JAMB may introduce Computer-based test to curb malpractice

Anthony Nwakaegho/DigitalSENSE Business News

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has planned to divest its strategy to curb the incessant examination malpractices through the introduction of computer–based test (CBT) in its subsequent examinations in Nigeria.

The strategy was disclosed by the JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde   during the first technical meeting of the board held at Adeyemi College of Education in Ondo State on 2013/2014 admission to Nigeria National Diploma and National Innovative Diploma awarding institutions.

DigitalSENSE Business News gathered from Ojerinde that the essence of introducing the CBT would make the students to be Information Communication Technology (ICT) complaint and stressed that the board has already commenced the inspection of schools that would be used as CBT centres in the state.
He explained that as JAMB is now going to discard the analogue approach to its examinations to digital, results could be released within a week on the internet thereby reducing the menace of exam malpractices.

“Everybody now wanted to go to the university to obtain degrees. Obtaining a degree is not the only way to make it to the top. We are encouraging as many people as possible to develop interest in technical education and entrepreneurial education,” Ojerinde said.

Provost, Adeyemi College of Education, Prof. Adeyemi Idowu, said that the tenacity of JAMB devising the CBT approach for its examination of student seeking admission into tertiary institutions in the country is commendable, as such would go a long way to curb the examination malpractice.

*With additional report from Nigerian Observer

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Four Nigerian apps blaze the trail for Demo Africa

Anthony Nwakaegho/DigitalSENSE Business News

Four Nigerian finalists are blazing the trail over the 40 participants of the Africa’s most innovative technology products that will be launched at Demo Africa  in Nairobi Kenya from 24 to 25 October 2013.

DigitalSENSE Business News gathered that the Nigerian finalists including Bayo Puddicombe who developed ChopUP app, which is a social platform that connects mobile device gamers across Africa and allows them to interact based on in-game achievements and transferrable points; Modupe Ajibola who developed OTGPlaya app that is seen as an affordable platform solution that brings “accessibility” to critically underserved sectors.

Others are Tunde Aguda who developed RAMP, an innovative web app that simplifies management process of Resident Associations in Nigeria or anywhere in the world, while a local app developer, Hugo Obi developed the Save & Buy which is a web and mobile platform that enables anyone save towards any item they desire in an easy to use, fun and safe environment.

DigitalSENSE Business News also learnt from the organisers that it will feature two other slots from Ghana’s Maximu Ametorgoh and Senegal’s Moustapha Ndoye who will present BoxBuzz and Teranga Hospitality Suite respectively to complete the six West Africa’s slots.

The programme would provide the most innovative new and established companies from across Africa the opportunity to launch their products on stage at this high profile event in Kenya.

-*With additional report from Vanguard

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Maku says social media helps in tackling societal challenges

Anthony Nwakaegho/DigitalSENSE Business News

The usage of the social media has been advocated as a veritable platform that could be harnessed to tackle societal challenges facing public institutions in the country.

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, dropped this hint in Osogbo at the 44th National Council on Information (NCI) conference with the theme “Social Media and Public Information Management” stressing that the same platform is capable of tackling challenges in the electoral process and environmental issues such as flooding.

Maku explained that the inherent dangers associated with the social media, like cyber bullying and defamation must be placed side by side with many benefits the same platform offers in media practise.

DigitalSENSE Business News learnt Maku pointed out that the public institutions and officials should take advantage of the social media platform to refute wrong information, since the remedy to slander or libel through the social media is in using the same platform as right of reply to such defamatory statement.
 “Public institutions and officials must ensure a more active and effective presence on the social media circuit, to ensure prompt rebuttal of wrongful publication. The council should address the issue of social media critically before 2015 with a view to checking its excesses,” he said.

In his opening remark, the Governor of Osun State Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola called on all ties of government to use the social media to advance the cause of development for the benefit of the masses.

Equally, the Acting Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Chief Jide Adebayo said the media in the country should develop its capacity and be proactive in information management by using the on-line technological development to its advantage.

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Pix: Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku,

Etisalat, Vivendi agree on binding extension for 53% stake in Maroc Telecom

DigitalSENSE Business News:

The Emirates Telecommunications Corporation, trading as Etisalat, has revealed extension of the validity period for its bidding offer and exclusivity period for negotiations of acquiring Vivendi’s 53 per cent stake in the Maroc Telecom.

DigitalSENSE Business News confirmed weekend that the validity period given for its binding offer and the period of exclusivity granted to Etisalat by Vivendi for the acquisition of Vivendi’s 53 per cent stake in Itisalat Al Maghrib, otherwise known as Maroc Telecom, was extended until October 31, 2013.

On 22 July 2013, DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that Etisalat made a binding offer that valued each of Maroc Telecom’s shares at MAD 92.6, amounting to consideration Euro 3.9 billion (AED 19.3 billion) for Vivendi’s 53 per cent stake in Maroc Telecom.

Similarly, Vivendi formally granted Etisalat a period of exclusivity for the acquisition until 25 September 2013, which is now extended.

Etisalat equally revealed in a statement sighted by DigitalSENSE Business News that the signing and closing of the transaction would be subject to a number of conditions.

Some of these conditions among others, the execution of a shareholders’ agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco regarding Maroc Telecom, and securing competition and regulatory approvals in the Kingdom of Morocco in addition to certain other jurisdictions in Maroc Telecom’s footprint.

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ConnectNigeria targets SMEs for eBiz fair

Anthony Nwakaegho/DigitalSENSE Business News

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria are poised to experience massive growth with the leveraging of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools for their operations, just as ConnectNigeria targets SMEs in its forthcoming eBusiness fair.

The Chief Executive Officer, ConnectNigeria.com, Mr. Emeka Okafor as he announced the preparation of his company hosting of Nigeria's first ever e-business fair billed for Lagos on October 26 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

DigitalSENSE Business News gathered from Okafor  that as a result of the of fast-growing technology in the country, the e-business fair is being put together with the aim of promoting electronic operations and transactions among businesses via virtual networks, and to reinforce the cashless policy being implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He also said that the theme of the fair which is “e-Business and the Growth of Your Enterprise” was chosen to highlight the importance of ICT in the  growth and development of businesses in Nigeria and the opportunities for efficiency, growth, and security in regards to doing businesses through electronic means. 

DigitalSENSE Business News learnt from Connectnigeria.com boss that the introduction of the cashless policy by the CBN would accelerate economic growth especially in the SMEs and stressed that chief executives of top corporations, management executives and heads of SMEs are expected to grace the event to discuss, promote and showcase their brands.

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RLG, OYESTEC pass out 5,000 youths in ICT initiative

Anthony Nwakaegho/ DigitalSENSE Business News

The partnership agreement between RLG Communications Nigeria Ltd and the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme Technology (OYESTEC) has paid off as it graduates 5,000 youths after the successful completion of their training in Information Communication Technology, Mobile phone and computer repairs and assembling in the Nigerian state of Osun state, Osogbo.

DigitalSENSE Business News gathered partnership agreement which is to make the youth economically resourceful, contracted RLG Communications to train 20,000 youth for a period of six months in the Osun state alone on ICT related disciplines such as mobile telephone assembly and repair, computer technologies and entrepreneurial skills. 

The Chairman of Osun State Youth Empowerment Scheme, Prince Adefioye and the scheme's Co-ordinator, Bamboo Bashorun commended the state governor for economic transformation of the Osun state and its people especially the youth and said the initiative would empower as many as 20,000 youths, within a period of 24 months that will work in service centers that would be set up in different locations in Osun State. 

On his part the Country Director of RLG Nigeria, Tosin Illesanmi said work on a multi-purpose ICT Assembly Plant sited in the Osun State was ongoing and commended the state governor for his support for the project which will produce 5,000 mobile phones and 2,000 laptops on daily basis on completion.

"One of the key mandates of RLG was to revolutionize Information and Communications Technology in Africa and create one million jobs for the youth in the world," said Country Director of RLG for Nigeria,” Ilesanmi said.

Earlier in his remark the State Governor Engineer Rauf Aregbesola justified the institution of the initiative and assured that he would continue to offer it the needed support until youth unemployment has been eliminated completely or drastically eradicated in his state.
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Nigeria: BPE unhappy over social media usage

DigitalSENSE Business News

Anthony Nwakaegho/DigitalSENSE Business News

Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) said it is perfecting plans to draw up possible regulations for social media usage in the country to checkmate all manner of things being uploaded on the various platform of the social network without recourse to age and sensibilities of the users.

The Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Benjamin Ezra Dikki, dropped the hint while speaking to a section of non management staff of the organization during a workshop in Kuchikau, Nasarawa State

DigitalSENSE Business News learnt from the workshop that Dikki expressed his dissatisfaction over government laxity on the activities that are uploaded on the internet and assured of BPE preparedness to stem the tide by introducing stringent rules in the regard.

Confirming this in a statement sighted by DigitalSENSE Business News  and signed by head of the Bureau’s public communication, Chigbo Anichebe, the BPE boss was quoted as saying that “in line with its reform mandate, the Bureau plans to initiate necessary policies and the legal framework for the regulation of the Social Media in the country.”

The statement further declared that close the monitoring of the activities on the social media would assist the government in its determination to retain its services or otherwise.

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Absence of local content policy on ICT, bane on industry-Ajayi

Anthony Nwakaegho/DigitalSENSE Business News

The absence of local contents policy in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector would not help to sustain the industry like the downstream sector of the petroleum industry if the equipment for the ICT industry are being imported into the country.

A report by NAN sighted by DigitalSENSE Business News in Lagos quoted the President, Association of Telecommunication Company of Nigeria (ATCON), Engr. Lanre Ajayi who lamented as to why everything that is being used in the county are being imported, including the ICT equipments.

Ajayi explained that the growth recorded by ICT in Nigeria so far should be extended to the education, health and agriculture sectors in order to increase the country’s reserve.

DigitalSENSE Business News gathered from the ATCON President that” there was the need for government to use the current growth to ensure that certain aspects of ICT equipment were manufactured locally. The local content policy will compel multinational ICT companies to set up manufacturing plants in Nigeria. This will generate more employment, boost our economy and check capital flight, among other things,"

“Do you know that we are still spending huge amount of money on the importation of software applications, and pieces of hardware being used by the government agencies?" he queried.

·         *With additional report from NAN

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Pix: ATCON President, Engr.Lanre Ajayi

Juwah bags telecom regulator award

DigitalSENSE Business News:

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah has been named the Africa Telecom Regulator of the Year by the Nigerian Telecom News at a ceremony which took place at the Incubator Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event, which was witnessed by two former governors of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, and Engr. Gbenga Daniel, witnessed the citation of the outstanding performance of Dr. Juwah as the helmsman of Nigeria’s independent telecom regulator which are consumer-focused, hence in the collective decision of the selection board of the award committee to nominate him for recognition.

Chief Executive Logica Communications, publishers of Telecom News, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, said of particular reference is the affordability which the NCC under Dr. Juwah has brought to bear on tariffs for SMS, the introduction of Mobile Number Portability to provide choice for the consumer, the successful completion of the SIM Card Registration project and firm stance that has resulted in service providers being sanctioned for not meeting the Key Performance Indicators published by the Commission on Quality of Service among others.

He said some of these actions have improved the ratings of the NCC, and have positively affected the Nigerian consumer of telecommunications services in one way or another.

In his response, Dr. Juwah promised the Commission's determination to continuous do its best to live up to the expectations of all the stakeholders, especially the consumers.
He said the Commission understands the role that telecommunications play in the economic and social wellbeing of the nation and the citizens and will not relent in focusing on the responsibilities entrusted to it with its abiding principles of fairness, forthrightness and firmness.

The event was witnessed by a cross spectrum of the telecoms and banking sector.

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Pix:Chairman, House Committee on Communications, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Mgt of NCC, Mr. Okechukwu Itanyi, and EVC of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah 

Johnson, Juwah to grace WAFICT Confab 2013

 

Anthony Nwakaegho/DigitalSENSE Business News

As the preparation for the West African ICT (WAFICT) conference and exhibition 2013 gathers momentum, the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson and the Executive Vice Chairman Nigeria Communications Commission, Dr Eugene Juwah have been confirmed  to grace the event and to lead the discussion in the two-day event that opens November 7 in Lagos.

This was made known by the organisers of the event, IT & Telecom Digest and added that the theme of the conference is 'Bringing Digital Dividends to West Africa: Tackling the Challenges Posed by Legal and Regulatory Frameworks.'

DigitalSENSE Business News gathered that Juwah is billed to deliver the key note address and to speak on the issues of legal and regulatory policies and how they impact telecoms growth in the sub-region.

According to the organisers the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Emeka Mba will speak on Nigeria's planned switch from analogue to digital communications by 2015.

Notable speakers expected at the conference includes the Chairman of Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo; the President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Lanre Ajayi; Chairman of Open Media Group, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, among others.

The WAFICT conference, which is described as a grand platform for ICT activities in West Africa, is geared towards encouraging governments and operators to bring digital dividends to the sub-region.

 DigitalSENSE Business News

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Korea leads global broadband penetration, Nigeria’s mobile 9.1 - UN

Remmy Nweke/DigitalSENSE Business News:

The Republic of Korea has been rated the world’s highest household broadband penetration with over 97 per cent, DigitalSENSE Business News reports.

This is coming as Nigeria’s fixed broadband penetration data was missing in the report, while the mobile penetration stood at 10.2 per cent, whereas households with internet penetration was ranked 9.1 per cent.

According to the latest country-by-country state of broadband access globally, made available to DigitalSENSE Business News by the United Nations (UN) Broadband Commission revealed that Broadband has gone wireless, lamenting however, that poorer countries may be left behind.

The State of Broadband is a unique global snapshot of broadband network access and affordability, with country-by country data measuring broadband access against the four key targets set by the 60 members of the Broadband Commission in 2011.

DigitalSENSE Business News also gathered that aside Korea leading with 97 per cent in household broadband penetration, Switzerland comes top in the world’s fixed broadband subscriptions per capita, at over 40 per cent.

Equally, by comparison, the Commission confirmed that the United States (US) ranks 24th in terms of household broadband penetration, and 20th in the world for fixed broadband subscriptions per capita, just behind Finland and ahead of Japan.

In terms of Internet use, there are now more than 70 countries where over 50 per cent of the population is online. The top ten countries for Internet use are all located in Europe, with the exception of New Zealand (8th) and Qatar (10th), even as Nigeria was ranked 110.

Commenting, ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, who serves as co-Vice Chair of the Commission with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, noted that the new analysis in this year’s report shows progress in broadband availability, but the world must not lose sight of those who are being left behind.

“While more and more people are coming online, over 90 per cent of people in the world’s 49 Least Developed Countries remain totally unconnected. Internet – and particularly broadband Internet – has become a key tool for social and economic development, and needs to be prioritized, even in the world’s poorest nations. Technology combined with relevant content and services can help us bridge urgent development gaps in areas like health, education, environmental management and gender empowerment,” he enthused.

For UNESCO’s Irina Bokova, the global roll-out of broadband carries vast potential to enhance learning opportunities, to facilitate the exchange of information, and to increase access to content that is linguistically and culturally diverse.

“It can widen access to learning, enhance its quality and empower men and women, girls and boys, with new skills and opportunities.  But this does not happen by itself – it requires leadership, planning and action,” Bokova declared.

Commission’s Co-Chair Carlos Slim Helú said the Millennium Development Goals should be a strong partnership to direct actions at the national and international levels, and they should be a shared responsibility.

“It is certain that broadband can make a tremendous contribution towards their attainment,” Helu said.

Additionally, the Co-Chair, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, points out that beyond 2015, the way forward should be to unleash the smart use of broadband to enhance delivery of services in education, health care, banking and other sectors.‎

“Broadband should also empower young people in the developing world to innovate and be more competitive globally," he said.

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Fibre optic broadband provides ultra-speed – Phase3

Correspondent/DigitalSENSE Business News:

The Chief Technical Officer, Phase3 Telecom, Mr. Ajibade Momolosho has described fibre optic broadband as technology with an ultra-speed.

Momolosho in a press statement sighted by DigitalSENSE Business News says the technology is the most important innovation that provides a higher reliability, less vulnerability to natural disasters and bad weather conditions to name a few.

According to him, fibre optic has an astonishing environmental advantage which prevents sparks or fire hazards, due to no electricity is transferred through them. Stressing that it’s a safer option for broadband connection in Nigeria with a higher flexibility and tremendous ease of deployment.

“The immunity of fibre optics transmission to electromagnetic interference ensure the accuracy of signal transmission by keeping the original strength of the signal over long distance, and because of its nature it is the safer option for broadband connection in the country’ he said.

As said by him, the technology is the next generation of broadband and is much faster, more reliable and uses a different technology.

He underlined the fact that traditional broadband known as Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) delivers through copper telephone lines, but fibre broadband uses fibre optic cables.

“Fibre optic cabling provides high-speed data transmission and is much less likely to lose connectivity than a traditional dial-up connection,” he explained, pointing out that a single fibre optic cable could carry a significantly larger amount of information than a copper wire line, which means that less space is required for cabling.

Momolosho, further said that Phase3 Telecom invested $110 million to enable broadband get to the underserved and unserved areas of the country, just as Phase3 is working at investing $68 million between now and 2016 for broadband development in the country.

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Pix: CEO Phase3, Stanley Jegede

Sony inaugurates authorized service centre in Nigeria

Anthony Nwakaegho/DigitalSENSE Business News

Sony Middle East and Africa has inaugurated another state-of-the-art Sony-authorized Centre, at Burma Road, Apapa, Lagos, to provide the best after-sales support to its valued customers in Nigeria.

Speaking about the service centre to DigitalSENSE Business News, the Managing Director, Sony Middle East and Africa, Hiroyasu Sugiyama, said the centre would benefit local customers in the country.

“This is a proud day for the entire team in Nigeria. Customers will benefit from the services, support and added convenience that we can offer with an enhanced network of Sony authorized service centers across the country. These kinds of intensive and specialized services mean that our customers will receive the best support without any compromise in turnaround times,” he said.

Sugiyama reiterated that the opening of the Sony-authorized service centre continues Sony’s long term strategic investment program in infrastructure resources to increasing the network service centers in the region and providing consumers with quality after sales service and support.

 “The new service centre is supported by a network of five authorized service centers and seven collection counters located at convenient locations across the entire country with service centre staff are highly qualified to address customer complaints and queries,” he said.

DigitalSENSE Business News discovered that the service centre is equipped to repair and restore a wide range of Sony products like BRAVIA LCD/LED TV’s, Handycam camcorders, VAIO notebook Computers, Cyber-shot digital still cameras, Network Walkman portable music devices and mobile phones.

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Main One refurbishes school infrastructure in Ajah

Anthony Nwakaegho/DigitalSENSE Business News

In furtherance with its social responsibility agenda, Main One, has renovated the physical infrastructure of three primary schools in Ajah area of Lagos State and donated books to their libraries.

The Head, Corporate Services and Development of Main One, Mrs. Lynda Madu said the support and development of schools is consistent with the firm's corporate  social responsibility (CSR) which is now in its third year by 'assisting the rural schools with identification of their various needs and to explore how best we can provide for them.' 

"Our analysis of and engagement with the respective school administrators revealed that Ogombo Primary School was in dire need of a facelift of the school structure. That accounted for why we renovated a block of six classrooms. However, for Akinlade and Okun Ajah Primary Schools, we have replaced their school gate and donated over 1000 library books and teaching materials respectively.

 "Our CSR effort was thus hinged on strengthening the competitiveness of the students in these schools, ensuring their continued relevance to themselves and their society, and overcoming whatever handicaps they face. That is why we have consistently supported these educational institutions, and improved their administrative and education processes,”she said.

DigitalSENSE Business News learnt from Mrs Madu that Ogombo has been an accommodating host to Main One and the beneficial  schools include Ogombo Community Primary School; Akinlade Primary School, Okun Mopo and Okun Ajah Primary School all in Ogombo, Ajah Local Government Area, Lagos.

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LSG enforces evacuation order on hollow pipe masts

                         

Anthony Nwakaegho/DigitalSENSE Business News

Following incessant collapse of communications masts in Lagos State, the Urban Furniture Regulatory Unit (UFRU) has commenced enforcement of a new set of standards for the installation of communications masts in Lagos State.

Speaking on the compliance, the Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State confirmed this to DigitalSENSE Business News, saying they have commenced evacuation.

“We have commenced evacuation of hollow pipe type of masts from the government house in Alausa in Ikeja and we have replaced them with galvanized steel masts in order to save lives and property and same must be done by masts operators in Lagos,” he said.

Speaking through the General Manager of UFRU, Mr. Joe Igbokwe said the order became necessary so as to avert further loss of lives and destruction of property to collapsed masts in the Lagos vicinity.

Igbokwe said the state came up with a new set of standards for the installation of communications masts in the state, recommending galvanized steel owing to the coastal nature of Lagos, coupled with the global climate change.

“All hollow pipe type of masts must be removed and replaced with galvanized steel that has the shape of a pyramid, before the end of December this year,” he said.

DigitalSENSE Business News revealed that most of the collapsed masts were the hollow pipe masts, belonging to banks that use them to communicate their various branches had in most cases led to loss of lives and property in the state.

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pix:Lagos State Gov.Raji Fashola

‘Why Signal Alliance took cutting edge solutions to Edo TechDay 2013’

Concerned on the need to deploy best-in-class technology systems in the public sector, Signal Alliance took its cutting edge solutions to Edo Technology Day 2013 in Benin City.

Adducing some reasons for the participation, the Marketing and Communications manager of Signal Alliance and the leader of the team to the event, Mr. Michael Chinwuba confided in DigitalSENSE Business News that the value proposition of the solutions presented by the award winning IT firm during the event, could assist the state in achieving transparent governance.

He explained that apart from showcasing cutting-edge IT solutions that would benefit both the public and private sector enterprise customers, the SA team was very much interested in meeting with and getting feedbacks from its numerous existing public sector customers as well as potential customers.

“It goes beyond showing what we have, but mostly to engage delegates especially from the public sector that were there to get their IT problems solved, because ours is much more than a company that sells technology. We listen and try to come up with unique technology solutions for all manner of challenges our customers can face,” he said.

Chinwuba pointed out that for Signal Alliance, Edo Technology Day event has become a reference point on how government on any level, could engage technology solution providers in the formation of a synergy with that critical market in order to proffer solutions.

As said by him, Signal Alliance also showcased high-end solutions in Business Optimization, Networks & Monitoring, Service Management, Data Centre & Collaboration, Software Advisory Services, Business Applications and Cloud Computing.

DigitalSENSE Business News recollects that the Edo State Technology Day 2013, was a two-day annual event that began in 2010, and had as theme “Fostering Governance with Technology” and attracted a plethora of IT Consultants, Vendors, and Solution experts from across the country under the chairmanship of Omobola Johnson, the Communication Technology Minister and hosted by the Edo State governor Adams Aliu Oshiomhole.

Founded in 1996, Signal Alliance, which has won several partner awards as well as other industry awards such as System Integrator Company of the Year, Top 50 Fastest Growing (Nonlisted) Companies In Nigeria, Country Partner of the Year for both Cisco and Microsoft, is an end-to-end IT Company that specializes in systems integration and enterprise solutions with offices in Lagos and Abuja FCT. The company boasts of highly skilled and certified consultants as well as major strategic partnerships with World industry giants such as Microsoft, Cisco, SAP and CA Technologies.

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Multichoice sponsors ECOWAS ICT ministers’ conference

Anthony Nwakaegho/DigitalSENSE Business News

Global pay-TV leader, MultiChoice is sponsoring a conference for the Information Communication Technology (ICT) ministers of Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), DigitalSENSE Business News reports.

The sub-regional ICT ministers conference is expected to adopt a common implementation plan for digital transition to beat the June 2015 deadline set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The Manager, Engineering at Ghana’s regulator, the National Communications Authority of Ghana, Mr Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko disclosed this while making his presentation at the Digital Dialogue Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE), noting that the ICT ministers will meet in Banjul, Gambia to approve protocols and specifications on digital transmitters and set-top boxes that will be imported by countries within the region for the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting.

DigitalSENSE Business News gathered that the conference which is the third will dwell on the character set specifications of the set-top boxes in order for it to properly decode programme and station names in each country’s local languages.

It was further discovered by DigitalSENSE Business News at a recent meeting of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) with stakeholders in Lagos, that the set top boxes would help to receive signals from the television stations, whereas network roll-out for broadcast organisations are still being deliberated upon.

Other issues yet to be tackled includes the specifications, manufacturing, distribution, retail, price  and installation of the set-top boxes as Nigeria approaches the January 15, 2015 date approved by government, giving five months to June 17, 2015 ITU deadline.

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Commonwealth University honours Bayero Agabi

DigitalSENSE Business News:
Correspondent/

Africa’s forerunner in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) broadcast journalism and analyst, Bayero Agabi of AIT Infotech Network fame, has been honoured by the Commonwealth University London, with honorary conferment of doctorate degree.

Confirming this to DigitalSENSE Business News, Wednesday night, the production officer, Francisca Nnanna, quoted the Chancellor, Commonwealth University Belize-London, Prof. Michael Addison, in a public statement sighted by our correspondent, who described Bayero Agabi as an individual who has contributed to the development of information and communication technology growth in Africa.

According to Addison, the honorary doctorate degree award of the Commonwealth University is a unique accolade that is especially reserved for personalities who have distinguished themselves in the society through selfless service and other outstanding contributions through which the lives of many have been touched positively.

Bayero Agabi who holds a master’s degree in public administration is currently the president of the prestigious Alumni Association of the Pan Atlantic University. Known as Nigeria’s leading ICT broadcast journalist, he remains the only African journalist to have won the prestigious UNECA/AISI (United Nations Economic Commission for Africa/Africa Information Society Media Awards) twice for best African ICT reporting, research and local content. Bayero Agabi pioneered ICT on television with a programme known as AIT Infotech Network in Nigeria now Africa’s leading and most popular ICT programme on television over a decade ago.

So far, he has won over 30 awards both locally and internationally for his efforts at promoting ICT development on the continent.

Some of his awards include Excellence Award from Association of Telecoms Operator of Nigeria, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) as Best ICT reporter for three years consecutively both on Radio and Television, Excellence Award from International Federation for Excellence, Excellence Award from Economic Students Association, UNIBEN and in December 2009 Bayero Agabi won the industry’s highest award for ICT reporting as the best ICT Reporter of the Year organized by the NCS; the largest computer association in Africa.

Bayero has also undergone several trainings in broadcast journalism, television presentation, computer professional certification, and telecoms marketing with relevant organizations such as Lagos Business School, Nigeria Television College and BBC/AIT training courses. Bayero also holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration. (MPA). He is a proud member of IDPM Institute of Data Processing of Nigeria and the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations NIPR chattered. Member, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). Bayero Agabi journalism career has spanned over a decade starting as a film editor with Channels Television in 1993.

Responding to the honour, Bayero said he was overwhelmed that such could come to him from a global institution, stressing that he is encouraged to do more especially now that the world has become a global village.

“It means you cannot hide from the world, so whatever you find yourself doing, you must do it well,” he said.

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*Pic of the presentation.

Oxygen, Chicken Republic partner on Wi-Fi expansion

Anthony Nwakaegho/DigitalSENSE Business News

 

Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) access at the Chicken Republic, a fast food chain in Nigeria has received a boost through the Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) access partnership agreement it entered with Oxygen Broadband Networks, an indigenous internet service provider.

 

A press statement sighted by DigitalSENSE Business News, customers at the Nine locations of Chicken Republic in Lagos are already enjoying the Wi-Fi access provided by the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Oxygen Broadband Networks, Mr. Wande Adalemo, said that the partnership with Chicken Republic is to make the consumers to savour the benefits of broadband access on-the-go.

 

Adalemo also disclosed that Oxygen Wi-Fi access is superfast speed, very affordable prices, bringing the total to 30 network coverage areas in Nigeria, including home in residential estates.

DigitalSENSE Business News noted that Oxygen Wi-Fi debut on March 1, 2013 in Lagos in 10 hotspots that makes it an ideal place for users of internet to visit.

 

“A central network operation centre is in place to enable a 24/7 monitoring of the network and to guarantee fast reaction times in case of faults by the local Network Operation Centre (NOC) personnel. With the Oxygen network, you signup once and you have access to our Internet hotspots across the city, giving you the freedom to work or play on the go,” he said.

Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) access at the Chicken Republic, a fast food chain in Nigeria has received a boost through the Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) access partnership agreement it entered with Oxygen Broadband Networks, an indigenous internet service provider.

 

A press statement sighted by DigitalSENSE Business News, customers at the Nine locations of Chicken Republic in Lagos are already enjoying the Wi-Fi access provided by the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Oxygen Broadband Networks, Mr. Wande Adalemo, said that the partnership with Chicken Republic is to make the consumers to savour the benefits of broadband access on-the-go.

 

Adalemo also disclosed that Oxygen Wi-Fi access is superfast speed, very affordable prices, bringing the total to 30 network coverage areas in Nigeria, including home in residential estates.

 

DigitalSENSE Business News noted that Oxygen Wi-Fi debut on March 1, 2013 in Lagos in 10 hotspots that makes it an ideal place for users of internet to visit.

 

“A central network operation centre is in place to enable a 24/7 monitoring of the network and to guarantee fast reaction times in case of faults by the local Network Operation Centre (NOC) personnel. With the Oxygen network, you signup once and you have access to our Internet hotspots across the city, giving you the freedom to work or play on the go,” he said.

 DigitalSENSE Business News

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pix: Minister,Communication Technology,Mrs Omobola Johnson