Airtel partners Wikimedia on Wikipedia Zero

ITRealms:

Airtel Nigeria has entered into a strategic partnership with the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit that operates Wikipedia, to offer their consumers across the country access to Wikipedia through their mobile phones free of data charges, reports ITRealms.

The initiative dubbed Wikipedia Zero, ITRealms gathered is the first of its kind in Nigeria, aimed at reaching and empowering billions of people around the world whose access to the Internet is primarily through a mobile device.

Also ITRealms gathered that Airtel Nigeria subscribers could with this partnership now access Wikipedia free of data charges at m.wikipedia.org.

With the new partnership, Airtel will help deliver knowledge and information of Wikipedia to 21 million of new users in the West African region.

The Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Maurice Newa, said the initiative is in line with the company’s corporate vision of becoming Nigeria’s number one Internet Company, saying the new service will help connect Nigerians with relevant knowledge and information that will empower them to succeed in their personal and professional endeavours.

“We are excited with our partnership with the Wikimedia Foundation and we will continue to provide innovative solutions that will uplift Nigerians in line with our brand promise of becoming the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians. At Airtel, we are passionate and committed to creating solid educational and youth empowerment platforms that will enrich and transform the lives of telecoms consumers across the country,” he said.

“We commend Airtel Nigeria for taking a leadership role in empowering their society through information access, and we’re thrilled to partner with them,” said Carolynne Schloeder, Head of Mobile Partnerships at the Wikimedia Foundation. “Expanding Wikipedia Zero to the people of Nigeria is a big step forward for free knowledge in Africa,” she said.

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Ericsson’s App Awards 2014: SOP, WorkMode emerge winners

ITRealms:

The Nigerian team SOP and South African team WorkMode at the weekend emerged first prize winners in their various categories in the 2014 Ericsson’s App awards, ITRealms reports.

Also ITRealms reports that SOP from Nigeria won its first prize in company category for the app that monitors electricity supply, while South Africa’s team WorkMode won first prize position in the student category with its collaboration app.

ITRealms recalls that both teams were selected out of 300 teams from over 63 countries from all over the globe and selected semi-finalist apps were reviewed by a panel of global representatives and they decided on the two winning teams, who will each receive €25,000, about N5544331.36 in prize money.

Announcing the winners of the 2014 Ericsson Application Awards at a ceremony at Ericsson Studio in Kista, Sweden, the Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Ericsson, Bina Chaurasia, while congratulating the winners, noted that the honours in the student category, Team WorkMode from South Africa created an app that helps workers collaborate by allowing them to see the real-time work context and tasks of colleagues.

According to the jury remarks made available to ITRealms, “We felt that Team WorkMode showed a strong business potential, and their focus on design and usability helped them when it came to innovation and addressing the theme of Apps for working life.”

Responding, Jacques Marais of Team WorkMode said, ”This award will help us to build our business and allow us to develop not only this app but also some ideas we have around education in South Africa. It will also enable us to purchase hardware so we can expand to different platforms. It’s a real boost.”

On the company category won by Team SOP from Nigeria, who created an app that analyses the availability of electricity in a given area, the jury outlined their reasons for choosing SOP, saying in a joint statement that “Team SOP presented a strong case of using technology in a way that anyone could understand, value and would invest in. 

“They cleverly combined consumer, society and business benefits around lifting transparency of power delivery in a well designed package,” the jury said.

Reacting, Toks Ogun of Team SOP said, “This award means we can continue to expand and develop our app, which monitors electricity supplies. We can see a market in parts of North America, in South America and in India and we will continue to develop our idea.”

The RSSA Technology for Good Award also went to Africa, with Sowertech’s Afta Robot app receiving the award for their smart solution for public transportation.

The jury motivated their choice by saying: “Every day 15 million people in Africa face long walks and sometimes longer waits as they make their daily journeys by taxi. Sowertech has helped connect taxis and their customers by providing information on location and much more through their Afta Robot mobile app.”

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Ndukwe joins Uwadia, Omo-Ettu, Johnson @ DigitalSENSE forum’14

ITRealms:

Notable industry speakers have continued to drum their support for the 2014 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) and Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable have increased with the latest being the co-chairman, Nigeria National Broadband Council, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, reports ITRealms.

This is coming as the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson has accepted to declare the event officially open. She would be represented by the Director, e-Governance at the Ministry, Mr. Tope Fashedemi, at the two-day forum holding at Welcome Center Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos, between June 5 and 6, 2014.

Executive Director, Operations at DigitalSENSE Africa Media, the organizers of the event, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, made these known, affirming that the former Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communication and chairman of OpenMedia, Dr. Ndukwe will be sharing some insights on Nigeria’s Broadband Perspective to Internet Protocol version Six (IPv6) during the Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable session.

According to Mrs. Nweke, the 2014 DigitalSENSE Forum series is a two-day event, stressing that Day-1 would focus on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) to be chaired by Prof. Charles Uwadia, the former president, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and Head, Computer Science department, University of Lagos.

“This year’s theme for day 1 is ‘Internet Governance, eBiz & Open Access in Nigeria’ on Thursday, June 5, 2014,” she declared, adding that Uwadia would be supported by Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Eugene Juwah, Chief executive officer and Director-General, National IT Development agency (NITDA), Mr. Peter Jack, the current NCS president, Prof. David Adewunmi, president, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Bayo Banjo, ATCON’s president, Lanre Ajayi, chairman, Business and Technology Publishers Foundation (BTPF), Mr. Ken Ugbechie, President, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, Mr. Pius Okigbo Jnr, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, the chief encouragement officer, CFA and Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) Mr. Gbenga Sesan who have promised the youth at heart a warm session, to name a few.

While Day-2 on Friday, June 6, this year, would be presided over by telecom icon, Engineer Titi Omo-Ettu, with the theme: IPv6 and Broadband Penetration in Nigeria. She disclosed that high-level panelists for this session include Dr. Ernest Ndukwe of the National Broadband Council, Mr. Mohammed Rudman, chief executive officer, Internet Exchange of Nigeria (IXPN), Chairman, ICT Media Taskforce, Mr. Aaron Ukodie, and President, Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), Mr. Sunday Folayan among others.

She equally encouraged participants to reserve their positions by registration for the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum 2014 at www.digitalsenseafrica.com.ng, adding that corporate organisation still have chances of participating, just as Resort Savings & Loans Plc, NITDA, NCC, Medallion and CWG plc, to name a few, have taken their places.

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NIMC opens enrolment centre @NOA hdqters, Omire urges mass participation

ITRealms:

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has opened an enrollment centre for National Identity Database and issued the National Identification Number (NIN) at the head office of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), reports ITRealms.

The Director, Corporate Communications at NIMC, Mr. Anthony Okwudiafor, confirmed this to ITRealms and quoted the Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Mike Omeri, as urging Nigerians to ensure that they are enrolled in the National Identity Database and got issued the National Identification Number (NIN).

 

Flagging off the exercise at the Enrolment Centre, NOA National Headquarters in Abuja, Mr. Omeri commended NIMC for deploying Enrolment equipment to the NOA office premises.

Mr. Omeri noted that with the current state of unrest in the country, the National Identity Management Systems (NIMS) project has become imperative, urging Nigerians to support and key into this project.

He invited all eligible Nigerians and applicants to get enrolled, pointing out that by creating a unique National database and means of identity verification and authentication will provide a platform for verifying people’s identity; which will in turn boost the national security and economic development.

“The collaboration between the two institutions is necessary and must be emulated by other organisations, as it abides by the Federal Government policy of recognising and keeping citizens identity records," he said.

Omeri also was quoted as commending the Director General/CEO of NIMC, Barrister Chris ‘E Onyemenam and staff for their hard work and diligence and restated his commitment to work in partnership with NIMC.

Equally speaking, NIMC director-general, Barrister Onyemenam expressed his gratitude to God and also thanked Mr. Omeri for his support and cooperation towards making the NIMC Mandate a reality.

He reiterated the importance of having an Identity Database and noted that the security challenges in the country were enough reasons for everyone to ensure that the Commissions Mandate is met. 

He also thanked the President, Goodluck Jonathan for his support towards the implementation of the NIMS project.

The NIMC DG added that the full list of all NIMC Enrolment Centres could be accessed on the website, www.nimc.gov.ng and enjoined applicants to log onto the NIMC pre-enrolment portal www.ninenrol.gov.ng to pre-enrol and then proceed to any NIMC Enrolment Centre for biometrics data capture.

Emphasising that the NOA Enrolment Centre is open to all NOA staff, staff of parastatals and to the general public.

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Photo: NIMC director-general, Barrister Onyemenam

NDLEA arrests dual identity man with 107 ATM cards

ITRealms:

Men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recently arrested in Lagos, a man with dual identity who was in position of 107 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards belonging to Citi Bank, reports ITRealms.

The Lagos Airport commander, NDLEA, Mr. Hamza Umar, told ITRealms that the suspect was arrested after the discovery by his men during the outward screening of Turkish Airline passengers to Istanbul, Turkey, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

The suspect, 36, he said, goes with two international passports bearing his photographs but with different names.

“He had a Nigerian passport with the name Funsho Oladimeji Babatunde and a Turkish passport with the name Kosar Kursat both bearing his photographs. The cards found in his luggage are 68 Citi Interswitch Master Cards and 39 Citi Interswitch Visa cards,” Hamza revealed.

The suspect, he said, had confessed to being a native of Iwo town in Kwara State, resides in Surulere, Lagos and is an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) graduate on Economics, from the Kwara State Polytechnic, allegedly told his interrogators he was taking the cards to a friend in Turkey.

“My friend in Turkey called me that I should help in sending the cards to him in Istanbul, Turkey.

“When I collected the cards in Lagos, I kept them in my bag but during search, the officer saw the cards and took me for interrogation. I am an OND graduate of Economics at the Kwara State Polytechnic”, he explained.

Reacting, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, directed the transfer of the suspect to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation as the offence was an indication of fraudulent activities.

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NIMC sets up over 200 enrolment centres nationwide

ITRealms:

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has established over two hundred new Enrolment Centres across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) reports ITRealms.

NIMC, ITRealms also gathered from the Deputy Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Abdulhamid Umar has commenced enrolment exercises for the National Identification Number (NIN) in these Enrolment Centres in the last 10 weeks.

He quoted the Director of Operations, Mrs. Cecilia Yahaya as saying NIMC is committed to ensuring that the deployment of all enrolment infrastructures based on global best practices was done expeditiously to enable NIMC meet the Presidential directive of December 31, 2014.

She said some of the Enrolment Centres are located in the following Local Government Areas: Alimosho, Eti-Osa, Lekki, Agege, Army Barracks Ojo, Ipaja in Lagos state. Others are Akpabuyo, Odukpani, Biase, Ogoja, etc., in Cross River State; Gerei, Minchika, Song and Mayobelwa in Adamawa State; Nnewi North, Onisha North and South, Anoacha, and Ogbaru in Anambra State.

Other Centres are Kano Municipal, Madoni, Kura, Wudil, Gezawa Tarauni, in Kano State; Alkaleri, Dass, Toro, Katagun in Bauchi; Ivo, Ishilu, Izzi in Ebonyi State and others.

Mrs. Yahaya added that a number of Enrolment Centres have also been opened in more Tertiary Institutions nationwide; they include University of Ilorin, IBB University Lapai, FUTMinna Permanent and Temporary Campus, University of Benin, University of Calabar, Maritime Academy, Covenant University, Crawford University, University of Kastina, Kaduna Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi, Federal polytechnic Ibadan, Ladoke University of Tech, ABU Zaria.

She called on all eligible applicants to visit the NIMC website, www.nimc.gov.ng to see the full list of Enrolment Centres closest to them.

The Director of Operations, further explained that the deployment of these Enrolment Centres is to facilitate, as well as fast-track the enrolment of all Nigerians wherever they may reside; “with the deployment of these new enrolment centres, we now have close to four hundred Enrolment Centres nationwide; while about 50 others will be deployed in the next one month. These would no doubt fast-track enrolment,” she said.

“We have a target, we have expectations and we are moving at the fastest pace possible to enable us enrol as many eligible applicants as possible, subject to a very tight budgetary constraint of course,” she said.

Mrs. Yahaya noted that the Commission has captured the data of close to 3 million Nigerians, and hinted that the newly deployed Enrolment Centres would see aggressive attempts to grow the number of enrolments from 60,000 a day, to 100,000 a day.

She encouraged eligible applicants to take advantage of the NIMC pre-enrolment portal, www.ninenrol.gov.ng, to pre-enrol for the NIN, before proceeding to Enrolment Centre closest to them for biometrics data capture.

“Applicants are further advised to come along with a supporting document such as birth certificate, driver’s licence, International Passport, Voters Identity Card, etc., to complete enrolment and get the National Identification Number,” she said.

In addition, Director of Operations said that the scheme would help to protect Nigerians from identity theft and fraud by providing a simple, reliable, sustainable and universally acceptable means of confirming someone’s identity at all times.

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Photo: DG, NIMC, Barrister Chris Onyemenam.

AU adopts Cybersecurity, Personal data protection policy

ITRealms:

The Africa Union (AU) has adopted the proposed policy on cybersecurity and personal data protection, reports ITRealms.

This is coming as the African Ministers of Justice ended its 2014 session at the Headquarers of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

ITRealms also reports that this follows the conclusion of earlier submissions of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministers in Khartoum recently.

The Chief, Knowledge Management and Library Services, at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Mr. Makane Faye confirmed that the adoption occurred on Thursday, May 15, 2014.

According to him, the Conference of African Union Ministers of Justice chaired by Cameroon rose from their meeting with the adoption.

He pointed out that prior to the Conference of Ministers, the meeting of experts from the Justice ministries undertook a thorough review of the Convention on 12 and 13 May. 

“Congratulations to all of you who participated in the regional, sub-regional workshops and expert group meetings from 2008 to 2013,” he said.

ITRealms further gathered that Faye commended the African Internet community for their contributions and work are recognized by the African Policymakers starting from the African Ministers of ICT in Khartoum and today the African Ministers of Justice in Addis.

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Eight emerge finalists @ MasterCard’s Win-a-Trip Few- Can-Win promo

ITRealms:

 A total of eight finalists Thursday emerged in the MasterCard competition; Win a Trip Few Can Win, which held in Lagos, for MasterCard debit, prepaid and credit cardholders, reports ITRealms.

Also gathered by ITRealms was that winners were asked to share unique stories on how using their MasterCard product has positively impacted their lives for a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to Lisbon, Portugal to watch the UEFA Champions League Final Lisbon 2014.

The finalists –Obisakin Timilehin, Obafemi Kehinde, Olubunmi Afolabi, Ibrahim Bawa, Jideofor Ntephe, Amaka Anowi, Chibuike Alagboso and Patrick Ikwueme– were announced in Lagos, after they presented their inspirational stories, together with 17 other shortlisted entrants,to a panel of celebrity judges.

The judges - Stephen Keshi (legendary head coach of the Super Eagles); Ali Baba (Nigeria’s foremost comedian); Tolu “Toolz” Oniru (The Beat 99.9fm’s host); Uche Pedro nee Eze (founder of BellaNaija.com) and Omokehinde Ojomuyide (Vice President and Area Business Head, MasterCard in West Africa) – then selected the top eight finalists, based on the quality of their MasterCard stories. 

Videos of the eight qualifiers have been posted on MasterCard’s facebook page (www.facebook.com/MasterCardMEA) where the public is invited to cast their vote for their favourite story. Following this round, the top four winners will each receive a MasterCard Priceless Moments collection package to the UEFA Champions League Final Lisbon 2014.

“The finalists’ stories are so inspiring, and demonstrate how MasterCard is positively making an impact in their daily lives,” says Ojomuyide. “Nigeria already appreciates the immense benefits that cashless transactions have to offer and this campaign truly captures how consumers are embracing the security and convenience of electronic payments.”

Some of the eight finalists described how their MasterCard payment cards enabled them to purchase products from online international merchants and as a result, helped them to grow their businesses.

Bawa, a 26 year old entrepreneur, says: “My MasterCard story is a story about buying and selling, as simple as that may sound. I believe that life is much easier when you can sit down at the comfort of your own couch and conduct a financial transaction successfully.”

Other finalists described specific life-changing experiences, where having access to a payment card helped them to overcome challenging situations.

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ATCON elections: Lanre Ajayi returns as president, NEC members too

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) ended its Annual General Meeting (AGM) cum its general election in Lagos, Tuesday, with the return of the National Executive Council (NEC) led by Engr. Lanre Ajayi, the chief executive officer of PiNet Informatics Limited, reports ITRealms.

ATCON which prides itself as the umbrella organ for practicing companies in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) will be 20 years by December this year since its establishment.

Speaking on behalf of his team on the outcome of the exercise, the returned National President of ATCON, Mr. Ajayi told ITRealms that aside himself, Mr. Olusola Teniola was returned as the first Vice President, Engr. Tony Nwosu as second Vice President, Mr. David Roberts as national secretary, Mrs. Aderonke Adeyegbe also returned as treasurer and Mr. Adegboyega Ojuri, was elected Coordinator, Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Ajayi in his AGM report pointed out some of the achievements of ATCON within the year under review, including the migration of ATCON NewsThisWeek administration to the secretariat, submission of position paper to the Senate Committee on Communication on Quality of Service Issue; re-launch of the association’s website to facilitate online registration and even payment.

In addition, he said, ATCON endorsed some industry players whose activities aligned with its goals, even as it has continued to host the Telecoms Executives and Regulartor’s Forum since 2012.

Further, Ajayi emphasised that ATCON alongside partners hosted and international four-day workshop on Internet Protocol version Six (IPv6), mostly with African Network Information Center, Mauritius at Digital Bridge Institute Cappa-Oshodi in Lagos.

ATCON, he said, recognized the appointment of its four members into the National Broadband Council namely President, immediate past president, Engr. Titi Omo-Ettu, Mrs. Funke Opeke of Main One and president of Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) Mr. Adebayo Banjo, even as ATCON second vice president was nominated into the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) inter-agency committee of professionals to assess telecommunications-based innovations from the academia.

The organisation, he reported intervened in several industry subject matters including the resolution of member company’s complain on non-allocation of block of short codes by NCC as well as submission of input on a bill for an Act to facilitate the use o Information in Electronic Form for Conducting Transactions in Nigeria and for connected purposes 2013 to the Senate Committee on Communication.

ATCON, he said, made input on a bill for an Act to provide for the Interception, Development and Protection of Communications Networks and Facilities for Public Interest and other related matters 2013, just as it purchased an official car for the Executive Secretary.

These achieves in the year under review, he said, was capped with several industry awards.

The new officer will be in office for another two years.

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Photo: R-l: Mr. Adegboyega Ojuri, was elected Coordinator, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), National President, ATCON, first Vice President, Mr. Ajayi, Mr. Olusola Teniola, national secretary, Mr. David Roberts, immediate past president, ATCON, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu and Executive Secrtary, ATCON, Ajibola Olude.

iStore unveils iPhone finance deal with zero interest+ 1 year warranty

ITRealms:

iStore, an Apple Authorised Reseller based in Ikeja Mall in the capital of Lagos, has launched iDeals, the first official finance deal for iPhone, to give customers the option to finance their iPhone purchase over 12 months, reports ITRealms.

iDeals, ITRealms gathered, makes owning an iPhone more affordable than ever before by providing a cost effective solution of interest free monthly instalments, starting at just 9500 Naira a month.

Also, ITRealms reports that iDeals launch follows the recent news on the 2nd of May that iPhone was launched officially for the first time in Nigeria through Apple Authorised Resellers. Recalling that iStore is the first Apple Authorised Reseller to sell iPhone and to offer iDeals.

Rutger-Jan van Spaandonk, iStore Director says they were thrilled to launch iDeals and offer a finance option for iPhone and give Nigerians the opportunity to purchase at an affordable monthly rate.

“iDeals is genuinely interest free - if you divide the cash price of iPhone by 12, this is the monthly payment you will make, there is no additional interest,” he said.

iDeals, he further said, is available for both iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s through a StanbicIBTC salary account and starts at just 9500 Naira per month for the iPhone 5C 16GB model, 11 300 Naira per month for the iPhone 5s 16GB model, 13 000 Naira per month for the iPhone 5s 32GB model and 14 800 Naira per month for the iPhone 5s 64 GB model.

In addition, those iStore customers that would prefer to do a straight cash purchase, will have the option of cash pricing as well. Customers, he said, could apply for iDeals at iStore, any StanbicIBTC branch nationwide or online at www.ideals.com.ng. Once the application form has been submitted, processed and approved, customers will be contacted to collect their iPhone.

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