Broadband penetration: Nwokolo advocates direct import clearance

THE regulatory officer at Zain Nigeria, Mr. Osondu Nwokolo, has advocated for direct import clearance of broadband devices and equipments as the nation warms up for the broadband boom before the end of 2010.

He also solicited the inclusion of ducts and a declaration in the Nigerian Communications Act that makes it mandatory for States to protect these ‘critical infrastructure’ in their domains, whenever the review comes up anytime soon.

Speaking at the 2010 Broadband summit organized by e-Business Life in Lagos, Mr. Nwokolo, who dwelt on ‘Policy and Regulatory Imperatives for Optimal Broadband Deployment in Nigeria’ noted with dismay some of the challenges affecting telecommunications operators in the country, warning that if these challenges are not remedied, they may form a ‘Berlin’ wall for the much anticipated broadband boom before the end of this year.

Nwokolo said at the forum presided over by the president of Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ALTON), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem that frequent fibre outages due to cuts caused by road construction and vandalization, has become top in obstruction of telecom services of late.

In addition, he said that delays or denial of right of way (RoW) for fibre deployment is another hiccup as well as multiplicity of regulatory authorities in the three tiers of government, namely Federal, State and Local government.

This, he said, has resulted in a confused operational environment, which is inimical to investment, highlighting the fact that some restiveness in communities due to lack of employment, has made roll-out a hazardous attempt in some parts of the country.

He underscored lack of ascertainable taxation regime, including import duties, inadequate power, and import clearance delays to name a few.

He, however, went further to suggest some remedies if the broadband boom must be a success, saying that by ensuring the inclusion of ducts in all new roads, and a declaration of telecommunications infrastructure as ‘critical infrastructure’ that requires government protection, would go a long way in encouraging investors in this regard.

Nwokolo equally, called for the establishment of clear acceptable regime for issuance of right of way (RoW), which he believes would see to possible reduction of attractable fees of today.

He also called for regulatory harmonization among federal government authorities.

“Address overlap of regulatory authority, either through legislation, policy statement or via memorandum of understanding,” he said, citing an example with the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), NCC, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) as well as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

As said by him, an accelerated power reform, allocating of diesel directly to operators, provision of incentives for own power generation, would pave the way for improved quality of service.

Harmonize tax laws, including empowering Joint Tax Board via specific legislation, Nwokolo pointed out is crucial for the anticipated boom to take root effectively, while creating an enablement that would prioritise import clearance for broadband related equipment cannot be over-emphasised.

He maintained that most emerging markets will continue to lag behind in global competitiveness unless broadband internet connectivity is given a priority attention in the scheme of things including Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment and infrastructure.

In her presentation, the chief executive of MainOne, one of the submarine cable companies in the country, Ms Funke Opeke, was optimistic that MainOne cable would land as planned in June and she does not see anything wrong in having several submarine cables apart from hers and Glo-1 which reportedly landed in September 2009.

According to her, the future looks bright with the landing of these cables, especially MainOne, which is expected to crash the cost of Internet access in the country and enthrone improved quality in the sector.

Chief executive, e-Business Life, Mrs. Ufuoma ‘Daro said the summit was spurred by predictions of 2009 by experts and her entity thought it wise to began the year with the summit so as to equip stakeholders with relevant information in order to make informed decisions.


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ICT: Shaky start, glorious ending (5)

2009 in retrospect:
For the nation’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry, 2009 started on a shaky note but ended gloriously, reports REMMY NWEKE in this review.

And for NIG … it’s applause for NCC

Before then, the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) applauded NCC over the three licenses on 2.3 GHz, and described the process as ingenious, according to the President, NIG, Mr. Lanre Ajayi.

He also said that for NCC to have been able to peg the price for this frequency and yet conduct a transparent sale is inventive and deserves commendation. NIG noted that auctioning is an easier process because the spectrum, which is a limited resource but desired by many, will simply go to the highest bidder. But this may drive broadband Internet out of reach of many Nigerians.

Alternatively, Ajayi said, pegging of the cost was more challenging, because it was more difficult to select who should have it out of many contestants. “Pegging the cost of spectrum is certainly a way of lowering the cost of broadband Internet to Nigerians and guaranteeing deeper broadband penetration in the country,” he said.

Recalling that NIG had always been in the forefront of advocacy for low cost of spectrum for broadband Internet to accelerate broadband penetration in Nigeria.

The group maintained that the process was ingenious, explaining that if NCC had allowed it to linger into auction, highest bidders would pick the licenses but at a high cost, which would be translated eventually to the end-user.

“We applaud the outcome of the process. With this development, Nigerians should braze up for explosive e-Education, e-Health, e-Commerce, e-Government, and other e-Services which ride over Broadband Internet” NIG president said.

They group argued that with this development, Nigerians should braze up for explosive e-Education, e-Health, e-Commerce, e-Government, and other e-Services which ride over Broadband Internet.

September date for Mobitel:

Despite the cancellation that thrilled the 2.3 GHz, the returnee Mobitel Nigeria Limited, announced its readiness to roll out of 40,000 fixed lines by September 2009, just as the telco also announced its preparedness to offer alongside 1,400 free minutes on voice for each of its subscribers.

The company said that as at August 2009, it has invested over $300 million.

Additionally, Mobitel said it expended over $100 million to return to the active table in the industry, by engaging some 600 employees. Yet, $37 million contract was awarded to VocalTec, Alvarion, Main One Technologies, HIS, Helios Towers in the sum of $6m, $8m, $23m respectively.

While the telco signed on Phase3 for its national transmission, even as Gateway Communications was given some contracts too before the latest announcement.

Mobitel, a pioneering provider of telecommunications services in Nigeria is wholly acquired by a consortium led by Omni Ventures in 2008 and offers fixed and wireless voice, data and value-added services focusing on small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and high-end consumers across the country.

Access banks on Cisco, Weco:
Systems integrators, Weco System International is partnering with Global inter-networking service provider, Cisco Systems and Oracle Corporation last year delivered contact centre solution to one of the nation’s leading bank, Access Bank plc.

According to the Managing Director, Cisco Nigeria, Mr. Richard Edet the decision by the bank to go for a full scale multimedia internet protocol contact centre was to re-position itself for the challenges ahead and create a competitive advantage through excellent customer service delivery.

This, he also said, has enabled the bank to focus on wholesale business, while harnessing opportunities in the retail banking market segment in the nation’s financial industry.

A contact centre is a central portal in an enterprise from which all customer contacts are managed and is flaunted generally as part of an enterprise’s overall Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

He explained that typically this kind of CRM is equipped with software that allows contact information, enquiries or service requests to be routed to appropriate people, contacts to be tracked and data to be gathered.

Although he noted that Cisco does not deploy its solution directly to customers’ sites, it, however, has relevant local partners like Weco Systems to deliver this solution at the door steps of the customers.

Weco, he said, was recently awarded the highest Cisco certification for the sub-Saharan Africa, hence they were at home with what they have been doing for the industry.

Edet said this explained why Cisco was confident that Weco could deploy and deliver the right solution to assist the Nigerian financial institutions including Access Bank to achieve global relevance.

Computer Forensics training debuts:
Equally within the period under review, chairman, Certification Board, Computer Forensics Institutes Nigeria (CFIN), Dr. Peter Olayiwola assured that the recent launch of the online training programmes of the institute was a turning point in Nigeria’s quest for technological development.

Also Olayiwola said that the nation will be the greatest beneficiary of the programme, noting that through this initiative, the door is open for all Nigerians including those in Diaspora to take advantage of what digital forensics has to offer in terms of knowledge, skills, expertise, experience, employment and consulting opportunities, wealth creation and digital computer security.

Dr. Olayiwola who spoke at CFIN national secretariat in Lagos, recently, noted that CFIN, a professional organization approved by both the Federal Ministry of Education and Federal Ministry of Justice is about to develop digital and computer forensics experts who will be equipped to contend with the challenges of digital-crime of different dimensions.

He called attention to the fact that since the organization began in 2008, it had opened offices in Lagos, Abuja and Kaduna, with plans to appoint state coordinators for each of the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) country.

Annually, he said, CFIN conducts research and development into new and emerging technologies as well as methods in the science of computer forensics, stating that the certification offered by CFIN is the Chartered Computer Forensics Examiner, which is the result of CFIN’s desire to increase the level of professionalism and advancement  in the field  and science of computer forensics.

“The Certification board maintains a fair, uncompromised process for certifying the competence of computer forensics examiners and sets high forensics and ethical standards for digital and computer forensics examiners. CFIN administers the Chartered Computer Forensics Examiner certification to both law enforcement and non-law enforcement digital and computer forensics examiners who must not at first be computer science graduates,” he said.

Recover N1.1bn or face 7-day ultimatum:
Obviously plagued Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) workers under the aegis of the Senior Staff Association of Communications, Transport and Corporations (SSACTAC) had in Abuja gave the management of First Bank Nigeria Plc seven-day ultimatum within which to clear a $7 million debt (about N1.1billion) owed the organisation or face the wrath of the workers who were poised to prevent the bank from carrying usual statutory services to its customers.

A letter addressed to the Managing Director, the workers were left with no option than to issue a seven day notice to the bank to clear the matter for both parties interest to avoid crisis, as said by the President and Deputy President of the Association, Comrades E.Y. Kazzah and Gabriel Abah

The group maintained that the process was ingenious, explaining that if NCC had allowed it to linger into auction, highest bidders would pick the licenses but at a high cost, which would be translated eventually to the end-user.

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Spio-Garbrah leads speakers @ USPF consultative series

The Chief Executive Officer, Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation (CTO), Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, would be speaking alongside his counterpart at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe and the Executive Secretary, Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), Mr. Funso Fayomi, at the first-ever consultative forum on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) with the theme ‘ICT for all consultation’ series by USPF.

Head, Corporate Services, USPF, Mr. Okoh Aihe, made the disclosure, weekend, saying that the forum is a major interface with the Nigerian public in form of series of consultations to engender capacity building for stakeholders.

He also said the forum which holds today, Wednesday in Ibadan would move to Yola next week and would be held across all the geo-political zones of the country.

According to him, the series tagged ‘Stakeholders Consultation Forum and Capacity Building,’ the Consultation series, have been planned to afford various stakeholders, who are the beneficiaries of USPF projects, financial institutions, ICT entrepreneurs, community-based organisations, opinion leaders, network operators and other development partners, the opportunities to suggest ways of improving implementation of ICT programmes of USPF.

Thus, he said, it is a major quest by the agency to actualize its vision of “ICT Access for all” as well as meet the objectives of the Federal Government on ICT access to the unreached and disadvantaged people in far-flung parts of the country.

In achieving this, he said, USPF is taking ICT access to the populace, even as they are partnering CTO to make it a success.

Therefore, he pointed out that the consultation would provide channels for frank talks and above all, learning in order to take USPF to a new level of performance.

Other issues expected to be addressed during the first two series, he said, would the presentation of USPF mandate and strategic Plan 2007 – 2011, Key Issues impacting Rural Connectivity, Rural Connectivity Finance, Financial Models for Rural Connectivity, Appropriate Technologies for Rural Communities Off-the-grid, Available Rural Connectivity Solutions, and a host of other issues.

He explained that USPF was prepared to hear from representatives of selected communities who will speak about their community needs and priorities in ICTs, assuring that information received from the forum would assist these communities to better articulate those needs.

He enjoined Nigerians to take advantage of the consultations series and come out with more creative ways that could help USPF to be more relevant to the country, especially for local dwellers.

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Microsoft opens new office,reiterates commitment

Microsoft Nigeria, last weekend, opened its new office in the highbrow area of Ikoyi-Lagos, reinstating its commitment to play its role in strengthening the nation’s economy.

The general manager, Microsoft for West, East and Central Africa (WECA), Mr. Hennie Loubser, made this commitment known while declaring open the new office at the renovated NNPC building.

He assured that Microsoft would continue to do its bit in supporting the country through genuine products so as to make a meaningful contribution to the economy.

Welcoming guest earlier, the country manager, Mr. Emma Onyeje said the need for a new office was due to the need to adequately accommodate its increasing staff strength and to service its customers better.

ITRealms Online recalled that Microsoft set up the company’s first office in Nigeria in 2000 with just three staff members and 10 years later there are two established offices situated in Abuja and Lagos, with a network of over 1000 Microsoft partners, actively contributing to ICT and the broader Nigerian economy.

Onyeje also said Nigeria is a thriving market and an attractive destination for many international businesses looking to establish a presence on the African continent as well as tap into nation’s incredible pool of talented people.

“Today’s event is a reflection of Microsoft’s continued commitment to the Nigerian market place and its people,” he declared.

In his comment at the occasion, the chief executive officer AlliedSoft, Mr. Chuma Ofoche, noted that as a Microsoft partner, it is heartening to see the company make this kind of commitment to Nigeria.

“This demonstrates that Microsoft is in Nigeria for the long term and committed to growing its network of partners across this country,” he said.

The occasion was graced by partners and industry stakeholders with employees organizing a guided tour of their offering including Xbox, Windows Live, Windows 7, Office 2010 and Windows Mobile work seamlessly together, allowing people to be more adaptive to technology.

Additionally, Microsoft also showcased the citizenship work it has done in the country in conjunction with the Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), especially on efforts to strengthen the local economy, enable access to IT and foster education.


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More villages, cities join Etisalat network

Etisalat Nigeria has announced the connection of more villages and satellite towns on the fifth Global System for Mobile communication network in the country.

Disclosing this, Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Wael Ammar, said the new beneficiaries of the telco connection includes Okene-Eba, Inioziomi Layout and Idogi in Okene; Little Obokum and  Okuku in Calabar; Igoli, Ogboja, Ukpah, Odajie, Aragban, and Ekumtak in Ogoja; Alaoji motor spare parts market on the outskirts of Aba;   Oke Aregba, Ilugun, Idi Aba, Sokenu, Oke Mosan, and Ojusango in Abeokuta; Alafara, Idi Iroko, Adegbite, Idioro & Yidi (Agodi) in Ibadan; Bayeku in Ikorodu town; Rumuemene and Mile 4 areas of Port Harcourt city; Trans-Nkisi GRA in Onitsha; Uke in Nasarawa  and Mubi town in Adamawa.

ITRealms Online recalled that recently the 36 states capitals nationwide were covered on the network a fortnight ago, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

This, Etisalat said was in furtherance of its commitment to world-class service delivery to customers.

According to Ammar, the company’s commitment to driving its network expansion programme by providing more subscribers with the opportunities of world-class services has become part of its global resolve.

“We are dedicated to connecting every nook and corner of the country to our network thereby availing more Nigerians the benefits of being on Etisalat network.  Our core commitment is to extend our customers’ reach without limit and our presence in all these locations in under a year and a half of commercial operations is proof that our customers are at the heart of all we do” he said.

The focus of this expansion exercise, he said, would be to deliver unmatched value offers to subscribers via our comprehensive portfolio of products and value added services.

In addition, Etisalat announced the coming life of its network in some key areas in the south-east and south south, as well as north central locations of Ohafia, Ahoada, Ikot Abasi, Abak, Ette and Essene town, Oturkpo, Keffi, Ajaokuta, Kabba and Orhunwhorun Town in Delta state are live on the innovative network. Other locations also recently covered on the network include; Katsina-Ala, Mkar, Yenegoa, Etinan, Odupkani, Itu, Otomewo, Vom, Magajin Gari, Dambuwa and Tsume amongst others.

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Microsoft collaborates with AbujaSchoolNet to train teachers

AbujaSchoolNet Nigeria in collaboration with Microsoft’s Africa School Technology Innovation Centre (STIC), recently organized a workshop to provide new skills for Partners in Learning (PIL) trainers and teachers at the Government Secondary School in Tudun Wada, Abuja.

The training which focused on the latest version of the ICT skills for educators, One Step Further and the Innovative Teacher courses was aimed at equipping educators with technology tools and content designed to enhance teaching and learning and also to provide the trainers with insight on how to deploy the courses and materials to teachers throughout their areas of jurisdiction.

Public Relations Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, Mrs. Victoria N’dee Uwadoka, said 25 participants drawn from Consultancy Support Services Nigeria, K-INET Ghana, the Federal Ministry of Education as well as government and private schools from Ghana and Nigeria attended the session.

She also expressed the hope that the workshop would strengthen the region’s entries into this year’s Innovative Teacher’s Forum competition, which global finals are to be held for the first time on the African continent.

The Deputy National Coordinator, SchoolNet Nigeria, Mrs. Ronke Bello, was quoted as saying that by working closely with Microsoft on programmes such as Partners in Learning, it would enable educators across Nigeria and Ghana to become more innovative thinkers and innovative doers in their classrooms and be equipped to match their peers across the world.

“Feedback from the participants showed that they felt ‘confident’ in running the PIL courses in their schools and states after the training,” she said.

One of the participants from Ghana, Issah I. Shaibu of the WA Secondary High School said, “The workshop was quite innovative, opening trainers up to lots of challenges, ideas and resources. It enriched me to go back and carry out training of teachers in Ghana.”

Also speaking on the training, Citizenship Lead for Microsoft Anglophone, West Africa, Dr. (Mrs) Jummai Umar-Ajijola, said as an industry leader Microsoft has a responsibility to help make technology more accessible and affordable to students and teachers.

“We developed the Partners in Learning initiative to provide a sustainable investment in technology and training to help students focus on learning and teachers focus on teaching,” she said.

According to her, since the launch in 2003, PIL has touched the lives of more than 135 million students, teachers and education policymakers in 110 countries.
She said through this programme, Microsoft strives to create educational experiences that remove limitations and bring students and teachers closer.

The workshop also saw the launch of the Africa version of the PIL network http://africa.partnersinlearningnetwork.com. This social network is designed to connect teachers throughout the continent and provide them with tools to communicate and share resources.

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Kenya grabs GSMA Leadership Award for Broadband Strategy

Remmy Nweke in Barcelona, Spain

Despite the views people may have of the ‘Obama’ country following recent security breaches near the capital, Kenya seems to be doing well in terms leadership in broadband deployment on the continent.

According to the Global System for Mobile Association (GSMA), the Kenyan government has done well, hence, it attracted the recognition of the association.

The award received by the Kenyan Minister of Information and Communications Mr. Samuel Poghisio, is the mobile industry’s prestigious annual government award category.

GSMA said the leadership role played by Kenya through the promotion of mobile phones and information communication technology (ICT) equipment as well as in the early roll-out of mobile broadband.

Daily Champion recalled that in 2009, Kenya eliminated both import duty and sales taxes on mobile phones and other ICT equipment, thus making access for consumers more affordable.

Equally, the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) had demonstrated an established and ongoing programme of modernisation of the telecoms sector in the country.

GSMA noted that CCK facilitated the landing of two fibre optic cables, TEAMs and SEACOM, which heralded a new era of abundant broadband capacity for Kenya and the East African region.

Just as CCK enabled the development of a vibrant mobile broadband market by licensing of new spectrum and launching of a number of ICT cum mobile projects aimed at promoting education and health in rural communities.

These programmes, GSMA pointed out will boost the Kenyan economy and improve the well-being and future prosperity of its citizens.

Chief executive officer, GSMA, Mr. Rob Conway, said the award affirms the pioneering leadership of the Kenyan government and resolve to improve the lives of Kenyans by making access to mobile broadband and ICT more available and affordable.

"Mobile broadband is a great enabler, and it is imperative that government and industry work together to realise its potential to positively transform society,” he said.

He urged African countries to emulate Kenya’s lead, by acknowledging the importance of eliminating short term taxation on mobile phones to increase affordability and driving medium terms gains in Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and the total tax contribution by the sector.

Additionally he advised African continent to make available harmonised spectrum for mobile broadband by supporting the investment in land-based and undersea fibre optic cables by liberalising the international gateway.

Accepting the prize, Mr. Poghisio, expressed delight that the great efforts and progressive policies of the Kenyan Government have been recognised by the presentation of this award.

“Kenya is developing and investing in the mobile and ICT technology tools that we need to deliver modern and innovative social and economic improvements for all our citizens,” he said.


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TD opens office in Liberia, slashes PC price

Nigerian IT firm, Technology Distributions (TD) Limited has opened its office in Liberia with a promise to slash the price of personal computers.

Speaking at the launch of TD Liberia Limited at Monrovia City Hall, the Managing Director of Technology Distributions, Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, described the very high cost of IT products in Liberia as outrageous and unacceptable.

She identified high prices of IT products as one of the reasons limiting the participation of African countries in the knowledge economy.

She blamed the high cost of Liberian ICT market on grey market, saying that 90 per cent of these products come from grey market.

Ekeh promised that with the berth of TD in Liberia this would change as recognised resellers would be engaged to reach out to the populace.

“These resellers would be empowered through trade incentives, shared logistics, and LPO financing,” she said, assuring that. Liberians could look out for a new era in which ICT products would be available and affordable.

The Nigerian Ambassador to Liberia, Mr. Ebenezer A. Adigun said that the adoption of ICT products is playing a central role in the development of the global knowledge driven economy. He also said that as a result the African Union in its most recent meeting in Addis Ababa directed the African Union Commission to set an African Digital Agenda that would see ICT products playing a prominent role in the development and integration of Africa.

TD coming to Liberia, Adigun said, was at the right time when the Liberian society, like many other African nations was opening up.

He expressed the belief that TD would meet the aspirations of the people of Liberia.

Welcoming TD to Liberia, earlier the Vice President, Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Boakai traced the long cordial relationship between Liberia and Nigeria, reiterated the key role of ICT products in national development and expressed the willingness of the Government and people of Liberia to encourage foreign investment.

The Vice President emphasized that the peoples of Liberia and Nigeria are brothers and that TD would be at home doing business in Liberia.

He further expressed the hope that TD would help make genuine ICT products available and affordable not only in Monrovia but in other parts of the country.


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Nigerians raise N1.4m via Glo for Haiti victims

An estimated sum of N1,400,000 (N1.4m) may have been realised by Second National Operator (SNO) Globacom in the first phase of the campaign to support the Nigerian Red Cross in assisting the victims of Haiti earthquake, which took place over a month ago.

Head, Value Added Services (VAS) at Globacom, Mr. Samson Isa, made the disclosure at the weekend, saying that over 28,000 Nigerians have till date responded to the fundraising appeal by sending the word ‘Haiti’ to 33090; a special short code created for the purpose.

According to him, Nigerians from all walks of life responded positively to the fundraising appeal launched a fortnight ago by Globacom to help the unfortunate victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti.

The response from Nigerians within the last two weeks, he said, has been very encouraging as it further confirms that Nigerians are compassionate and generous people who care deeply about fellow humans, especially those who are in distress or are victims of unfortunate situations.

“As we promised at the commencement of the project, the proceeds will be presented on a monthly basis on behalf of the Nigerian people to the Nigerian Red Cross which is already on ground in Haiti via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),” he said.

Mr. Isa, therefore called on more Nigerians to get involved and donate as many times as they wish to the relief effort by sending multiple Short Messaging Service (SMS) at the cost of N50 per SMS.

“The method of donation has been made very simple as Nigerians only need to use their phones to make donations as many times as they wish,” he said.

Also, he noted the campaign was being run through the social networks such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter; while Classic 97.3 FM has continued to help raise awareness through daily free promos and hypes on the popular radio channel.

Daily Champion recalled that while announcing the commencement of the fundraising programme recently in Lagos, Glo’s Group Chief Operating Officer (GCOO), Mr. Mohamed Jameel said, the fundraising appeal was embarked upon in order to ensure that Nigerians had an opportunity to contribute their own quota to the salvage and rehabilitation effort launched globally for the people of Haiti.

Described as one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent human history and more massive in repercussion than the Asian tsunami, the Haitian earthquake disaster has seen almost total destruction of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince and other major cities, the incapacitation of thousands of Haitians and the loss of at least 200,000 lives.


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CTO 2010: US advises Nigeria on technology security

The Commercial Section of the United States Embassy in the country has announced that the theme of its annual Computer, Telecommunications and Office Equipment (CTO) cum Networking with USA (NUSA) 2010 would centre on “Technologies to Secure Nigeria’s Future.”

Senior Commercial Specialist, at the Commercial Section, Mr. Anayo Agu, who is the coordinator of CTO 2010, confirmed to ITRealms Online that they are set to host the CTO-NUSA 2010, which date has been scheduled for May 10 through 14, this year.

The event billed to hold at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Center, Onikan, Lagos, he said, would focus on the technologies available to the private sector and government to enhance the cyber and physical security of all Nigerians.

The CTO-NUSA exhibition and conferences, he said, has become a market development tool of the U.S. Commercial Service in Nigeria that showcases the best technologies that U.S. companies and their Nigerian partners have to offer the region, which is on its 20th edition.

He noted that since commencement in, back in 1989, the show has a focus on encouraging office automation in Nigeria using computer and telecommunications technologies.

“It has since expanded to include the entire spectrum of high-tech U.S. products that often utilize a whole host of hardware, software, telecommunications, and remote sensing technologies to deliver business solutions that enhance all of our lives. It is the largest exhibition of its kind in West Africa,” he said.

CTO/NUSA 2010, Agu said, will feature an all-day seminar on May 10, focusing on leveraging technology to enhance security of the public and private sector in all aspects of their operations, ranging from protecting business and customer information in the digital age, confirming the identity of individuals through the use of biometrics, to preventing customs evasion through the use of remote sensing at ports and border entry points.

The exhibition and seminars, he said, are open to the public, but attendees younger than 18 years old are not permitted on the exhibit floor, except on Wednesday, May 12, 2010, when college and university students are permitted to attend.

The event, he said, helps professionals from both the public and private sector better understand the challenges they face and the array of technology-driven solutions available to successfully meet these challenges.

The seminars provide a unique platform for local and international experts to interact on critical issues, especially those related to technology diffusion, alliances and partnerships between firms, service delivery, and entrepreneurship.

The U.S. Commercial Service in Nigeria, therefore, invites stakeholders to attend and exhibit, just as exhibitors could either be U.S. or Nigerian companies that manufacture, sell, or facilitate the sale of U.S. goods and services. “It will provide a forum not only to reach Nigeria’s 145 million citizens, their businesses, and government, but also those of neighboring countries from throughout the region,” he said.

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