

Recall that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had in 2016, rolled out an 8-point agenda aimed at broadband access and penetration. Through the agenda, the NCC hopes to promote deployment of universally available, fast and reliable network infrastructure that will stimulate seamless broadband penetration to drive technology innovation and overall productivity of Nigeria’s economy.

In the last two years, NITRA has through the Quarterly forum engaged ICT stakeholders to brainstorm on various topical issues affecting the ICT industry in Nigeria.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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ICTLOCA seeks partnership with NITRA on local content - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Association of Information Communication Technology Local Content (ICTLOCA) is seeking partnership with the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) towards achieving its mandate, reports ITREALMS.

ICTLOCA, ITREALMS gathered is an interest group created for the advocacy, promotion and protection of interest of local ICT practitioners, enforcement and implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act and other Local Content guidelines, Executive Orders and other Local Content Policies of Government on the use and deployment of indigenous Information Communication Technology products and services in all sectors of the Nigerian economy for the benefit of local ICT practitioners.

Revealing this to ITREALMS at a one-day third quarterly forum of NITRA held in Lagos recently, a member of the ICTLOCA, Mr. Adebunmi Akinbo on “Stimulant for National Economic Recovery” said that local content is dynamic, cutting across policies and guidelines, Consumer Protection Act, transfer of knowledge via multinationals and Nigerian business community.

Recalling that ICTLOCA was registered since 2015 and has a Governing Board of the Association inaugurated during the NCCF-ICT meeting which took place on 9th February, 2017.

The Executive Order of the Acting President in 2017, he said, gave credence to the purpose of establishing ICTLOCA which is to promote and protect local ICT businesses.

He stressed that the Executive Order 5 has further heightened the support for ICTLOCA’s cause as it gave concrete backing to ICTLOCA’s mission.

“The overall effect of Executive Orders and NOGICD Act is that they created strong foundation upon which ICTLOCA build its  vision of promoting and protecting  creators, developers, entrepreneurs and business within the ICT ecosystem,” he said.

With the signing of the Executive Order 5, he said, they commenced the development and execution of Convergence Series to aid monitoring and implementation of the Executive Orders which led to the  Local Content 4.0.

He explained that Local Content 4.0 was designed to be a convergence of all stakeholders, professionals and artisans in the ICT industry to brainstorm on issues affecting the industry and chart a way forward for effective implementation of Executive Orders on Local Content, Local Content Laws and guidelines.

“Also to highlight challenges faced by practitioners in related sectors of the ICT industry to promote the Nigerian economy and provide solutions to those issues. Thus, discussion, postulations and actions will be executed using the ICS,” he pointed out.

The fourth estate, he said, is a tool that makes change happen when we put our mind to it. We must ask question not form opinions. We must be logical and tactical, not a bystander.

“We appeal for your support by participating at our events and work with us to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of relevant local content policies and laws to promote increase in patronage of local ICT goods and services, which would in turn lead to more economic gains to Nigerians and development of the ICT industry,” Akinbo said.

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Breakfast with CEO: NITRA to host Ernest Akinlola, ntel CEO

ITREALMS:

The Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) has confirmed the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of ntel, Mr. Ernest Akinlola, as the special guest at the March edition of its monthly interactive programme with ICT companies’ CEOs tagged ‘Breakfast With The CEO’ reports ITRealms.

The event being hosted by NITRA, an interest group within the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has been slated for Friday, March 9 is expected to hold in Lagos.

ITRealms recalled that after several years of failed attempts to sell the Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) to core investors by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), the agency eventually sold NITEL to NatCom Development & Investment Limited, trading as ntel, in 2015, through a guided liquidation process, after the unbundling of the state-owned telecommunications firm.

Touted as Nigeria’s most revolutionary telecommunications company which provides 4G LTE Advanced network that delivers superfast call-connect times, crystal clear Voice over LTE and extraordinarily high Internet access speed, ntel at inception aimed to redefine the Nigerian telecommunications landscape and enrich the lives of Nigerians by delivering the most advanced communications technology across the largest possible network coverage in the most effective, valuable and satisfying manner.

Although ntel is currently live in three of Nigeria’s largest commercial cities: Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, there are already plans in motion to expand to more cities and meet its projected coverage of 85% of mobile broadband spending within 3 years and about 95% within 5 years.

Akinlola, whose appointment late September 2018, to succeed Kamar Abass, ntel’s pioneer chief executive officer, was seen in some quarters as a test of his managerial expertise to turn around ntel and reposition the company for competition.

Described as a well-educated, widely-travelled and vastly experienced in the field of telecommunications, Akinlola holds a degree in economics, and is a Chartered Accountant and fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. He also holds an MBA from Manchester Business School, and has worked in pharmaceuticals, packaging and delivery, telecoms and consulting firms.

Akinlola as head of department, led the assessment and subsequent launch of Virgin Mobile UK on the One 2 One network, which proved to be the pioneering Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) at the time.

Following One 2 One’s acquisition by T-Mobile, Akinlola was a key member on the integration team, leading on commercial strategy and growing the wholesale side of the business to launch several MVNO’s focused on specific customer segments.

He was an integral member of the team charged with executing Virgin Mobile’s $1.5 billion IPO. Many senior roles followed including leading the transformational roll out of T-Mobile’s store retail programme.

Akinlola was subsequently headhunted as COO by Lycamobile, the world’s largest international MVNO, to lead its European strategy, successfully expanding into 10 countries including UK, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands and Spain within two years.

Following his notable successes in Europe, he focused on Nigeria’s telecoms sector and was approached to lead a major marketing drive for the former Etisalat, now 9mobile, the 4th entrant in a highly competitive telecoms market. As marketing director, he spearheaded a range of initiatives that took the former Etisalat from the fourth ranked operator to the second, in terms of Average Revenue Per User (ARPU).

Analysts see the task before Akinlola as huge given the fact that the company has a system in place that seems not appealing to customers who wanted to feel more of the impact of ntel at the grassroots level.

The NITRA Breakfast meeting with the CEO, therefore, offers Akinlola an excellent opportunity to showcase some of ntel’s achievements, challenges and plans for the year as well as how he plans to tackle the tasks ahead of him before the largest gathering of ICT journalists drawn from the print, electronic and online platforms.

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NITRA breakfast: Nigeria needs 72 data centres, demands critical infrastructure status

ITREALMS:

Stakeholders in the Nigeria's data centre industry have disclosed that the nation requires some 72 data centres nationwide to make access to data much accessible to the populace, reports ITRealms.

Leading discussion on this at the weekend was the Managing Director, Medallion Communications Limited, Mr. Ike Nnamani, his counterpart in MDXi Mr. Gbenga Adegboye and Mr. Tunde Coker of Rack Centre represented by Director of Operations, Mr. Ezekiel Egboye, agreed on various degree of expansion of data centre operations beyond the city of Lagos, just as they were in tandem that data centre be declared a critical infrastructure.

As of today, almost all the data centres in Nigeria are located in Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of the country.

They made this known at the first-ever 2018 ‘Breakfast Meeting With The CEO’ held Friday at Protea Hotel, Ikeja GRA by the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA).

For Mr. Nnamani, Nigeria needs at the least 72 data centres across the country, that is, estimated 2 data centres per the 36 states of the federation, to bring the access to these data closure to the people, given the population and vast land in Nigeria.

He also noted that the level of velocity in accessible data currently suffers extensive buffering on the network when accessed from the northern and eastern parts.

Also reacting to this discussion, the General Manager, MDXi, Mr. Gbenga Adegbiji, endorsed this position, saying it would bolster the data centre industry in the country to take its rightful place among the West African states.

This, he also said could translate into more cheap connectivity, more flexibility on network choices thereby improving end-user experiences.

In addition, he said when more data centres are in place, there will be extensive higher connectivity redundancy across network performances with accompanying lower latencies.

“Leverage multiple network options to connect seamlessly to end users,” he declared.

For Director of Operations at Rack Centre, Lagos, Mr Ezekiel Egboye, Nigeria has insufficient technology infrastructure as far as data centre is concerned.

Nigeria, according to him, would have to invest more in technology infrastructure for the centres to be among global competitive, insisting that data centre connectivity and service play significant role in an economy.

“There should be an enabling environment to do with good power supply, capable manpower and proper control, ” he said.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the chairman of NITRA, Mr. Emma Okonji, said that the world nowadays is increasingly exploiting information technology for innovative services and competitive advantage, thus data centre plays a rapidly expanding role in job creation and preservation as well as the overall economic recovery as big data soars in Nigeria.

He also pointed out to the fact that Nigeria has witnessed significant investments in data centres being established in the country, stressing that availability of world class Data centres in Nigeria will spur critical infrastructure required for the implementation of the country’s Broadband initiatives among others.

The theme for this breakfast, ITRealms reports was “Data Centre Operation In Nigeria: Impacts, Benefits And Challenges In a Knowledge Economy.”

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Ike Nnamani, Opeke, Coker for NITRA breakfast meeting

ITREALMS:

Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of some of the nation’s leading Data Centre Service providers- Medallion Communications, MainOne and Rack Centre will be guests to the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA)’s February 2018 Edition of the monthly interactive session with ICT industry helmsmen tagged: ‘Breakfast Meeting With The CEO’ reports ITRealms.

The CEOs, Mr. Ike Nnamani (Medallion), Ms Funke Opeke (MainOne) and Mr. Tunde Coker (Rack Centre) have all indicated interest to be physically present at the Breakfast meeting which will have over 50 journalists from various media organizations in attendance.

As the world increasingly exploits information technology for innovative services and competitive advantage, the data centre is playing a rapidly expanding role in job creation and preservation as well as the overall economic recovery.

Nigeria has witnessed significant investments in data centres being established in the country. And it has often been argued that the availability of world class Data centres in Nigeria is critical infrastructure required for the implementation of the country’s Broadband initiatives.

Hence, the need for the industry journalist association to convene players in this segment of the nation’s ICT sub sector of the economy at this edition of its breakfast series on the theme “Data Centre Operation In Nigeria: Impacts, Benefits And Challenges In a Knowledge Economy.”

The event slated to hold on Friday, February 16, 2018 at the R-Café Hotel on Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA, will feature MainOne, as a leading connectivity solutions company, operator of MDX-i Lekki Data Centre.

MainOne apart from being the premier Tier III certified Data Centre in West Africa; it is the most connected Data Centre facility in the region, with access to fibre connectivity from all the major ISPs and telecommunications operators in the region.

Also, the CEO, Medallion Communications will be on the panel to share it's experiences as a product of structured collaboration between technocrats with versatile exposures and competences in the telecommunications industry.

NITRA will also host the CEO of Rack Centre as a major player in a State-of-the-Art, Tier III Certified Data Centre Carrier offering Neutral Colocation Services.


The Breakfast meeting offers the CEOs an excellent opportunity to showcase some of their company’s achievements, the impacts, benefits and challenges of such business in the country’s national economy before the largest gathering of ICT journalists.

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Banks must absorb fintech innovations – Okere

ITRealms:

The founder of Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) and Entrepreneur in Resident at Columbia Business School, New York, Mr. Austin Okere has said that banks must absorb financial technology innovations to remain relevant, reports ITRealms.

Speaking at the third quarterly forum of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) in Lagos, at the weekend, Mr. Okere said banks must wear a new look in much the same way that retail did with the advent of electronic commerce (e-commerce).

This, he said, would afford banks to absorb fintech innovations currently blossoming globally and also improve the value chain by way of enhancing customer experience.

Okere, who also is a member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Innovation and Intrapreneurship, emphatically said that banks and financial technology (FinTech) must collaborate for mutual benefit.

“Fintech companies in emerging markets have shown that with the right technology, it is possible to leapfrog to new forms of banking. Truth be told, Banks are best placed to continue to influence the future of Financial Services because of their huge branch network, solid reputations, and risk controls, as well as years of customer cultivation and loyalty,” he said.

Further, Okere pointed out that banks however, have to radically change the ‘we win when you lose’ mind-set, considering that credit card customers who default on payments have their interest rates hiked to the extent of repaying £2.50 for every £1 borrowed as revealed in a report by the Financial Services Authority in the U.K.

“This hardly fosters an endearing partnership,” he warned.

Earlier, NITRA chairman, Emma Okonji, welcomed participants to the third edition, noting that the forum was set up to avail stakeholders opportunity to interact with IT reporters in the country in the last four years, since its inception and solicited for more industry collaborations.

The forum was attended by the chairman, Conferences at Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Jide Awe; Executive Secretary, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbolahan Awonuga; Managing Director, Global Accelerex, Tunde Ogungbade and  Divisional Head, Electronic Banking, Fidelity Bank, Ifeoma Onibuje.

Also in attendance included the President, Institute of Software Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), Olorogun James Emadoye, and his counterpart at the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) Mr. Sunday Afolayan, among others.

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L-R: Jide Awe, Chairman, Conferences, NCS; Gbolahan Awonuga, Executive Secretary, ALTON; Tunde Ogungbade, Managing Director, Global Accelerex;  Ifeoma Onibuje, Divisional Head, Electronic Banking, Fidelity Bank; Emma Okonji, Chairman, NITRA; Austin Okere, Vice Chairman, CWG Plc; James Emadoye, President, ISPON and Sunday Afolayan, President, NiRA at the 3^rd Quarterly Forum organised by Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association held in Ikeja, Lagos.

Ogungbade, Global Accelerex CEO to keynote NITRA 3rd quarterly forum

ITRealms:

As preparations for the Third Quarterly Forum of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) reach fever pitch, organisers of the event have named Mr. Olatunde Ogungbade, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Global Accelerex Limited as the Keynote speaker.

The NITRA 3^rd Quarterly Forum holds on Friday, October 13 at the R-Café Event Centre (opposite Renaissance Hotel), on Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

Mr. Ogungbade as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Global Accelerex Limited brings his diverse competencies as a business executive, management consultant, entrepreneur, and technology leader to guide the corporate mission of the payment solutions company.

He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and a Master’s Degree in Real Time Systems from London Southbank University, UK. He is a certified Project Management Professional and a professional member of the Global Project Management Institute (Lagos Nigeria Chapter).

He is also a certified SAP Technical Consultant with many other notable and relevant industry business leadership and information technology qualifications. He has an Executive MBA Degree from Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland. 

His over two decades of international business management experience and information technology expertise covers technology strategic planning and investment, enterprise system integration, custom software development, technology operations and infrastructure management, technology commercialisation, innovative (R&D) and technology project management.

Tunde was the Enterprise Architect and IT Division Manager at Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission where he was responsible for driving the enterprise architecture initiatives and evolution through business IT capital investment alignment and strategic planning across line and staff functions in the $1.3 budget organization.

Prior to the Commission, he spent over 10 years of management consulting at various Big-5 global consulting companies (PricewaterhouseCoopers, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Sogeti Group) working with industries lines in Government, Retail, Banking & Financial Services, Health Care, Pharmaceutical and Telcos.  

His career began as an entrepreneur, running his IT Consultancy Services firm working on strategic business projects for clients such as New Digital Systems, M. W. Kellogg on the Norsk Hyrdo and the NLNG Project and the BBC.

The Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), an umbrella body for journalists reporting information and communications technology in Nigeria is organising the third edition of its quarterly forum entitled “Digital Payment: Prospects and Challenges of a Financially Inclusive Nigeria.”

The event which holds this Friday at the R-Café Event Centre on Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, will not only highlight the challenges and opportunities in the FinTech space in Nigeria but will provide knowledge and networking platform that will bring the Nigeria Fintech industry at par with its counterparts across the globe.

The event also offers the Banking, ICT and FinTech industries an excellent opportunity to showcase some of their achievements before the largest gathering of the sectors players under one roof as well as share their contributions to Digital Payments in addition to efforts towards actualizing financial inclusion in the country.

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CWG's founder, Okere, to chair NITRA 3rd Quarter Forum

ITRealms:

Plans for the Third Quarter Forum of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) is gaining momentum, as the founder, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Mr Austin Okere has confirmed participation as the chairman of this edition, reports ITRealms.

This is coming as stakeholders in the Banking, ICT and FinTech sectors of the Nigerian economy have continued to throw their weight behind the event. 

NITRA Secretary General, Mr Justus Adejumo in a press statement available to ITRealms disclosed that Okere, Founder and Vice Chairman of Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc, has accepted to chair the one-day event. 

According to him, Okere in a personally signed terse email dated August 14, 2017, and addressed to NITRA, said: “Thank you for the invitation to chair this event. I am honoured and pleased to accept. I trust I shall be receiving more information in due course.”

As said by him Digital,  disruption is changing how traditional banking services, payments, and remittances are now offered in the digital economy. Almost all sectors of financial services including payments, money transfers, banking and more are being re-imagined by non-traditional providers and FinTechs, while the traditional incumbent providers are reinventing themselves very quickly to understand better, the puzzle presented by FinTech and how they can leverage on the digital movement. 

ITRealms equally recalls that NITRA, is an umbrella body for journalists reporting information and communications technology in Nigeria is organising the third edition of its quarterly forum entitled “Digital Payment: Prospects and Challenges of a Financially Inclusive Nigeria.”

The event which holds on September 29, 2017 at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, will not only highlight the challenges and opportunities in the FinTech space in Nigeria, but will also provide knowledge and networking platform that will bring the Nigeria Fintech industry at par with its counterparts across the globe. 

The event also offers the Banking, ICT and FinTech industries an excellent opportunity to showcase some of their achievements before the largest gathering of the sectors players under one roof. It affords them the opportunity to share their contributions to Digital Payments as well as efforts towards actualizing financial inclusion in the country.

Austin Okere is Founder of CWG Plc and served as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. He has been Vice Chairman of Computer Warehouse Group Plc since June 2015 and also its Director. 

He serves as a member of the World Economic Forum Business Council on Innovation and Intrapreneurship. He serves on the Board of the National Competetiveness Council of Nigeria and Initiative for Global Development, a Washington based nonprofit organization that drives poverty reduction by catalyzing business growth and investment in the developing world.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria and serves as a member of the National Telecoms Advisory Council of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), as well as a Fellow of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS).

Okere is Entrepreneur in Residence, Columbia Business School, New York.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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