UN names 55-man MAG for IGF’14, gets ready for Istanbul

ITRealms:

The United Nations (UN) has unveiled the new membership of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) of the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF) for this year, 2014, reports ITRealms.

This is coming as the next IGF has been scheduled to take place in Istanbul, Turkey between September 2 and 5, 2014.

ITRealms gathered that a total of 55 members, 18 among them new, have been appointed, whereas 37 were incumbents. 

The Advisory Group members are from all stakeholder groups and all regions, representing governments, the private sector, civil society and technical community.

ITRealms reports that all Advisory Group members serve in their personal capacity, but are expected to have extensive linkages with their respective stakeholder groups. 

The main task of the Advisory Group is to provide advice on the preparations for the next meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, which will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 2 to 5 September, this year.

Also, ITRealms reports that representatives of previous host countries and relevant intergovernmental, international and regional organizations are also invited to attend Advisory Group meetings.

ITRealms recalls that the Internet Governance Forum is an outcome of the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, which took place in 2005. 

In the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society, Governments asked the Secretary-General to convene a “new forum for policy dialogue” to discuss issues related to key elements of Internet governance and set out the Forum’s mandate.

Further, ITRealms notes that the Forum’s past eight meetings took place in Athens, Greece, in 2006; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2007; Hyderabad, India, in 2008; Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in 2009; Vilnius, Lithuania, in 2010; Nairobi, Kenya in 2011; Baku, Azerbaijan in 2012; and Bali, Indonesia in 2013.

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Pix: UN Scribe: Ban Ki-Moon

Digital Direct set to expand to Abuja, PH, Awka

ITRealms:

An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) retail and consulting company, the Digital Direct has said its presence would soon be felt at some notable cities across the country, reports ITRealms.

Confirming this to ITRealms, Managing Director, Digital Direct, Mr. Tolu Ijogun, said the company whose retail model outlet is located in Lekki Phase 1 in Lagos, has plans to commence   expansion in 2014 in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Awka capital of Anambra State.

According to him, the new branches would bear the hallmarks of the Digital Direct outlet in what he described as breath-taking showroom with best prices for the latest technology/computing products, capacity for high volume transactions, grade A after sales support and a technology training center assured,

Ijogun said that the expansion programme was triggered by the success of the Digital Direct Experience store in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, judged not just from the outstanding financial performance, but also from the testimonies of satisfaction by clients.

He further stated that the new branches would continue with the tradition of triggering an encounter between the consumer and the technology of renowned Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) globally and locally with HP, Microsoft, Samsung, Dell, Zinox, Toshiba, Lenovo, Canon, Huawei, Cisco, and Dlink to name  a few.

He assured that, as in Lagos, there will be OEM presence in the new branches to cater for all technical and product enquiries, backed by highly skilled and efficient workforce to ensure maximum client satisfaction and service delivery.

In addition, each branch would have a training facility capable of training between 1-50 people on all Hardware and Software products under the Digital Direct portfolio.

Pointing out to ITRealms that Digital Direct offers a flexible payment plan for staff of corporate organizations and NGOs, with minimal interest rates to accommodate the cost of funds and would be bringing this and other Value Added Services (VAS) to all customers and corporate organizations in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Awka.

He emphasised that Digital Direct has a team of young Nigerian professionals from the United Kingdom; supported by leading international and local OEMs and ICT distributors, which aims at being the most trusted and No.1 choice for ICT hardware and solutions in Nigeria.

Remmy Nweke

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Pix: Managing Director, Digital Direct, Mr. Tolu Ijogun

TMC says 3rd Cyber Nigeria Forum holds May’14

DigitalSENSE Business News:

The Tribe Media Company (TMC) and organizers of Cyber Nigeria Forum (CNF), has disclosed that come May 23, the third edition of the forum will take place.

The President and chief executive officer (CEO), Tribe Media Company, Dr. Bayero Agabi, made this disclosure to DigitalSENSE Business News, saying that the event which debut in 2009 held bi-annually since inception, and remains the only Internet event in the country bringing together relevant stakeholders across Nigeria and beyond to examine the benefits of the internet.

He also told DigitalSENSE Business News that the forum assesses the Internet's contribution to Nigeria’s economy, and discussions focus on enterprise, creativity, innovation and consumption.

He noted that although the Internet's impact on global growth is rising rapidly and is a haven of economic activity, ranging from millions of daily online transactions to advertising, communications and smartphone downloads little is known about how the web in its entirety contributes to economic growth, productivity, and job creation. 

“Cyber Nigeria Forum has become the preeminent Nigerian Internet event where entrepreneurs, CEOs of internet solution companies, investors, government and the youth gain deep insights into the Economics of the cyberspace, network, analyse, policies and regulations and new business relationships.

The 2014 Forum, he said offers a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the impact of Internet related businesses and innovations on Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and growth, drawing inference from global statistics, while also considering the most relevant tools governments and businesses could deploy to get the most benefit from the digital transformation.

Agabi told DigitalSENSE Business News that CNF 2014 will provide a platform for service providers to share their innovative edge; how they are able to follow global technological trends in offering services that boost enterprises and improve government services in areas such as e-commerce, e-health, e-banking, cloud service, big data the internet of things among other.

The event will hold alongside the Africa Information Society Merit Awards (AISMA) - an award instituted in 2009 to honour consistent and profound contributions to the continent’s knowledge economy.

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ICANN Strategy Panel invites participation on 2-day webinar

ITRealms:

The Strategy Panel of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has invited stakeholders to join the ICANN's Role in the Internet Governance Ecosystem on Monday, 13 January 2014 or on Wednesday, 15 January 2014, reports ITRealms.

The webinar, ITRealms also reports is mainly for an update and interactive discussion.

“As it prepares to offer its advice to the ICANN President and CEO, the Strategy Panel wishes to walk you through the work it has undertaken and to seek your input on the preliminary set of conclusions it has reached,” ICANN staff revealed to ITRealms.

The webinar, ITRealms gathered would also be the opportunity for stakeholders to ask questions. ITRealms recalls that as an advisory in nature, ICANN Strategy Panels serve as an integral part of a framework for cross-community dialogue on strategic matters.

Also, ITRealms notes that the panel designed to concentrate on critical strategic areas identified by the community, board, and staff, the work of Strategy Panels will inform a new, overarching vision and five-year strategic plan.

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Pix: ICANN chairman, Dr. Crooker

Working Group proposes alternative internet

ITRealms:

A council working group of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) has proposed some requirements for improvement of the existing Internet, as alternative to having an all-inclusive innovative internet, reports ITRealms.

A joint contribution made to the group by Saudi Arabia and Syria available to ITRealms stated that the proposals apply to a new, alternate internet to support development of the technology, protocols, and governance required for a new, alternate internet optimized for international applications and for WSIS principles, including innovation, competition, and investment.

To prepare guidelines, the group said, from the perspective of Internet-related public policy issues, regarding those characteristics require a new, alternate internet.

And to leverage on the experience and expertise of the ITU and to recommend that the ITU leads the coordination effort on development activities of a new, alternate internet.

In addition, ITRealms reports that instructing the ITU Secretariat to study those activities already underway in support of a new, alternate internet, both within and exterior to the ITU, and provide a summary of those activities.

Further, ITRealms gathered from the working group position is to establish a coordinated effort among ITU-T, ITU-D, and relevant UN organizations regarding international agreements and treaties required for a new, alternate internet optimized for international applications.

Experts argued that the memo from the group dated 2009 may have been overtaken by events although its important to revisit consistently the issue of alternative internet.

Ayo Omidele/GEE

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Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde goes to CNN African Voices

DigitalSENSE Art & Fashion:

  

Beginning from Friday, January 10 through Tuesday, January 14, Nigerian screen goddess, Mrs. Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde would feature on CNN African Voices to share her upbringing, road to stardom, fame and her passion for activism, reports DigitalSENSE Art & Fashion.

The actress who doubles as a singer, television personality and philanthropist, would feature on CNN African Voices, for the half-hour programme to underscore her Africanness.

The session anchored by CNN correspondent, Vladimir Duthiers, would host Omotola alias ‘Omosexy’ as she dwells on life, career achievements, passion for activism and future plans. 

Omotola. A Nollywood icon in the Nigerian entertainment industry is also a United Nations (UN) ambassador and activist with Amnesty International.

DigitalSENSE Art & Fashion reports that in 2012, Omotola was awarded the Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts (BEFFTA) Icon, a special honorary award, in recognition of her contribution to the film industry in Africa, Europe and globally. 

“I've reached a point in my life where I’ve realised I have to leave something. I have to have a legacy. I decided I will be an activist for Africa. My experience with the UN and other humanitarian organisations inspired me to want to speak out and say more and there's so much you can just say with words. This was my motivation for singing,” she said. 

Omotola is the first Nollywood act with her own reality TV show known as “Omotola: The Real Me”. She was also named one of the most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in the annual Time 100 List in 2013.

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Applause for Phase3 Telecom @10

ITRealms:

It was an applause time for the management of the Phase3 Telecom at the commemoration of its 10th year in Abuja recently.

Stakeholders led by the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson and the chairman of OpenMedia Group and former Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe applauded the company for conveying innovation in the deployment of aerial fibre network infrastructure.

ITRealms reports that the duo noted that in Abuja at the commemoration of Phase3 10^th anniversary, saying such innovation has led to the prompt growth of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry in the country and in the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) region.

According to them, Phase3 Telecom deserves these applause for deploying over 5000 kilo meters (km) of optic fibre on the powerline of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) across the country, which has since 2007 installed and commissioned several points of presence at major cities with last mile connectivity to her fibre optic network.

Other stakeholders, ITRealms gathered also gave thump-up at the anniversary and end of year party, pointing out they were impressed.

"I am deeply impressed by Phased3 because of what we are trying to do in the telecommunications industry, one of the things that I realised since I took over this portfolio was the fact that despite that the industry was growing at about 30 per cent year on year,” Mrs. Johnson said.

The minister also lamented that Nigeria does not have enough local companies participating actively in this aspect of the industry and who are successful.

She said, Phase3 has been a shining light and a company that she is always proud to think about when it comes to domestic ICT industry,

She commended Phase3 for not letting domestic ICT down, saying "I think that you have done a tremendous amount of work, I congratulate you on what you have done particularly your innovation on fibre optic over PHCN Power line. The Ministry is working very hard to ensure that you get the same amount of reduction in terms of cost on the Right of Ways (RoWs) that we have done for federal highways so that the deployment would be more successful."

Ndukwe, in his part counseled the company led by Mr. Stanley Jegede for not relenting in its drive for greater heights.

"My advice is that corporate governance is key for any company to survive and to be sustained over time, which means you must watch your cost, you must watch the development of staff to make sure that they are topnotch, you must employ the right people which you have done in the past and you spend more effort in making sure that you look at the market and see where the trend is going," Ndukwe said.

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Pix: Stanley Jegede, CEO Phase3 Telecom

Dynamic to BigRock: ICANN authorizes bulk transfer of Domain Names

ITRealms:

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has authorized the bulk transfer of Generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) names from Dynamic Dolphin Incorporated to BigRock Solutions Limited, due to compliance actions taken by ICANN which resulted in the de-accreditation of Dynamic Dolphin Inc, reports ITRealms.

The affected gTLD registries, ITRealms learnt have processed the bulk transfers as directed by ICANN.

ITRealms reports that former registrant-customers of Dynamic Dolphin Inc. should receive notices from BigRock Solutions Ltd. Advising them of the transfer.

“Customer questions about the transfer should be directed to BigRock Solutions Ltd,” confirmed the Global Director for Media, Mr. Brad White.

He further explained that why these transfers were authorized by ICANN, saying that the Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) of Dynamic Dolphin Inc. was terminated for failure by the registrar to comply with its RAA. Stressing that Dynamic Dolphin Inc.'s RAA was terminated effective 20 December 2013 and the termination notice was posted on ICANN website.

“As a result, Dynamic Dolphin Inc. is no longer permitted to register or manage gTLD registrations. ICANN authorized bulk transfers pursuant to the Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy to ensure that the registrant-customers of this registrar would not be harmed by their registrar's discontinued ability to manage the registrations,” he said.

On the other hand, he enlightened on how the gaining registrar was selected, saying that ICANN followed its De-Accredited Registrar Transition Procedure to identify a gaining registrar for the gTLD names formerly managed by the de-accredited registrar. Through this process, BigRock Solutions Ltd was identified.

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Pix: ICANN CEO, Fade

Etisalat proclaims longlist for Literature Prize

ITRealms:

Celebrated fastest growing telecommunications services company, Etisalat Nigeria, has given the names of the winners of its inaugural edition of the Etisalat Prize for Literature, ITRealms reports.

The Prize launched in June 2013, ITRealms gathered is the first pan-African prize that is open solely to debut fiction writers of African citizenship and poised to become one of Africa’s most prestigious literary prizes for African fiction.

The longlist made available to ITRealms in alphabetical order includes Bom boy by Yewande Omotoso, Daughters Who Walk This Path by Yejide Kilanko, Finding Soutbek by Karen Jennings, Sarah House by Ifeanyi Ajaegbo, The Great Agony And Pure Laughter Of The Gods by Jamala Safari’s, The Spider King's Daughter by Chibundu Onuzo, The Spiral House by Claire Robertson, The Whispering Trees by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, and We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo,

The judges for the maiden edition of the Etisalat Prize for Literature included Chair of Judges, Professor Pumla Dineo Gqola; Professor at the University of Witwaterstrand, South Africa; writer and academic Sarah Ladipo Manyika and Managing Editor of Kwani Trust, Billy Kahora.

The judges as gathered by ITRealms, received entries from across the continent and were faced with the daunting task of selecting the nine books to cross the first hurdle.

For Pumla Dineo Gqola, he had never been more in love with the range, depth and wonder that is literature, by writers in this continent.

“There are some writers that I feel really privileged to have discovered through this Prize," he said.

Also speaking, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Matthew Willsher, said that the list is unique in several respects and would go a long way in helping to accomplish the purpose of the Etisalat Prize for Literature. 

“The list of nominees is unique in that six of the nine finalists are books authored by women; five of the nine finalists are Nigerian citizens while the global perspective is covered by the fact that three of the nine publishers are non-African,” he said.

The judges will be faced with the next task of selecting a short list of three novels at a retreat in Morocco in January. The shortlisted writers who will have 1,000 copies of their books purchased by Etisalat and go on a multi-city sponsored tour will be announced on Wednesday the 15^th of January 2014.

The overall winner of the Etisalat Prize for Literature will receive £15,000, an engraved Montblanc Meisterstück and will attend an Etisalat sponsored fellowship at the prestigious University of East Anglia, mentored by Professor Giles Foden, author of the Last King of Scotland.

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e-Business, catalyst to 21st century economic growth – NIG boss

ITRealms:

President of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), a stakeholder member of NiRA, Engr. Bayo George Banjo has said it that electronic business, also known as e-Business accelerates economic growth in many countries globally, reports ITRealms.

Addressing participants at the two-day 2013 e-Business Conference, in Lagos, Banjo said that with so many developments in the Nigeria information and communication technology sector (ICT) sector, Nigeria is set and has already joined the rest of the world in driving its economy with e-Business.

E-business, he said, is simply an internet technology driven business which has continued to catalyse to accelerated economic growth in many countries globally. 

Most significant developments in the sector which include the African mobile phone personal computers and liquid crystal display (LCD) manufacturing plant set up by RLG, a $10 million factory that will be sited in Osun State, and would be opened before 2013 closes.

Also major achievements previously recorded in the sector include the sale of 2.3 GHz spectrum by NCC, re-delegation of .ng TLD, the budding e-payment services, emerging international fiber cables from MainOne and Globacom to name a few.

These achievements again are what ignited the strong desire in NIG to organize the important annual e-business conference 2013 in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

This conference examined critical success factors to e-business adoption in Nigeria such as improved broadband penetration, pervasive e-payment services, skilled manpower, appropriate legal and regulatory framework and the political will of government to implement the right policies among others.  

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Pix; right, NIG president, Banjo & Prof Kaleb Osuntokun, chair, day 1