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THE Federal Government on Monday said it regretted the dysfunction of its official website, www.nigeria.gov.ng, just as it launched two new sites.
ITRealms Online, last week, reported exclusively that the official federal government website was stale and has not been updated holistically in the last eight months, thus misleading.
The Federal Ministry of Information and Communications (FMIC) in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online, signed by the Director, Information Technology at the ministry, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, said Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, regretted the inconvenience the dysfunctional national portal must have caused the public.
While acknowledging ITRealms Online’s report last Wednesday, she attributed the dysfunctional and inaccessibility of Federal Government’s website to a disagreement with the Internet Service Provider (ISP), which has taken long time to resolve.
“This unfortunate situation compelled the Ministry to launch a new website which became up and running for the past three weeks,” part of the statement read.
Mrs. Odusote add that government has launched two new websites in pursuit of its rebranding campaign.
“As part of the Re-branding Nigeria Project, the Federal Ministry of Information and Communications (FMIC) recently launched a new website, www.fmic.gov.ng, which will avail Nigerians and foreigners timely and important information about the people and government of Nigeria,” she said.
She added that the ministry’s website would help the Federal Government to have an interactive polling system that would engage Nigerians through a seamless feedback mechanism on government policies and programmes.
She also said the ministry set up another website, www.nigeriarebrands.com, for the re-branding Nigeria project, which will contain all materials relating to the scheme.
“The two websites are up and running as they are regularly updated,” she said.
Stating that while efforts are underway to resolve all issues surrounding the national portal, www.nigeria.gove.ng, the ministry said, Nigerians and foreigners alike who desire information on Nigeria, the Ministry and the re-branding project should visit www.fmic.gov.ng or www.nigeriarebrands.com.
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Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Multi-Links Telkom joins WAFICT sponsors
MULTI-Links Telkom has joined the array of sponsors of this year’s West African ICT Congress (WAFICT Congress 2009) and West African International Telecommunications and ICT exhibition (W.Afri.Tel).
The Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Multi-Links Telkom Nigeria, Mrs. Ijeoma Abazie revealed that the telco is battle-ready for the show by confirming its status as silver sponsor for the congress, while at the same time declaring a major stake at the exhibition.
A letter signed by her equally confirmed that the Managing Director, Mr. Thami Msimango will actively participate at this year’s edition, especially as a speaker.
Msimango, she said, would be speaking alongside the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe and Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah of Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO).
The letter addressed to the organizers of the events affirmed Msimango participation, part of which read:
“We refer to your letter in respect of the WAFICT Congress 2009 inviting Mr. Thami Msimango, the Managing Director of Multi-Links Telkom as a key speaker at the WAFICT, running concurrently with W.Afri.Tel from June 2-4, 2009.
“We are pleased to inform you that Multi-Links Telkom’s management has accepted your invitation to speak at the plenary and also approved silver sponsorship of the Congress and our participation in the exhibition,” Mrs. Abazie said.
Reacting to the Multi-Links Telkom sponsorship of the congress and exhibition at West Africa’s biggest show, the Editor-in-chief, IT & Telecom Digest, the local organisers of the event, Mr. Mkpe Abang noted that when it was not clear whether private telephone operations could thrive in Nigeria, Multi-Links blazed the trail by becoming the first privately owned company to begin operations in December 1997.
“When many thought that the CDMA market was beginning to slow down in Nigeria, Telkom of South Africa knew otherwise, and came over and acquired Multi-Links, thereby transforming into Multi-Links Telkom,” he said.
Emphasizing that it was not surprising that this company is signaling that it has a clearer vision of the Nigerian telecom market than many thought, thus pitch its tent correctly.
“Surely the Nigerian CDMA market needs robust and dynamic players; and Multi-Links Telkom has proved that it is ready to take on the market very seriously,” he declared.
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The Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Multi-Links Telkom Nigeria, Mrs. Ijeoma Abazie revealed that the telco is battle-ready for the show by confirming its status as silver sponsor for the congress, while at the same time declaring a major stake at the exhibition.
A letter signed by her equally confirmed that the Managing Director, Mr. Thami Msimango will actively participate at this year’s edition, especially as a speaker.
Msimango, she said, would be speaking alongside the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe and Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah of Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO).
The letter addressed to the organizers of the events affirmed Msimango participation, part of which read:
“We refer to your letter in respect of the WAFICT Congress 2009 inviting Mr. Thami Msimango, the Managing Director of Multi-Links Telkom as a key speaker at the WAFICT, running concurrently with W.Afri.Tel from June 2-4, 2009.
“We are pleased to inform you that Multi-Links Telkom’s management has accepted your invitation to speak at the plenary and also approved silver sponsorship of the Congress and our participation in the exhibition,” Mrs. Abazie said.
Reacting to the Multi-Links Telkom sponsorship of the congress and exhibition at West Africa’s biggest show, the Editor-in-chief, IT & Telecom Digest, the local organisers of the event, Mr. Mkpe Abang noted that when it was not clear whether private telephone operations could thrive in Nigeria, Multi-Links blazed the trail by becoming the first privately owned company to begin operations in December 1997.
“When many thought that the CDMA market was beginning to slow down in Nigeria, Telkom of South Africa knew otherwise, and came over and acquired Multi-Links, thereby transforming into Multi-Links Telkom,” he said.
Emphasizing that it was not surprising that this company is signaling that it has a clearer vision of the Nigerian telecom market than many thought, thus pitch its tent correctly.
“Surely the Nigerian CDMA market needs robust and dynamic players; and Multi-Links Telkom has proved that it is ready to take on the market very seriously,” he declared.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
MTN Project Fame-II kicks off in June
THE second edition of the MTN Nigeria’s sponsored youth talent contest for West Africa, would next month, June, kick off.
The organisers of the MTN Project Fame West Africa, a talent discovery and nurturing musical reality TV show, Ultima Studios Limited, seeks applications from youths across West Africa to register for auditioning.
A press statement made available to ITRealms Online informed that prospective candidates are to indicate their interest by sending a Short Messaging Service (SMS) to 35850, in order to get their Personal Identification Number (PIN) to access the registration form on the official website: www.projectfamewestafrica.com.
They could also pick up registration forms at any of the MTN call centres across the country.
Affirming this, the Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Bola Akingbade, said, the company is out to discover a new set of musical talents whose lives will be transformed in extraordinary ways.
“This is an opportunity for young individuals with artistic talent to be part of a musical academy, where they will be groomed in voice and dance training, musical performances as well as other creative techniques,” he said.
ITRealms Online recalled that the maiden edition achieved massive popularity among television viewers across West Africa.
The maiden edition also saw to the discovery of Inyanya Mbuk of Nigeria, who emerged the winner of the star prize of N2.5million, a fully loaded Toyota RAV 4, and a one-year recording contract.
Others were Nii Ankra of Ghana, the first runner up, with a prize of N1.5 million and a fully loaded Toyota Corolla; Praise Adejo of Nigeria, the second runner-up won N1million, and a Toyota Yaris while the third runner up, Annette Cookey, won N1million.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
The organisers of the MTN Project Fame West Africa, a talent discovery and nurturing musical reality TV show, Ultima Studios Limited, seeks applications from youths across West Africa to register for auditioning.
A press statement made available to ITRealms Online informed that prospective candidates are to indicate their interest by sending a Short Messaging Service (SMS) to 35850, in order to get their Personal Identification Number (PIN) to access the registration form on the official website: www.projectfamewestafrica.com.
They could also pick up registration forms at any of the MTN call centres across the country.
Affirming this, the Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Bola Akingbade, said, the company is out to discover a new set of musical talents whose lives will be transformed in extraordinary ways.
“This is an opportunity for young individuals with artistic talent to be part of a musical academy, where they will be groomed in voice and dance training, musical performances as well as other creative techniques,” he said.
ITRealms Online recalled that the maiden edition achieved massive popularity among television viewers across West Africa.
The maiden edition also saw to the discovery of Inyanya Mbuk of Nigeria, who emerged the winner of the star prize of N2.5million, a fully loaded Toyota RAV 4, and a one-year recording contract.
Others were Nii Ankra of Ghana, the first runner up, with a prize of N1.5 million and a fully loaded Toyota Corolla; Praise Adejo of Nigeria, the second runner-up won N1million, and a Toyota Yaris while the third runner up, Annette Cookey, won N1million.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Egwu commends Omatek’s e-learning scheme
Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu, has commended Omatek Ventures Plc over its positive contributions towards the development of education in the country, saying the firm’s e-learning initiative is adding value.
Speaking recently at the launching of Omatek e-Learning Initiative and the unveiling of Omatek 8 and 10 inches Smartbooks for Schools in Abuja, Dr. Egwu said the administration of President Umaru Yar’adua recently unveiled the Ministry of Education’s Road Map, which is intended to harness and give direction to the Federal Government’s efforts aimed at strengthening capacity building and quality of education at all levels.
He also said the Omatek e-learning initiative is therefore a viable means of adding value to the Federal Government’s programme on e-Learning.
In addition, he reiterated that the FG road map considered the advantages of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) will bring to the academia, stressing that the unveiling of the Omatek products for the education sector is a testimony to the role the private sector could continue to play in the actualization of the country’s hopes for a brighter future for education.
Chairman, Omatek Ventures Plc, Dr. Tim Farinre, in his speech to the occasion, said, the Omatek e-learning initiative is a one-stop shop which provides a platform to ensure that information and communication technology tools are deployed to schools/classrooms under a carefully structured learning environment, equipped with internet connectivity to create virtual connectivity between students and teachers/lecturers. Thus he said, also involves the deployment of a robust content /curriculum development.
Also speaking, the Group Managing Director (GMD) Omatek, Mrs. Florence Seriki said the launch of Omatek e-learning initiative would help to transform the education sector, as well as create the needed path towards achieving sustainable growth especially in the development of ICT in all cadre of schools across the nation.
Seriki pointed out the scheme is a holistic solution to consolidate Omatek’s position in the education sector and would involve the provision of internet connectivity via the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technology to stimulate the provision of hot-spots around schools, thus creating an enabling environment for teachers and students to deploy their Wirreless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) connectivity at will.
According to her, the e-Learning scheme is divided into modules for ease of deployment and these modules will help to streamline the processes where the practice of teaching and learning can enjoy intervention by the introduction of IT tools required to create an e-Learning environment across schools.
Mrs. Seriki said the hardware components of the scheme; the Omatek 8” and 10” Smartbooks, are specially designed with 60 Giga Bytes (GB) harddisk space and 512mb and 1Gb Random Access Memory (RAM) respectively for students and teachers in the educational sector and equipped with robust Wi-Fi coverage, portable and come in various attractive colours.
She explained that alternatively, there is available the 15.4” laptop for Teachers/Leacturers.
Also available under the scheme is the Omatek All-In-One compact PC which comes with a 14-17” flat screen with inbuilt CPU and Monitor. It is ideal for schools, computer/ ICT laboratories. The Omatek Compact comes with 80 gb HDD, combined PC and CPU, Wireless Mouse, Wi-Fi ready and its equipped with DVD Writer.
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Speaking recently at the launching of Omatek e-Learning Initiative and the unveiling of Omatek 8 and 10 inches Smartbooks for Schools in Abuja, Dr. Egwu said the administration of President Umaru Yar’adua recently unveiled the Ministry of Education’s Road Map, which is intended to harness and give direction to the Federal Government’s efforts aimed at strengthening capacity building and quality of education at all levels.
He also said the Omatek e-learning initiative is therefore a viable means of adding value to the Federal Government’s programme on e-Learning.
In addition, he reiterated that the FG road map considered the advantages of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) will bring to the academia, stressing that the unveiling of the Omatek products for the education sector is a testimony to the role the private sector could continue to play in the actualization of the country’s hopes for a brighter future for education.
Chairman, Omatek Ventures Plc, Dr. Tim Farinre, in his speech to the occasion, said, the Omatek e-learning initiative is a one-stop shop which provides a platform to ensure that information and communication technology tools are deployed to schools/classrooms under a carefully structured learning environment, equipped with internet connectivity to create virtual connectivity between students and teachers/lecturers. Thus he said, also involves the deployment of a robust content /curriculum development.
Also speaking, the Group Managing Director (GMD) Omatek, Mrs. Florence Seriki said the launch of Omatek e-learning initiative would help to transform the education sector, as well as create the needed path towards achieving sustainable growth especially in the development of ICT in all cadre of schools across the nation.
Seriki pointed out the scheme is a holistic solution to consolidate Omatek’s position in the education sector and would involve the provision of internet connectivity via the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technology to stimulate the provision of hot-spots around schools, thus creating an enabling environment for teachers and students to deploy their Wirreless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) connectivity at will.
According to her, the e-Learning scheme is divided into modules for ease of deployment and these modules will help to streamline the processes where the practice of teaching and learning can enjoy intervention by the introduction of IT tools required to create an e-Learning environment across schools.
Mrs. Seriki said the hardware components of the scheme; the Omatek 8” and 10” Smartbooks, are specially designed with 60 Giga Bytes (GB) harddisk space and 512mb and 1Gb Random Access Memory (RAM) respectively for students and teachers in the educational sector and equipped with robust Wi-Fi coverage, portable and come in various attractive colours.
She explained that alternatively, there is available the 15.4” laptop for Teachers/Leacturers.
Also available under the scheme is the Omatek All-In-One compact PC which comes with a 14-17” flat screen with inbuilt CPU and Monitor. It is ideal for schools, computer/ ICT laboratories. The Omatek Compact comes with 80 gb HDD, combined PC and CPU, Wireless Mouse, Wi-Fi ready and its equipped with DVD Writer.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
POD launches online curriculum for students
An online educational curriculum focusing on conflict resolution and non-violence for teachers and students across the world is now available at http://education.peaceoneday.org.According to the Coordinator, Education Research and Development at Peace One Day (POD), Olivia Rainford, the two free education resources have thus far been created and the curriculum, is highly recommended for grades 6-12 in the United States (US) and KS 3 & 4 in the United Kingdom (UK).
Ms Rainford also said that the curriculum is aimed at fostering discussion among young people about peace and non-violence in their schools, local communities, and the world at large.
The resources work in conjunction with Jeremy Gilley’s award-winning documentary film The Day After Peace.
“As the founder of Peace One Day (POD), Jeremy Gilley was responsible for the unanimous adoption by United Nations (UN) member states of a day of global ceasefire and non-violence with a fixed calendar date, Peace Day - 21 September,” she said.
Peace Day, she said, has now been proved to save lives and inspire and empower individuals everywhere to take action toward a more peaceful world.
“On Peace Day 2007, 100 million people according to UN were actively engaged in Peace Day activities in over 200 countries,” she said.
She pointed out that the POD education resources look to advance active learning in the areas of conflict resolution, global citizenship, human rights and the link between sustainability and peace, using Peace Day 21 September as a focus.
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Ms Rainford also said that the curriculum is aimed at fostering discussion among young people about peace and non-violence in their schools, local communities, and the world at large.
The resources work in conjunction with Jeremy Gilley’s award-winning documentary film The Day After Peace.
“As the founder of Peace One Day (POD), Jeremy Gilley was responsible for the unanimous adoption by United Nations (UN) member states of a day of global ceasefire and non-violence with a fixed calendar date, Peace Day - 21 September,” she said.
Peace Day, she said, has now been proved to save lives and inspire and empower individuals everywhere to take action toward a more peaceful world.
“On Peace Day 2007, 100 million people according to UN were actively engaged in Peace Day activities in over 200 countries,” she said.
She pointed out that the POD education resources look to advance active learning in the areas of conflict resolution, global citizenship, human rights and the link between sustainability and peace, using Peace Day 21 September as a focus.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
ICANN resolves transfer problems on OnlineNIC
Acting in compliance with the recent Court orders permitting transfers to resume on the OnlineNIC, the global coordinating agency for the Internet, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), has resolved the transfer issues.
ICANN in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online said it was not unaware of the fact that customers of registrar OnlineNIC, had problems with previous transfer requests but they should now be able to transfer their domains to a different registrar if they wish.
“ICANN is aware that some customers of OnlineNIC have been prevented from completing requested transfers and we have been working with the relevant parties in an effort to resolve complaints,” official said.
OnlineNIC, Inc. had interpreted a court order to mean that OnlineNIC was prohibited from allowing any domain names registered under its accreditation to be transferred to a different registrar.
Two new court orders issued on May 13, 2009 provided for a receiver to act in a limited capacity in order to facilitate the transfer process.
With the latest court order, any registrant that experienced difficulty recently with transferring domain names from OnlineNIC to another registrar should now be able to complete the transfer by contacting their preferred registrar.
“Once the transfer request is initiated, it is expected that OnlineNIC and its receiver will follow the procedure spelled out by the court to permit legitimate transfers to be processed within a few days of the request,” ICANN official said.
While transfers should be possible now, ICANN is not suggesting that registrants request transfers if they are satisfied with the service and functionality available through OnlineNIC.
ICANN will continue to monitor the situation, advising that in the case of a customer buying a name through one registrar, and wanted to switch to a different registrar, ICANN said that it is possible to conduct such transfer through the due process based on its Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy.
“All ICANN-accredited registrars, provides that registered name holders must be able to transfer their domain name registrations between registrars. You must wait 60 days after the initial registration or any previous transfers to initiate a transfer,” official said.
ICANN further advised that if customers wish to move their domain name, they may initiate the transfer process by contacting the registrar to which they wish to transfer the name to.
“This registrar is required to confirm your intent to transfer your domain name using the Initial Authorization for Registrar Transfer form. If you do not respond or return the form to the registrar, your transfer request will not be processed,” ICANN said.
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ICANN in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online said it was not unaware of the fact that customers of registrar OnlineNIC, had problems with previous transfer requests but they should now be able to transfer their domains to a different registrar if they wish.
“ICANN is aware that some customers of OnlineNIC have been prevented from completing requested transfers and we have been working with the relevant parties in an effort to resolve complaints,” official said.
OnlineNIC, Inc. had interpreted a court order to mean that OnlineNIC was prohibited from allowing any domain names registered under its accreditation to be transferred to a different registrar.
Two new court orders issued on May 13, 2009 provided for a receiver to act in a limited capacity in order to facilitate the transfer process.
With the latest court order, any registrant that experienced difficulty recently with transferring domain names from OnlineNIC to another registrar should now be able to complete the transfer by contacting their preferred registrar.
“Once the transfer request is initiated, it is expected that OnlineNIC and its receiver will follow the procedure spelled out by the court to permit legitimate transfers to be processed within a few days of the request,” ICANN official said.
While transfers should be possible now, ICANN is not suggesting that registrants request transfers if they are satisfied with the service and functionality available through OnlineNIC.
ICANN will continue to monitor the situation, advising that in the case of a customer buying a name through one registrar, and wanted to switch to a different registrar, ICANN said that it is possible to conduct such transfer through the due process based on its Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy.
“All ICANN-accredited registrars, provides that registered name holders must be able to transfer their domain name registrations between registrars. You must wait 60 days after the initial registration or any previous transfers to initiate a transfer,” official said.
ICANN further advised that if customers wish to move their domain name, they may initiate the transfer process by contacting the registrar to which they wish to transfer the name to.
“This registrar is required to confirm your intent to transfer your domain name using the Initial Authorization for Registrar Transfer form. If you do not respond or return the form to the registrar, your transfer request will not be processed,” ICANN said.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Monday, May 18, 2009
Nigeria concludes redelegation of .ng ccTLD
Finally, the internet coordinating agency, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), weekend, concluded the redelegation of Nigeria’s country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) name, .ng.
A country code top-level domain is an Internet top-level domain generally used or reserved for a country or a dependent territory. Some examples of ccTLD are .us for United States, .uk for United Kingdom, .de for Germany, . nz for New Zealand, and .eg for Egypt to name a few.
Disclosing this in a telephone conversation, President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Mr. Ndukwe Kalu, said it is a milestone for the country to achieve the full local management and control of its ccTLD, .ng.
Champion Infotel recalls that .ng ccTLD journey began a decade and four years ago, precisely in 1995 with the first delegation to Mrs. Ibukun Odusote as the then administrative point of contact. And by 2004 stakeholders were engulfed in controversy over who hosts the ccTLD locally, majorly between a non-governmental organization, the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) and Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), which attracted the attention of the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who consequently, directed the Nigerian Internet community represented by the G22 to reach a consensus on a not-for-profit and all inclusive body to manage the .ng ccTLD, thus giving birth to NiRA board of trustees in 2005. This was followed by the election of the NIRA executive board in May 2007.
For NiRA president, this moment of completing the redelegation processes as demanded by ICANN and its administrative affiliate, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), is a turning point in the existence of .ng ccTLD.
“For us, we have set our Vision 20 2020 as Vision 20 2011, that is, for Nigeria to make the ccTLD top 20 by year 2011,” he declared.
Ndukwe also said that with the conclusion of the redelegation, NiRA executive board inaugurated over two years ago at an all-inclusive stakeholders meeting in Lagos, could now go full-length into the commercial aspect of the .ng management, which was entrusted on NiRA at inception of the management in May 2007.
According to him, at exactly 4pm GMT, May 13, 2009, Verisign effected the ICANN approved root server changes to the .ng ccTLD, a few hours later ICANN/IANA followed the board approved redelegation of the Nigerian ccTLD on the IANA website.
This, he said, effectively brings to an end the long desire and expectation of the Nigerian Internet community to effect redelegation of the .ng ccTLD and full local management.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
A country code top-level domain is an Internet top-level domain generally used or reserved for a country or a dependent territory. Some examples of ccTLD are .us for United States, .uk for United Kingdom, .de for Germany, . nz for New Zealand, and .eg for Egypt to name a few.
Disclosing this in a telephone conversation, President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Mr. Ndukwe Kalu, said it is a milestone for the country to achieve the full local management and control of its ccTLD, .ng.
Champion Infotel recalls that .ng ccTLD journey began a decade and four years ago, precisely in 1995 with the first delegation to Mrs. Ibukun Odusote as the then administrative point of contact. And by 2004 stakeholders were engulfed in controversy over who hosts the ccTLD locally, majorly between a non-governmental organization, the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) and Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), which attracted the attention of the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who consequently, directed the Nigerian Internet community represented by the G22 to reach a consensus on a not-for-profit and all inclusive body to manage the .ng ccTLD, thus giving birth to NiRA board of trustees in 2005. This was followed by the election of the NIRA executive board in May 2007.
For NiRA president, this moment of completing the redelegation processes as demanded by ICANN and its administrative affiliate, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), is a turning point in the existence of .ng ccTLD.
“For us, we have set our Vision 20 2020 as Vision 20 2011, that is, for Nigeria to make the ccTLD top 20 by year 2011,” he declared.
Ndukwe also said that with the conclusion of the redelegation, NiRA executive board inaugurated over two years ago at an all-inclusive stakeholders meeting in Lagos, could now go full-length into the commercial aspect of the .ng management, which was entrusted on NiRA at inception of the management in May 2007.
According to him, at exactly 4pm GMT, May 13, 2009, Verisign effected the ICANN approved root server changes to the .ng ccTLD, a few hours later ICANN/IANA followed the board approved redelegation of the Nigerian ccTLD on the IANA website.
This, he said, effectively brings to an end the long desire and expectation of the Nigerian Internet community to effect redelegation of the .ng ccTLD and full local management.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Anyanwu to preside @ Co-location forum
PLANS have been concluded for the much awaited Co-location forum scheduled to take place tomorrow, Tuesday in Lagos, as the chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Sylvester Anyanwu, would preside at the occasion.
This is coming as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, would lead chief executive officers in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector to the forum.
The one-day business forum is being organized in collaboration between NCC and Telecom Answers Associates (TAA).
Chief executive of Telecom Answers Associates (TAA), Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu who confirmed the readiness at the weekend to Champion Infotel, said that over 50 chief executive officers have been lined up for participation.
Noting that Senator Anyanwu’s committee has been in the forefront of pushing for an update of the National Communications Act 2003, and he is known to have done very extensive stakeholder assessment on co-location and other strategic industry management moves.
Speaking at the end of the inaugural meeting of the six-man technical committee in Lagos, Omo-Ettu said that Co-location forum is not a mere conference, but is expected to come out with relevant recommendations as to move the country and particularly service providers as well as infrastructure builders ahead of competition.
Apart from Helios Towers Nigeria Ltd., many telecommunication and finance companies have joined the sponsorship of the co-location forum. He listed some of the latest sponsors to include Access Bank, FCMB, IHS Plc, The Cyberschuul, Channel-IT, MTI, Reime West Africa and Technology Advisors.
According to him, Ndukwe would give the keynote address while the chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Sylvester Anyanwu would preside at the occasion whereas his counterpart at the House of Representatives is billed to assist him.
Champion Infotel recalls that infrastructure sharing leader, Helios Towers Nigeria Ltd, has endorsed the forthcoming co-location forum as a sponsor.
Communications Manager, Helios Towers, Mr. Myke Ofili, had confirmed that Helios is a co-location licensee which has been in the forefront of providing a platform for infrastructure sharing.
Even as IHS Plc, another co-location licensee, would play host to the participating CEO’s who at a post-forum to be held at the Chirrasco Grill House, located within the Lagoon Restaurant.
TAA in a press statement, endorsed by Kayode Yussuf, affirmed these developments, saying that almost every co-location licensees and infrastructure builders in the industry have opted to play one role or the other in the Forum, which seeks to generate an industry plan of action for assuring the benefits of co-location when it finally gets the approval of the authorities.
He recalled that the Nigerian Communications Commission has, for some time been working on providing intervention at various levels to assure that co-location is effectively launched and the National Assembly is known to have been working on a Bill which seeks to make co-location a workable reality.
Hence, the objective for hosting the business forum is to address the concerns of experts, investors, and technocrats by distilling the technology, management, legal and regulatory issues in a manner that we can push an industry ‘Plan of Action’ such that Nigerians at the end of the day benefit from the initiative if government eventually intervenes.
Reassuring that the co-location forum scheduled for May 19, 2009 in Lagos promises to feature presentation of a couple of strategic cost savers and technology enhancers in telecommunications infrastructure sharing.
In a related development, a six-man Technical Committee was weekend inaugurated to ensure a successful proceedings at the one-day Forum.
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This is coming as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, would lead chief executive officers in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector to the forum.
The one-day business forum is being organized in collaboration between NCC and Telecom Answers Associates (TAA).
Chief executive of Telecom Answers Associates (TAA), Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu who confirmed the readiness at the weekend to Champion Infotel, said that over 50 chief executive officers have been lined up for participation.
Noting that Senator Anyanwu’s committee has been in the forefront of pushing for an update of the National Communications Act 2003, and he is known to have done very extensive stakeholder assessment on co-location and other strategic industry management moves.
Speaking at the end of the inaugural meeting of the six-man technical committee in Lagos, Omo-Ettu said that Co-location forum is not a mere conference, but is expected to come out with relevant recommendations as to move the country and particularly service providers as well as infrastructure builders ahead of competition.
Apart from Helios Towers Nigeria Ltd., many telecommunication and finance companies have joined the sponsorship of the co-location forum. He listed some of the latest sponsors to include Access Bank, FCMB, IHS Plc, The Cyberschuul, Channel-IT, MTI, Reime West Africa and Technology Advisors.
According to him, Ndukwe would give the keynote address while the chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Sylvester Anyanwu would preside at the occasion whereas his counterpart at the House of Representatives is billed to assist him.
Champion Infotel recalls that infrastructure sharing leader, Helios Towers Nigeria Ltd, has endorsed the forthcoming co-location forum as a sponsor.
Communications Manager, Helios Towers, Mr. Myke Ofili, had confirmed that Helios is a co-location licensee which has been in the forefront of providing a platform for infrastructure sharing.
Even as IHS Plc, another co-location licensee, would play host to the participating CEO’s who at a post-forum to be held at the Chirrasco Grill House, located within the Lagoon Restaurant.
TAA in a press statement, endorsed by Kayode Yussuf, affirmed these developments, saying that almost every co-location licensees and infrastructure builders in the industry have opted to play one role or the other in the Forum, which seeks to generate an industry plan of action for assuring the benefits of co-location when it finally gets the approval of the authorities.
He recalled that the Nigerian Communications Commission has, for some time been working on providing intervention at various levels to assure that co-location is effectively launched and the National Assembly is known to have been working on a Bill which seeks to make co-location a workable reality.
Hence, the objective for hosting the business forum is to address the concerns of experts, investors, and technocrats by distilling the technology, management, legal and regulatory issues in a manner that we can push an industry ‘Plan of Action’ such that Nigerians at the end of the day benefit from the initiative if government eventually intervenes.
Reassuring that the co-location forum scheduled for May 19, 2009 in Lagos promises to feature presentation of a couple of strategic cost savers and technology enhancers in telecommunications infrastructure sharing.
In a related development, a six-man Technical Committee was weekend inaugurated to ensure a successful proceedings at the one-day Forum.
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Ilukwe calls for public private partnership
THE Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone Plc, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe has called for partnership between the public and private sectors in the pursuit of national development, especially using the information and Communications Technology (ICT) as tool.
Speaking at the MUSON Centre, during the just ended Computer, Telecommunication and Online Services (CTO ’09) conference, he said that one of the key functions of Galaxy is to enable government to function and play its role in national development stressing that public institutions cannot afford to be inactive in this regard.
“Both in the public sector enterprise and the private sector there have to be a partnership with each party playing its own role. So, our role is to enable government function and play its role in national development,” he declared.
Galaxy, he also said, is not driven primarily by a motive to make profit but to serve the under-served communities.
“We have also had situations where people say Galaxy is competing with the private sector, and we say a large part of where we go and provide services have always been out there and the private sector did not provide those services simply because the private sector operates with a single primary motive and that is profit. Government is not solely profit-driven. However, there will always be room for partnership,” he said.
The Galaxy boss who spoke on “Market Insight: Measures to promote local area development through partnership in technology and science,” identified some of the challenges facing ICT development as skill shortage, lack of critical mass of opportunities, inadequate capitalization thus leading to lack of initiative and investments.
Others, he said, are the culture of competition instead of collaboration among customers and providers alike as well as challenges with critical infrastructure especially power.
Further, he said that from these challenges there are emerging trends and opportunities, identifying some of these to include a shift from reactive to proactive services, industry and government regulation and encouraging and enforcing sharing and collaboration, strong investments and subsidies from government in critical information infrastructure.
He observed that private sector providers are re-investing earnings and seeking for new revenue streams and large enterprises are focusing on core missions and competencies and outsourcing ancillary services.
Ilukwe said that there are lots of opportunities opening up as networks grow and that opportunities abound within local governments, community centres and post offices stating that these locations are severely under-utilized.
“Quite a lot of people who manage these locations do not know the potentials that are there. The post offices in particular are located in strategic and prime areas. I observed recently, during a trip to Enugu that in one of the post offices’ warehouse I visited, somebody could put down 300 personal computers (PC) there,” he said.
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Speaking at the MUSON Centre, during the just ended Computer, Telecommunication and Online Services (CTO ’09) conference, he said that one of the key functions of Galaxy is to enable government to function and play its role in national development stressing that public institutions cannot afford to be inactive in this regard.
“Both in the public sector enterprise and the private sector there have to be a partnership with each party playing its own role. So, our role is to enable government function and play its role in national development,” he declared.
Galaxy, he also said, is not driven primarily by a motive to make profit but to serve the under-served communities.
“We have also had situations where people say Galaxy is competing with the private sector, and we say a large part of where we go and provide services have always been out there and the private sector did not provide those services simply because the private sector operates with a single primary motive and that is profit. Government is not solely profit-driven. However, there will always be room for partnership,” he said.
The Galaxy boss who spoke on “Market Insight: Measures to promote local area development through partnership in technology and science,” identified some of the challenges facing ICT development as skill shortage, lack of critical mass of opportunities, inadequate capitalization thus leading to lack of initiative and investments.
Others, he said, are the culture of competition instead of collaboration among customers and providers alike as well as challenges with critical infrastructure especially power.
Further, he said that from these challenges there are emerging trends and opportunities, identifying some of these to include a shift from reactive to proactive services, industry and government regulation and encouraging and enforcing sharing and collaboration, strong investments and subsidies from government in critical information infrastructure.
He observed that private sector providers are re-investing earnings and seeking for new revenue streams and large enterprises are focusing on core missions and competencies and outsourcing ancillary services.
Ilukwe said that there are lots of opportunities opening up as networks grow and that opportunities abound within local governments, community centres and post offices stating that these locations are severely under-utilized.
“Quite a lot of people who manage these locations do not know the potentials that are there. The post offices in particular are located in strategic and prime areas. I observed recently, during a trip to Enugu that in one of the post offices’ warehouse I visited, somebody could put down 300 personal computers (PC) there,” he said.
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Zain elevates more Nigerians into key posts
As part of its Drive 2011, Zain Group has elevated some outstanding Nigerians with the group to various key positions at the international levels across the Middle East and Africa (MEA).
The giant mobile operator with presence in 23 countries across MEA, now has 22 Nigerians within the top management strata of the organisation in various countries.
Announcing this, the chief executive officer, Zain Nigeria, Mr. Bayo Ligali, said the appointment of Nigerians to very important positions within Zain Group clearly demonstrates that the company offers every high performing employee irrespective of their nationality the opportunity to move up the corporate ladder and work in any country where their skill and experience are required.
He explained that ‘Drive2011’ would propel the company to achieve its target of becoming a top-10 global mobile operator by 2011 through a combination of focusing on customer facing services and commercial activities that will result in managed outsourcing, centralization, leveraging capabilities, as well as training and development for personnel, all of which will improve operating efficiencies.
“At Zain Nigeria, we’re glad to be a major contributor to the development of the country’s human capital through world-class training and expatriation, which provides excellent opportunity for brilliant Nigerians to acquire international work experience,” Ligali said.
He stressed that the progress of Nigerians undoubtedly will contribute to Zain’s progress and underscores Zain brand’s value of belonging.
“At Zain we harness and celebrate the inherent diversity within this large family.
Indeed, one of the benefits of belonging to a global family like Zain is the opportunity for people from various parts of world to work in a harmoniously positive and culturally diverse work climate,” he said.
Ligali disclosed that the latest addition of high-profile appointments are Mrs. Grace Omo-Lamai, who was named Human Resources Director for the Democratic Republic of Congo, just as Abosede Olabimtan, Daniel Udochi and Folasade Abieyuwa Akinlade have been appointed to key positions within the Zain group in Bahrain, Gabon and Kenya, respectively.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
The giant mobile operator with presence in 23 countries across MEA, now has 22 Nigerians within the top management strata of the organisation in various countries.
Announcing this, the chief executive officer, Zain Nigeria, Mr. Bayo Ligali, said the appointment of Nigerians to very important positions within Zain Group clearly demonstrates that the company offers every high performing employee irrespective of their nationality the opportunity to move up the corporate ladder and work in any country where their skill and experience are required.
He explained that ‘Drive2011’ would propel the company to achieve its target of becoming a top-10 global mobile operator by 2011 through a combination of focusing on customer facing services and commercial activities that will result in managed outsourcing, centralization, leveraging capabilities, as well as training and development for personnel, all of which will improve operating efficiencies.
“At Zain Nigeria, we’re glad to be a major contributor to the development of the country’s human capital through world-class training and expatriation, which provides excellent opportunity for brilliant Nigerians to acquire international work experience,” Ligali said.
He stressed that the progress of Nigerians undoubtedly will contribute to Zain’s progress and underscores Zain brand’s value of belonging.
“At Zain we harness and celebrate the inherent diversity within this large family.
Indeed, one of the benefits of belonging to a global family like Zain is the opportunity for people from various parts of world to work in a harmoniously positive and culturally diverse work climate,” he said.
Ligali disclosed that the latest addition of high-profile appointments are Mrs. Grace Omo-Lamai, who was named Human Resources Director for the Democratic Republic of Congo, just as Abosede Olabimtan, Daniel Udochi and Folasade Abieyuwa Akinlade have been appointed to key positions within the Zain group in Bahrain, Gabon and Kenya, respectively.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
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