IT, driving force behind digital economy - Adewumi

NCS ready for NITMA'13

DigitalSENSE Business News:

Information Technology (IT) has been described as the driving force behind the digital economy, says the newly elected president, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. David Adewumi during a session ‘ Meet NCS President’ on Thursday in Lagos.

He told DigitalSENSE Business News that one of his administration cardinal points is to focus on professional and high profile advocacy, noting that in an effort at celebrating excellence, we are concerned about the marginalization of IT today in the industry.

“IT is the driving force and contributor behind the digital economy,” he said, stressing that the profession and the industry must therefore be appropriately rewarded, recognized and strengthened.

Local content, he said, needs to be enforced practically and supported in providing the much needed innovative solutions for job creation, security, governance, health and several issues.

Prof. Adewumi lamented that Nigeria is not fully harnessing the growth opportunity of the IT sector industry, emphasizing that appropriate recognition, policies and legislation still needs to be put in place.

“It is imperative that the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue fully faces this reality,” he declared, adding that the dialogue must grasp the need to incorporate and prioritize the role of the IT sector, if Nigeria is to be a key player and fulfill its promise in the 21^st century.

Jobs, he said, cannot be effectively created massively or have a sound educational system with analogue mindset and actions, maintaining that without a strong IT profession and industry, it will be impossible for Nigeria to drive change and unleash Nigeria’s growth promise.

Additionally, Prof. Adewumi urged Nigerians, especially in the IT industry to learn to celebrate their own through achievements and landmarks to inspire and propel growth in IT.

The annual National IT Merit Award (NITMA), he said, NCS is set to hold on December 13, 2013 at The Haven, GRA Ikeja-Lagos in recognition and rewards of excellence and tremendous contributions in the development and deployment of IT in the country and the diaspora.

“Category awards will be based on IT specialization, NCS standards and global best practices,” he said, adding that fellowships will also be conferred on deserving members.

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Telecom institute, partners, showcase test automation

DigitalSENSE Business News: 

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), Smartesting and ALL4TEC partnered at the just concluded user conference in showcasing the benefits of test automation for industry productivity.

The User Conference on Advanced Automated Testing (UCAAT) according to communications expert at ETSI, Ultan Mulligan, built a new testing community with practitioners from numerous application areas

DigitalSENSE Business News gathered that UCAAT which held in Paris between October 22 through 24 this year, was dedicated to advanced test automation, focusing on integrating model-based testing into the testing ecosystem.

The event brought together companies and research bodies from industries as diverse as telecommunications, IT including banking, pharmaceutical, and entertainment sectors, automotive, railway, defence, industrial automation, energy, software and gaming, and coming from the US, South America, Europe and India.

The IT sector, Mulligan noted showed the largest growth of interest in the event in terms of presentation and participation.

Tibor Csöndes, UCAAT Programme chairman, pointed out that as test process automation has proven to increase productivity and product quality, the latest developments in testing technologies pave the way for cheaper, faster and more efficient testing in industrial development processes.

“UCAAT was an excellent showcase for the variety and maturity of those technologies,” Csodes said, stressing that conference attendees had the unique opportunity to share their experience and have a flavour of the latest trends in model-based testing as well as test automation with Testing and Test Control Notation Version 3 (TTCN-3),” Csondes said.

Exhibitors, he also said, had the opportunity to demonstrate their products and tools on their booths.

The conference programme included tutorials and business cases showing large scale applications and innovative approaches, as well as a barcamp and lightning poster introductions. Topics covered included cloud, agile testing, embedded systems, TTCN-3 test frameworks and applications, standardization and safety critical systems.

Organized by ETSI Technical Committee “Methods for Testing and Specification” (TC MTS) and attracting over 200 participants, UCAAT 2013 was the largest and most diverse ETSI user conference related to testing to date, confirming that test process automation is now an essential part of industrial development.

Thus, bringing together test practitioners from many different testing domains was no doubt one of the biggest achievements of the conference. ETSI will use this synergy to start to build a new community on advanced automated testing.

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E-learning: Cinfores deploys BrainFriend solution in Anambra state

DigitalSENSE Business News


A foremost e-learning solution provider, Cinfores Limited, has been consulted by the government of Anambra State to deploy its Brain- Friend e-learning solution for the state, DigitalSENSE Business News, reports.

The state government engagement with the firms is as result of its successful implementation in Lagos under the platform of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT) in the first quarter of the year and to adopt Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the development of the education sector through the deployment of e-learning solutions and other ICTs.

The Director Finance and Administration and Co-Founder, Cinfores Limited, Ikechi Nwogu informed DigitalSENSE Business News that 22,000 licences of the nation’s best-selling and foremost e-learning and examination preparatory software, BrainFriend have been deployed for distribution to 253 public secondary schools in the state.

“Brainfriend software comes ready with over 50,000 questions, answers, and explanations covering over 42 teaching subjects of the primary through the senior secondary school, career guide covering major disciplines offered in Nigerian and some other West African universities, the Nigerian national curriculum, and over 50 e-books on the elementary and secondary schools teaching subjects and lots more. The software also has a mobile version for smart phones, which can be downloaded from the Google play store, making it easily accessible to every end user who does not readily own a laptop/ desktop computer,” he said

The Head, Business Development, Cinfores Limited, Jachi Briggs said the solution has been deployed in states such as Lagos, Abia and Rivers and has already been endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigerian Education and Research Development Council (NERDC) as well as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

The Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi expressed his delight with the solution developed locally by young Nigerians who clearly have their hearts focussed on improving the plights of Nigerian school children.



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pix: Gov Peter Obi of Anambra State

MTN emerges diamond sponsor for WAFICT ‘13

DigitalSENSE Business News:

Leading telecommunications and mobile operator, MTN, has emerged ‘Diamond Sponsor’ for this year’s West African ICT Congress (WAFICT 2013) holding at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos from 7^th to 8^th November.

This was made known to DigitalSENSE Business News  in a statement issued by the organizer of the event, Mr Mkpe Abang in which explained that diamond is the highest sponsorship level for the yearly event, which aims to lift the sub-region’s telecom industry through incisive leadership discussions.

 Abang who is also the Editor in Chief of IT & Telecom Digest, said that with MTN taking up the diamond sponsorship category, the company proves its determination to ensure developmental issues in the region’s telecom industry are gauged at global levels.

With the theme “Bringing Digital Dividends to West Africa: Tackling the Challenges Posed by Legal and Regulatory Frameworks,” the organiser stated that WAFICT presents a grand platform to hear from governments and regulators in West Africa, their policies, plans and strategies towards encouraging operators to bring digital dividends to the sub-region.

 DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that MTN’s overriding mission is to be a catalyst for Nigeria’s economic growth and development, helping to unleash Nigeria’s strong developmental potential not only through the provision of world class communications but also through innovative and sustainable corporate social responsibility initiatives.

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Forbes award nominees’13: Adesina, Dangote, Ovia make list

DigitalSENSE Business News

The Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina has been nominated alongside Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group and Jim Ovia, Chairman of Visafone Communications for the 2013 Africa Forbes awards billed to take place in Nairobi, Kenya in December this year.

The Managing Editor of Forbes Africa Magazine, Chris Bishop in a public statement made available to DigitalSENSE Business News  stated that  the  awardees comprises of three Nigerians, one South African and one Zimbabwean.

The Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina  was nominated for his vision  to make Nigeria a self-sustaining, food-producing nation and  to register 20 million farmers by 2015;  Aliko Dangote, the Africa’s richest man  nominated for  his net worth that has significantly increased on the back of his continued business success, allowing him to better the lives of millions;  while Jim Ovia  who established Zenith Bank Group in 1990 – now West Africa’s second largest financial services provider, nominated for his focus  that has turned to helping grow Africa’s budding ‘techpreneurs’.

Others are South African mining magnate, Patrice Motsepe, who was nominated for the plans on giving away more than half his fortune over the next five years and Strive Masiyiwa who is the founder of global telecoms group, Econet Wireless, nominated for his Capernaum Trust that  educates tens of thousands of Zimbabwean orphans.

DigitaSENSE Business News gathered from the statement issued that “following suggestions from Forbes Africa’s readers and social media audience, official voting in the form of a poll on http://forbesafrica.com/person-of-the-year/voting.html, is now open to the public who can make their selection of the individual they deem most worthy of the Person of the Year title.

“Every year, we are excited to decide the Forbes Africa Person of the Year. We want to honour the big hitters of the continent who are making a difference in people’s lives and we hope that in doing so, it will inspire others,” commented Chris Bishop.

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CASHplus from Ecobank debuts

DigitalSENSE Business News:

The celebrated pan African financial institution, Ecobank has made a debut with what the bank described as an international cross-border payment solution, enabling transactions across 30 African countries.

DigitalSENSE Business News reports that earlier this month, Ecobank’s mobile money partnered with Bharti Airtel, which enables global transaction and banking solutions company, Fundtech, to launch Global CASHplus after a successful single-country pilot in June 2011.

The roll out, DigitalSENSE Business News noted has taken place within two years in 30 countries on the African continent, resulting in a 22 per cent increase of electronic customers and transaction multiplication of 200 times after 18 months.

Deputy group chief executive officer (CEO) for corporate and investment banking at Ecobank, Mr. Albert Essien, explained it was aiming at developing a cash management system, catering for a diverse array for businesses while still supporting big amounts of transactions throughout its network.

“We moved quickly to implement a robust solution that will facilitate cross-border and multi-currency business for our customers, removing many of the traditional bottlenecks in the cash management process,” Essien said.

Sanjay Dalmia, executive vice president of Global Cash Management at Fundtech, pointed out that the platform is customised to suit every country’s unique language, currency and regulatory requirements without compromising on its consistency in providing a standard interface and service.

“This is something no local or international institution has been able to achieve, nor in such a remarkably short period of time, which is thanks to our close collaboration with Ecobank,” he said.

Elucidating on CashPlus, group head, Transaction Services at Ecobank, Patrick Gutmann, said that by running on Ecobank’s OMNI platform, the linking of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems for integrated origination and reconciliation of transactions has been made possible, seamlessly.

“Growing our transaction banking business across Africa is the key objective for the bank. “The implementation of Fundtech’s Global CASHplus, which is customised for us as Ecobank OMNI, is a key strategic step in strengthening our competitiveness across Africa,” he said.

DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that with local presence in African countries such as Togo, Ecobank has most recently also established itself in Ethiopia.

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Courier services potential in Nigeria not fully tapped-Uba

DigitalSENSE Business News

The Managing Director, Ebony Express, Mr Okey Uba has said that the  Nigerian courier services have enormous potentials of creating more than 300,000 jobs, and yet remains untapped, DigitalSENSE Business News reports.

Uba made this view known at just concluded 3^rd Nigerian Courier Summit organized by Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) in Lagos, stressing that out of 291 courier services in the country only 20 are alive and making business from the business that they get from abroad because the services in Nigeria is in distress.

He said that only change is the panacea which must come from an independent regulator, noting that the Courier Regulatory Department (CRD) as it now stand cannot operate without the enabling laws as it has not been able to solve infringement in the courier services, but rather refers the matter to the police whose hands are already full with constitutional duties.

DigitalSENSE Business News recorded that the Ebony Express boss singled out the DHL as the only courier company that has been able to maintain standard, whereas in others, a staff commit fraud in one office and he moves on to another company.

 He lamented the incursion of printers and online marketers turning themselves into agency that clears imported goods from the confine of their bedroom, while people also go to motor parks to send their consignment to be received in another park.

“The Post Cash in NIPOST is not working; stamp duty is not enforced because there is no law. People who retire from NIPOST don’t go to other courier business because in Nigeria there is no place for them. NIPOST now resort to capital market for survival and continue to increase licensing fee and renewal fee for genuine courier companies as if they are their problem. Some state governments want the courier companies to purchase power bike for their business and to register with the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), Nigeria Lorry Drivers Association, Nigerian Legion to have right of way. All these have helped to kill the potentials that ought to be tapped in the courier industry,” Uba lamented.

He advocated that the CRD as presently domiciled in NIPOST be moved to form the NIPOST Service Commission that has witnessed failed attempt to materialize since 2006.

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pix: Postmaster General of Federation, Mall.Ibrahim Mori Baba

Governor’s Cup’13: Etisalat reasserts commitment to sport development

DigitalSENSE Sport:

Etisalat Nigeria has reasserted its dedication to talent discovery and development within the nation’s sport sector.

DigitalSENSE Sport The Director, PMO and Operational Support of the company, Ms. Ndidi Okpaluba gave this assurance at the Grand Finale of the 2013 edition of the Governor’s Cup Lagos International Tennis Championship, held weekend, at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.

According to her, the success that Etisalat Nigeria recorded in the last five years is due to the support and patronage the company has continued to enjoy, from Nigerians. She added that this explains why the company is committed to supporting activities that is targeted at benefiting the nation and the citizenry, one of which is sport.

Okpaluba said, the Governor’s Cup Lagos International Tennis Championship is more than just supporting Tennis.

“It is a partnership that we believe will uplift the nation’s sporting sector. The five-year partnership between Etisalat and the tournament organizers has proved productive, as can be seen from the success of this year’s and previous tournaments. We are delighted at the high standard that was demonstrated at this year’s tournament and we commend the LOC for its excellent organizational skills, which has been one of the reasons for the success of the tournament over the years” she said.

Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola was among the dignitaries that graced the finals, while over 300 students drawn from various schools in Lagos were also in attendance.

DigitalSENSE Sport recalls that in the finals, Ante Pavic and Gioia Barbieri emerged winners in the male and female categories respectively, even as they were thrilled with a musical performance by fast rising Hip-Hop artiste, Olamide.

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Pix: (L-R): Group Managing Director/CEO, First City Moment Bank Limited, Ladi Balogun; Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Winner, Men’s final of the 13th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis, Ante Pavic and Director, PMO & Operational Support, Etisalat Nigeria, Ndidi Okpaluba At the Etisalat sponsored 13th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Grand Finale, held at Lagos Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos.

NITDA inaugurates committee on eNigeria’13

   DigitalSENSE Business News                                                                                                            

The Acting Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Ashiru Daura has confirmed that the agency will in December host this year's technology conference and exhibition, tagged eNigeria Summit 2013.

Dr Daura disclosed this to DigitalSENSE Business News while inaugurating the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the event in Abuja, stressing that the agency has formally launched the activities towards the successful hosting of the event.

He noted that eNigeria has been specially designed to address issues geared towards enhancing local content in the deployment of Information Technology (IT) in the Nigerian economy, while the outcome is expected to present a framework to adequately position Nigeria among the top leading IT economies across the globe.

This year's event is billed to hold from December 3-5, in Abuja with the theme: 'IT Local Content in Nigeria, the Journey so far ‘with notable speakers from both the local and international scenes.

The Director at the Lagos Business School, Dr. Pat Utomi, will give the keynote address and expected to share his wealth of knowledge on the nation as it borders on a knowledge economy driven through the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) as a tool that drives major economies across the globe, while the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, would be the Chief Host.

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pix: Acting Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Ashiru Daura

Resourcery posts N5.9bn turnover

DigitalSENSE Business News:

Resourcery, one of Nigeria’s leading information communication firms has improved in its operation by boosting its turnover from N5.2 billion in 2011 to N5.9 billion in 2012.

The Chairman of the Resourcery board, Tayo Amusan disclosed this during 23th Annual General Meeting of the company for the year ended 2012 in Lagos recently, stressing that the turnover represents a 14 per cent increase over the previous year, while N45 million was paid to  shareholders as half dividend for the year ended December 2012.

Amusan confirmed to DigitalSENSE Business News  that the company has continued to demonstrate leadership in Systems Integration in the West African market as well as the top partner in the West Africa region for global technology leaders like Cisco Systems, Check Point, ArcSight, SAS and CommScope.

“Our turnover for the year under review increased from N5.2 billion in 2011 to N5.9 billion in 2012, this represents a 14 per cent top line growth. Despite the interest cost of N220 million, the company achieved profit before tax of N201 million. In fulfillment of the promise we made at the 22nd Annual General Meeting to our shareholders, we are pleased to announce that the 2012 half dividend of N45 million has been paid to our shareholders. This further signifies the board’s commitment to the growth and development of the organisation as it strives to become Africa’s preferred IT Company,” Amusan said.

The Managing Director of Resourcery, Tani Fafunwa, disclosed that the company invested in Kitskoo Cloud Services, a company set up to take advantage of major global and local transitions and shifts in technology.

“These changes include the availability and local viability of cloud services, increases in mobile connected devices and the need for expert security solutions brought about by these very changes. The solutions, when offered over solid infrastructure, offer immense benefits to customers in terms of efficiency, cost reduction and speed to market,” Fafunwa said.

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Energy: Signalhorn wins 3-yr deal to manage African network of offshore vessels

DigitalSENSE Business News:

German-based Signalhorn has won another three-year deal for the operation and management of a pan-African network of offshore service vessels to the global energy industry, especially in Nigeria, Angola and Cameroon on communications.

DigitalSENSE Business News confirms that under the terms of the three-year contract extension, Signalhorn will provide a mission-critical, multi-megabit communications network to its customer’s key African locations in Angola, Nigeria and Cameroon, just as the contract renewal builds upon Signalhorn’s four-year relationship delivering satellite and terrestrial links for this customer, which reinforces Signalhorn’s commitment to customer care, quality assurance and delivering trusted networks.

Vice President, Oil & Gas sales at Signalhorn, Gary Bray, says that with 40 years of experience in providing hybrid communication solutions, the company has been able to serve customers who are operating in ever more remote, deeper and increasingly hostile environments to meet the world’s energy demand.

“Signalhorn’s continually growing global communications footprint enables us to deliver trusted networks for connectivity and performance,” he said.

For him, Signalhorn delivers the service to the customer’s network across the African continent through regional points of presence and its teleports located at technical centers in Germany and Switzerland.

“Signalhorn’s service includes communications for the company’s core networks, crew welfare, contractors, and regulatory and safety requirements,” he said.

The monetary value for the deal was not available as at the time of filing this report.

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NCC: Cybercafés under pressure, additional cost- Sesan

        

DigitalSENSE Business News

The Chief Executive Officer, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria(PIN), Mr Gbenga Sesan has said that the directive issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to the cybercafés to register users will  add more pressure and more economic cost to their operations.

Sesan made this position known in an exclusive chat with DigitalSENSE Business News during an internet intermediary liability workshop organised by PIN in Lagos, stressing that many of them are already under burden, while many have closed shops simply because they cannot afford the cost of power and the cost of internet access.

He explained that it is contradictory that a government that is seeking more access is creating more bottlenecks in the part way of those who are providing public access in the first place.

“There are not so many cybercafés in the first place so why focus on them for that, simply because of cybercrime. They are getting it wrong, that’s the NCC, because cybercrimes can be committed from a phone right now. It is not cybercafés and if you say phones are registered it could be committed from the laptop.

“I don’t think they thought this through properly in sense of registration of individuals who come to use a public terminal. The second point there is the fact apart from economic cost there is also the dearth to access. There is an internet freedom report that is done annually for every country and so one of the things mentioned is obstacle to access, and so what NCC has simply done is to place a major obstacle in the part way of access in Nigeria. The thing that they might be experiencing will be fake names like the incident where Mike Tyson was registered to vote in Nigeria in 2007.”

The PIN boss said that there is no data privacy law in Nigeria and there are data of citizens all over the place, data with telecom companies, NCC, Federal Road Safety Commission, and Immigration and there is no regulation and guideline on how data is used, and stressed that “85 million mobile numbers of citizens who innocently registered is available for sale for N5, 000 publicly in Nigeria each by state.”

DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) issued a public notice signed by Director of Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo ordering cyber café licensees and operators to maintain databases of subscribers and users, including their full names, physical addresses, passport photos and telephone numbers to assist in investigations into cyber crime, if necessary.

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Pix:Chief Executive Officer, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria(PIN), Mr Gbenga Sesan

FG canvasses passage of wire-tap bill

DigitalSENSE Business News

Indication has emerged that the federal government is pressing on to bring to reality the policy that will require telecommunications service providers in the country to turn over cell phone records of their customers to security agencies.

The proposed controversial bill debate monitored  by DigitalSENSE Business News titled ‘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” will empower security agencies to monitor and track customers’ conversations on telephone and the internet.

Speaking on the bill on the floor of the house, the APC- Lagos member in the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila said the bill would regulate text messages and e-mail messages being monitored by people as well provide security for individuals.

Gbajabiamila lamented that the house was concerned because people’s privacy were often times invaded, and again sometimes subjected to cheap blackmail and kidnapping through the tapping of telephone lines.

The debate on the bill was massively supported by Reps Bitrus Kaze(PDP-Plateau) , Nnenna Ukeje (PDP-Abia), Leo Ogor(PDP-Delta), Reps Ken Chikere (PDP-Rivers), Benjamin Aboho (ACP-Benue) whose submissions  called for the curtailing of tapping conversations for the well being of Nigerians and corporate existence of the country.

The bill which has also passed the second reading at the Senate last month was vehemently opposed by Rep. Ossai Ossai (PDP-Delta) who argued that the proposed legislation was “contaminated” and should be thrown out.

DigitalSENSE Business News confirms that the contrary to the  opposing view  concerning the bill, it passed the second reading as the Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal referred it to the Committees on Communications, Information Communication Technology(ICT) and Justice for more inputs.

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Pix Rep Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal

BON advocates transition fund for digitalization programme

DigitalSENSE Business News

The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) has called on the federal government to establish a fund that will boost a seamless digital transition programme for the country.

The Chairman of BON, Mallam Abubakar Jijiwa gave the charge in Abuja  at the opening of a two-day digital broadcast summit with the theme “Digital switch-over: milestones and bridges’’ organised by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), stressing that the government should  ensure that no station, whether private of public would be left behind by 2015.

Jijiwa lamented that the challenges in the broadcasting sector were enormous and that financial constraint was part of what could make it impossible for some stations to meet the deadline of Jan. 1, 2015.

``The challenges in the broadcasting sector are becoming more complex as we move closer to the switch-over date of 2015. We, therefore, want to call for a marshal plan to assist broadcast stations with the needed funds to actualise our goal of transiting seamlessly by January 2015. We are not saying government should give subvention to stations. It should be a loan with a generous repayment arrangement so that our members can have access to funds to address all grey areas ahead of the switch-over date,’’ Jijiwa said.

The Director-General of NBC Emeka Mba, informed DigitalSENSE Business News that the forum was to avail stakeholders the opportunity to discuss on digitisation and assess the work done so far and stressed that the deadline was real and that NBC and other stakeholders were set to implement key aspects of the road map to the eventual switch-over to digital broadcasting.

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, represented by Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Folashade Esan commended NBC for the initiative to meet with stakeholders and urged all players in the broadcast sector to endeavour to adopt trends in technology to ensure that the transition was not only hitch-free but beneficial to all broadcast audiences.

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pix: Director-General of NBC Emeka Mba

Summit’13: Customers first, our priority says Etisalat

DigitalSENSE Business News:

Acclaimed fastest growing and most innovative telecommunications company in Nigeria, Etisalat, has reaffirmed its commitment to customers, saying they are first on its priority list.

This assertion was made to DigitalSENSE Business News by the Chief Commercial Officer, Matthew Willsher, at the 2013 Customer Centric Summit in Lagos, put together by Montgomery West Africa, during panel discussions.

Speaking on Etisalat’s customer-centric DNA, he said this earned the mobile operator, the first-ever Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) award for ‘Excellent Service and Effective Collaboration with the Consumer Affairs Bureau to ensure access to Customer Care Help line.'

As said by Willsher, customer-centricity meant a total committed approach to delivering lasting and effective customer experience.

“Etisalat understands how to respond to rapidly changing customer needs. Needs are only discovered through interaction, which is a strategy that can help manage and forestall more issues. Continuity is a key focus as well, in going a step forward to provide value. When customers pay, they pay for value,” he said.

The Etisalat CCO underlined the fact that platforms for achieving this include digital media and round-the-clock care that make customer access pain-free.

“By interaction, an organization is able to collate customer issues, pay attention and create long-term solutions. Also, the ability to speak with customers in their locations should be at the forefront. This is why Etisalat has hundreds of Customer Experience Centres across the country while keeping online care lines open 24 hours for easy global experience as well as focusing on specific market segments. The mission is to keep people first and satisfy customers always. We aim for superior, memorable experience and go a step ahead by appreciating customers through rewards. The result is happy customers who spend more, recommend more and stay longer,” he said.

Equally, Managing Director, Montgomery West Africa, Tori Abiola, highlighted the importance of paying attention to what matters to the customer, stressing “Customer experience is about emotions and emotions are about people. At touch-points for instance, what matters could be the approach of an organization’s customer experience attendant. While considering various business strategies, it is important to also take a look at the internal atmosphere. The right customer experience drives retention, competitiveness and future business growth by motivating customer centric decisions.”

DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that the maiden Customer Centricity Summit was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lagos, for a three-day with the theme “Service Experience – What does Customer Centricity Mean for Business?”

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Pix L-R: General Managing Director, Artee Group (Spar and Park n' Shop), Haresh Keswani; Managing Director, Montgomery West Africa, Tori Abiola and Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher

Revive Tech unveils online shop with customer-centric, loyalty scheme

DigitalSENSE Business News: 

Starting from Friday, November 1, 2013, the Revive Technologies Limited is opening an online retail portal at www.revivetechnologies.org, with customer-centric focus on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) devices, says the Managing Director, Mr. Wale Thomas.

Confirming this to DigitalSENSE Business News, Monday at the firm’s office in Ikeja, Mr. Thomas said, the move is aimed at providing a more convenient and flexible alternative purchase channels for its growing customers, in line with the company's decision to drive the cashless economy policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from the online retail perspective.

He explained that online purchase option does not rule out the physical option, which consumers have to buy mobile and other IT devices from Revive retail outlets nationwide. Stressing that online purchase further helps various customers to pick their devices at much more affordable prices and convenient.

Mr. Thomas noted that Revive would be adding value to their teeming and prospective customers through delivering promptly and efficiently purchase at any part of the country with little or no additional cost.

Pointing out that Revive’s kind of online retail store is unique because it is not like every other online stores, but absolutely different from what already obtains because it has a round the clock online customer care service.

With experience in IT business spanning over 19 years, Mr. Thomas assured that the online purchase option was introduced to create flexibility, choices and convenience for numerous customers.

“It's in addition to the existing opportunity they have to walk into our physical retail outlets and make their purchase. ‎From wherever you are, you can log on to the internet, brose the various products on display and make purchase with your preferred payment option and the products will be delivered to you," he said.

Just as he disclosed to  DigitalSENSE Business News that purchased made from November 1 attracts an incentive of a Bluetooth ear-piece.

He explained that the Revive Technologies offers its sales with loyalty card which could be redeemed with IT devices of their choice based on their accumulated points.

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Lagos hackatho: IBM promotes technology, ideas

DigitalSENSE BusinessNews

IBM, reputed as one of the top corporate promoters of hackathons globally has held a four-day technology training and ideas incubation programme codenamed ‘The IBM “Lasgidi” Hackathon.’

DigitalSENSE Business News saw about 90 individuals made of young technology and computing practitioners, software developers, engineering and computer science students from 10 tertiary institutions in Nigeria  participating in the event.

The Country General Manager, IBM West Africa, Taiwo Otiti while declaring the hackathon event open charged participants to “get hungry for technology information and always be eager to soak in as much knowledge as they can.”

“This ‘IT Impact’ has been due to the evolution of organizational behaviour and the growing role that organizations like IBM play in ensuring that many of society’s challenges and problems do not go unaddressed or unresolved. Promoting talent in the field of Science and Technology has therefore become a way of life at IBM,” Otiti said.

It was also confirmed by DigitalSENSE Business News that IBM spends over $8 billion about N1, 268,000,000,000.00 annually on Research and Development (R&D), and has recently opened its 12th research laboratory in Africa, in Nairobi, Kenya.

IBM’s West Africa Leader for Developer Relations, Independent Software Vendors, Start-ups and Academic Initiatives, Mrs. Adeola Allison said IBM has been helping to power transformation and technology innovation for over 100 years, stressing that “Focusing on mobile payments and smarter government solutions is therefore a deliberate attempt to make a positive impact and contribution to the innovation agenda of Business and Government in Nigeria.”

IBM Innovation Partners for the Lagos hackathon are the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology, the Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology, University of Lagos, Airtel, CBC Limited, Wecyclers, Coders4Africa, CcHUB, Smart Campus, ICT Brokers, Quality Certain and other academic and non academic institutions in Nigeria.

AN/GEE

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