ICT on Nigeria’s front burner

Nigeria's communication technology minster, Omobola Johnson, says the nation's draft ICT policy is a document that will facilitate the transformation of the economy from its present state to a knowledge-based one.

Omobola who spoke in Lagos at the fourth edition of the DigitalSENSE Africa Forum, said the policy, if implemented, would also put ICT at the front burner and drive engagement with government and increase productivity through better access, organisation and knowledge information dissemination.

Said the minister: “This [Draft ICT] Policy is in line with transforming our country into a knowledge-based economy in which ICTs are key drivers of the way we deliver social services, educate our children, deliver healthcare, and ensure public safety.

ICTs will also drive how we engage with government and increase our productivity through better access, organisation and dissemination of information and knowledge.”

“The Policy is a statement of intent and our next steps involve turning intent into action via the development of detailed implementation/action plans.

Commenting on the theme of the forum, which is: ‘Internet Governance and Mobile Economy in Nigeria’, Johnson said it was of particular importance as the nation seeks to develop and implement a shared vision for the ICT sector, as well as increase its contributions towards the development of the country. Speaking on internet governance, she noted that it deals with the digital world, arguing that the mobile economy is still far from accessibility in the country.

She commended the organisers of the forum, stressing that is a recognised platform for the discussion of ICT issues with particular reference to Internet Governance and an important channel for the emergence of recommendations towards implementation/action plans for the future development of the Internet and mobile economy in Nigeria.

(Excerpts from BizTechAfrica)
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Mobile economy not yet accessible to the majority of Nigerians, -Johnson

Minister of Communications Technology, Omobola Johnson has decried the non-accessibility of the mobile economy to the majority of Nigerians.

Speaking at this year’s DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA) forum on internet governance for development held in Lagos at the weekend, the minister who was represented by Engr. Festus Daudu, acting director, Spectrum Management in the ministry said while internet governance deals with the digital world, it remains unfortunate that the mobile economy is not yet accessible to the majority of our population.

The minister, stressing that the successful governance of the Internet requires the coming together of stakeholders noted that while the world summit on the information society’s defi nes internet governance as the development of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programmes that go on to shape the evolution and use of the Internet, it is always very challenging to come up with shared positions. “We all know how challenging it is to come up with shared positions etc. when each stakeholder group comes with its own priorities and has roles that can at times confl ict with one another.” Johnson observed.

She described the theme of the forum; Internet Governance and Mobile Economy in Nigeria as having great importance “as we all seek to develop and implement a shared vision for the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector in Nigeria, as well as increase its contribution towards the development of the country.”

Notably, she described the DigitalSENSE Africa forum as a recognised platform for the discussion of ICT issues with particular reference to Internet Governance and an important channel for the emergence of recommendations towards implementation/ action plans for the future development of the Internet and mobile economy in Nigeria.

In a related development, presiding over the public forum at which the harmonized draft national ICT policy was discussed by cross section of stakeholders, Johnson said the draft policy is in line with transforming Nigeria into a knowledge based economy in which ICTs are key drivers of the way we deliver social services - educate our children, deliver healthcare, and ensure public safety. 

She further submitted that ICTs will also drive how we engage with government and increase our productivity through better access, organisation and dissemination of information and knowledge.

 (Excerpts from NationalMirror)

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House Committee Promises Early Passage Of Cyber Security Bill

The House of Representatives Committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on Thursday said it would work towards the early passage of Cyber Security Bill before it.

Rep. Ibrahim Gusau, the Committee Chairman, said this in Lagos at the 2012 Nigeria Digital Sense Forum with the theme “Internet Governance and Mobile Economy in Nigeria”.

Gusau said that the passage of the bill was necessary in view of the cash-less policy recently introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

''As at today, there is no law protecting electronic transactions in Nigeria. 'We are working hard on the cyber security bill and before the end of our tenure, the bill will scale through,'' he said.

Mr Lanre Ajayi, the Managing Director of PiNET Informatics, said that the bill had been with the house for a long time.

“It gladdens the heart to know that the committee had taken the bill into consideration and we are working toward its passage,” he said.

Ajayi said that without passage of the bill, there would be poor e-commerce experience in Nigeria.

He said that lack of cyber security law would make citizens of other countries fear engaging Nigerians on online businesses. (NAN)

(Excerpts from Leadership)


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‘All is set for DigitalSENSE forum on IG4D’

 The organizers of the annual Nigeria DigitalSENSE Africa has declared that all is now set for the fourth edition of the Nigeria DigitalSENSE forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D).

The Executive Director, Operations at DigitalSENSE Africa, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke gave this assurance in Lagos at the weekend, asserting that “we are set for this year’s Nigeria DigitalSENSE forum on Internet Governance for Development.”

She also said that this year’s edition scheduled to hold at the Golden Gate Paradise, March 8-9 in Lagos, would be presided over by Internet guru and immediate president of the Nigeria internet Group (NIG) Mr. Lanre Ajayi.

Mrs. Nweke noted that currently Mr. Ajayi is serving as a council member of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)’s Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO).

She further pointed out that apart the fact that the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah, Director of Information Security and New Media at NCC, Dr. Sylvanus Ehikioya, president of Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Mrs. Mary Uduma, Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, youthful Social activist, Japheth Omojuwa and chief executive of Nigeria internet Exchange, Mr. Muhammed Rudman.

Additionally, the vice president of Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), Mr. Sunday Folayan, she said, would preside over the interactive session, as well as presidents of all the industry-groups within the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector including the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), mother of Internet evolution in the country, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote among others.

Mrs. Nweke said that the Country manager of the Software giant, Microsoft Nigeria, Mr. Emmanuel Onyeje has confirmed as one of the key speakers at the 2012 edition of the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA) forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D), due to hold this Thursday and Friday in Lagos.

This is coming as the Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), Mr. Gbenga Sesan, has also affirmed his participation as he gears up to take participants on the subtheme: ‘Youth Advantage of Mobile Economy in Nigeria.”

Onyeje, she said, would lead a team of experts from Microsoft to discuss mobility solutions and is expected to make a presentation with detailed highlights on some mobile service offers on Microsoft platform.

She said that Nigeria DigitalSENSE forum on Internet Governance for Development is a veritable platform for Nigerians to know more about mobile offering from Microsoft, especially for mobile money services.

(Excerpts from ITRealmsOnline)

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Draft ICT policy: DSA boss applauds CommTech, seeks extension of deadline

The Executive Director, Operations at the DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA), Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke has commended the Minister of Communications Technology (CommTech) for living up to her promise to seek stakeholders comments on the draft national policy on the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

Speaking at the weekend, she said that this approach is the first of its kind by the Ministry since its creation and should be commended, urging the Minister to extend the comment period by one week due to the period lost to the fuel subsidy removal protest in the country.

As said by her, already several stakeholders’ organizations are warming up to ensure inputs from their various end to ensure their comments are included, but with the extension of the deadline, would really boost the quality of inputs.

“Fulfilling this promise by the minister means there is hope for the sector and Nigerians generally,” she said.

Mrs. Nweke also urged stakeholders to concentrate on topics capable of moving the ICT sector forward rather than individualism, noting that every input made at this time would aid the ministry led by Mrs. Johnson to reposition, especially as the stakeholders work towards actualizing the converged ICT regulation for the sector at large.

She also said that with the calling off the strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday, that lots of issues are waiting professionals in the industry, whose holidays period have been extended immediately after the Christmas and New Year with the strike declared by Labour in response to the Federal Government’s hike of pump prices from N65 to N140.

The DSA boss explained that with the suspension of strike, stakeholders definitely would need an extended little time to contribute meaningfully to the draft national ICT policy, which current deadline is next week Monday.

She noted that CommTech Minister may be working on schedule, but maintained on the need to at least extend the comment period by one week, especially given that people’s access to the document could be limited during the strike that last for one week.

She recalled that Ministry of Communications Technology, has last week Monday unveiled the draft National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) policy document on its website for comments by stakeholders in the country.

The draft policy was uploaded Monday morning in fulfillment of pledge by CommTech Minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson on the Ministry’s website at http://commtech.gov.ng and the Ministry’s Blog at http://blog.commtech.gov.ng. 

Noteworthy is that the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister, Mrs. Efem Nkanga had said that the 55-page policy document is the harmonization of the disparate policies governing the ICT industry.

(Excerpts from ITRealmsOnline)

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DSA forum on IG4D gets March date

The 2012 edition of the Nigerian DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA) Forum series on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) has been slated to hold in March between 8 and 9 at its usual venue, Golden Gate Paradise, Ikoyi-Lagos.

The Executive Director, Operations at DigitalSENSE Africa, the organizers of the forum, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke said that the March date was taken after adequate consideration on other industry events billed for this year.

She also said at the weekend that already, stakeholders have started taking space of participation in the two-day forum, which prepares Nigerians and stakeholders alike on the importance of participating on the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

According to her, the previous three years have seen the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum series recording resounding success each year and serving as a roundtable for discussion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) issues with particular reference to Internet Governance (IG).

She said that this year’s forum theme would be on ‘Internet Governance and Mobile Economy in Nigeria.’ 

Highlighting the importance of the theme, Mrs. Nweke said that with the licensing of some companies by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to operate mobile money, it has become crucial to explore this in line with laws of the land and relevant regulations in comparison with the global best practices.

She further said that the fact that these licensees tend to drive their services to Nigerians based on mobile networks already existing makes it imperative to create more awareness on the subject and how it would affect Nigerians and Internet community in the country.

Mrs. Nweke confirmed that the two-day event would hold at the prestigious Golden Gate Paradise, Ikoyi-Lagos with several speakers already filing in for the event both offshore and within the country.\

She, therefore, enjoined notable Internet Service Providers (ISP), Value Added Service (VAS) providers, network vendors, telecom operators and mobile money operatives and consumer groups to take active part in the forum.

(Excerpts from ITRealmsOnline)

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Ajayi to preside over NDSF forum on Internet governance

The recently elected council member of the Generic Name Supporting Organisation (GNSO) at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), Mr. Lanre Ajayi is to preside over the 2012 edition of the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Africa forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) slated to hold in Lagos, next month.  

The Executive Director, Operations at the DigitalSENSE Africa, the organizers of the annual internet stakeholders meet, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke said that its gladdening to note that Mr. Lanre Ajayi would be  chairing this year’s event, scheduled to hold at the Golden Gate Paradise, Ikoyi-Lagos between March, Thursday 8 and Friday 9, 2012, with the theme: Internet Governance and Mobile Economy in Nigeria.

According to her, Mr. Ajayi who was the immediate past president of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) has proved his love for Internet penetration and positive adaptation in the country since inception of NIG and particularly the forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) being organized by DSA.

She said that Mr. Ajayi in his capacity as the chairman of the 2012 NDSA forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D), would be sharing some insights based on his experiences as an active player in the development of Internet and its penetration in the country.

Additionally, Mrs. Nweke pointed out that the former vice president of Internet Service Providers Association (ISPAN), would further elucidate discussions on what should be expected of his current office as a council member of the Generic Name Supporting Organisation (GNSO) at ICANN.

As said by her, Mr. Ajayi has over time proven he is an encyclopedia of Internet evolution in the country, of which most Nigerians and the Internet community in the country have lot to learn from, especially the youths.

She, therefore urged Nigerians to keep a date with this Internet guru as the nation charts a new course for the Nigeria’s internet development in line with the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) objectives, which this year, she noted will be in Azerbaijan, South Caucasus in September 2012.

She emphasised that the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Africa forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) remains the only annual event which acts as a rallying point for Nigerian internet stakeholders in raising and addressing salient issues concerning the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector with particular reference to the Internet Governance-related issues and development in Nigeria.

The forum, she said, offers stakeholders the needed platform to take a stand and speak out on Internet Governance and accurately align Nigeria’s position into the global Internet Governance Forum and enjoined players in the mobile sector of the economy to take advantage of this year’s theme.

Further, Mrs. Nweke recalled that Mr. Ajayi, has been a director at ISPAN and holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Lagos.

In his acceptance to preside over the 2012 edition of the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Africa forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D).

Ajayi, she said, had worked for the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NiTEL) for 11 years before delving into private practice by the establishment of PiNet Informatics, reputed as one of the nation’s first Internet Service Providers (ISP).

A co-founder of the Nigeria Internet Group, a non-profit organization committed to the promotion of the Internet in the country, Mr. Ajayi has served as the Vice president of ISPAN and vice chairman of African ISP Association (AfrISPA).

Equally, he has served on the council of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), while presiding over the Research and Statistics committee, even as he was ISPAN committee chairman on the implementation of the Nigeria Internet Exchange Point (IXPN) as well as chairman of the Technical Committee on the Nigeria’s Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) name, .ng, to name a few.

(Excerpts from ITRealmsOnline)

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ATCON endorses DigitalSENSE forum on Internet Governance

The umbrella organization of telecommunications firms in the country, the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has once again drummed support for the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA) forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) for 2012 with its endorsement.

This was affirmed by the Executive Secretary, ATCON, Mr. Ajibola Olude at the weekend.

Olude in a letter dated February 2, 2012 stated that he was pleased to convey the approval of the National Executive Council (NEC).

He also outlined some of the support to be given by ATCON to include that DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA) has the backing of ATCON on all documents and publications for the conference.

Olude promised that the Nigeria DigitalSENSE forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) for 2012 would be broadcast among ATCON members.

While assuring the organizers that the ATCON president, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu, has advanced plans to give a goodwill message at the event, he noted that the association would send its mementos to the event as show of its endorsement.

Reacting to the endorsement, the Executive Director, Operations at DigitalSENSE Africa, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke applauded the leadership of ATCON for its prompt endorsement of the event within a short-time of its proclamation and advised other stakeholders to join forced with DSA as the issue of positive use of the Internet, especially for the sake of Nigerian youth, whom she said are the ones to make or mar cashless economy.

For her, the Nigerian youths could make the cashless economy recently introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or mar the system, mostly when they refused to be guided properly.

She recalled that youthful online entrepreneur, Mr. Japheth Omojuwa, has advanced plans to speak at the 2012 edition of the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Africa forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D).

She also disclosed that Omojuwa, a public analyst of economic issues on television, radio and new media, would be discussing Internet and Social Media as a tool for development, at this year’s annual DSA forum on Internet Governance for Development, to be held in Lagos, between March 8 and 9, 2012 at Golden Gate, Ikoyi-Lagos.

... Making sense out of digital revolution!

Omojuwa tackles social media4D @ NDS forum

Japheth Omojuwa, social media analyst

Nigerian youthful online entrepreneur, Mr. Japheth Omojuwa, is gearing up for the 2012 edition of the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Africa forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D).

The Executive Director, Operations at the DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA), Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, made this disclosure in Lagos, at the weekend.

She also disclosed that Omojuwa, a public analyst of economic issues on television, radio and new media, would be discussing Internet and Social Media as a tool for development, at this year’s annual DSA forum on Internet Governance for Development, to be held in Lagos, between March 8 and 9, 2012 at Golden Gate, Ikoyi-Lagos.

She noted that with many awards to his name, Omojuwa who is currently adjudged the best Nigerian political blogger; an award won in a poll involving Nigerian bloggers from across the world, would take the youths on the strategies towards taking advantage of social media.

In addition, Omojuwa, she said, was nominated Nigeria’s twitter user of the year while being named the best political user of twitter in Nigeria recently.

Equally, DSA boss noted that Omojuwa has become one of the strongest voices against the unsustainable cost of governance and Nigeria’s increasingly inefficient and ineffective big government.

A director with the United States-based Prometheus Institute, she said Omojuwa is passionate about good governance and socio-economic issues in Africa.

Omojuwa, who is the editor of africanliberty.org, equally blogs at www.omojuwa.com and tweet’s handle @omojuwa, said that these two social media tools have helped to prepare the grounds for the Nigerian Occupy Movement among other revolutionary initiatives.

Some of these strategies, he said, should be unveiled in his presentation at the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum 2012.

ITRealms Online recalls that the 2012 edition of the Nigerian DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA) Forum series on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) has been slated to hold in March between 8 and 9 at its usual venue, Golden Gate Paradise, Ikoyi-Lagos, according to Mrs. Nweke, who said that the March date was taken after adequate consideration on other industry events billed for this year.

She also said that already, stakeholders have started taking space for participation in the two-day forum, which includes conference and exhibition of internet-related products and services, which promotes development.

Additionally, she noted that the forum prepares Nigerians and stakeholders alike on the importance of participating on the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

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DSA forum on IG4D gets March date

Nkemdilim Nweke, Executive Director, DigitalSENSE Africa

The 2012 edition of the Nigerian DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA) Forum series on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) has been slated to hold in March between 8 and 9 at its usual venue, Golden Gate Paradise, Ikoyi-Lagos.

The Executive Director, Operations at DigitalSENSE Africa, the organizers of the forum, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke said that the March date was taken after adequate consideration on other industry events billed for this year.

She also said at the weekend that already, stakeholders have started taking space of participation in the two-day forum, which prepares Nigerians and stakeholders alike on the importance of participating on the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

According to her, the previous three years have seen the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum series recording resounding success each year and serving as a roundtable for discussion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) issues with particular reference to Internet Governance (IG).

She said that this year’s forum theme would be on ‘Internet Governance and Mobile Economy in Nigeria.’

Highlighting the importance of the theme, Mrs. Nweke said that with the licensing of some companies by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to operate mobile money, it has become crucial to explore this in line with laws of the land and relevant regulations in comparison with the global best practices.

She further said that the fact that these licensees tend to drive their services to Nigerians based on mobile networks already existing makes it imperative to create more awareness on the subject and how it would affect Nigerians and Internet community in the country.

Mrs. Nweke confirmed that the two-day event would hold at the prestigious Golden Gate Paradise, Ikoyi-Lagos with several speakers already filing in for the event both offshore and within the country.

She, therefore, enjoined notable Internet Service Providers (ISP), Value Added Service (VAS) providers, network vendors, telecom operators and mobile money operatives and consumer groups to take active part in the forum.

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Ekuwem to preside @ Nigeria Internet Governance forum

The former president of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) and the Executive Vice Chairman, Teledom Group International, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem would preside over the 2011 edition of the Nigeria Digital Sense Forum taking place between Thursday 24 and Friday 25 March, 2011 at the Golden Gate Paradise, Ikoyi-Lagos, on ‘Internet Governance and Broadband Evolution in Nigeria’.

The Nigeria Digital Sense forum is an annual assembly of the Nigerian Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) with particular reference to the Internet community, offering them a platform to deliberate on how the Internet is governed and its developmental impact to the country as well as contributing to the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

The annual forum is organized in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and endorsed by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), ICANN, Nigeria Internet Exchange Point Ltd, Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Joint Action Committee on ICT Awareness and Development (JACITAD) to name a few.

Disclosing the acceptance of Dr. Ekuwem who was until recently the National President of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), the Executive Director, DSA, the organizers of the forum, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, said it was an exciting piece of news.

She noted that Ekuwem who is reputed for his doggedness during the nation’s country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) controversy would be chairing the Nigeria Digital Sense forum on Internet Governance.

Ekuwem, she said, would use the platform to share critical information from his experiences in moving the ICT industry forward and specifically the .ng domains.

Mrs. Nweke also said that the two-day event has been strategically structured to boost participation of individuals and corporate, especially those offering Internet services that are looking for a meeting point with the ever increasing Internet savvy population in the country.

DigitalSense forum, she said, has become an innovative platform of taking internet offerings and services nearer to the populace.

This, she said, is crucial now that most mobile subscribers have internet embedded on their phones for easy and fast communication.

Promising that the 2011 edition would surpass the previous years, she promised of frequent updates in the coming days as DSA plans to hold the event in both plenary and working-group sessions.

In his reacting on his choice as the chairman of the Nigeria Digital Sense Forum, Ekuwem noted that he has accepted the position due to the importance of the subject, which theme would be on ‘Internet Governance and Broadband Evolution in Nigeria’.

According to him, the passion he has for the Internet development has been of tremendous strength to move ahead and with the broadband evolution expected with the landing of two privately-owned submarine cables, a lot is expected in the market in Nigeria.

He commended the organizers, DSA to keep up the good work in pushing Internet awareness in the country, just as he assured that Teledom Group International and its subsidiaries have sufficient reasons to associate themselves with the Nigeria Digital Sense Forum, especially as a technology company.

It would be recalled that last year, DSA was well represented at the West Africa Internet Governance Forum in Senegal, with its Communiqué forming most position of Nigeria at the event, while the global Internet Governance Forum holding in Vilnius, Lithuania between September 14 and 17, 2010.

The chief executive, Teledom Group, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, has won several professional and international prizes including NTA Man of the Year 2010, Albert Einstein’s Centenary award of excellence by the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife.
Additionally, Dr. Ekuwem, has won the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) in 2003 amidst other awards.

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DSA plans 2-day forum on Internet & broadband evolution

Plans have been advanced for the hosting of the 2011 edition of the Nigeria Digital Sense Forum, which would hold in Lagos between March 24 and 25, with center of attention being on internet development in the country, according to the Executive Director, Digital Sense Africa, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke.

She also said that in the last two years, the Nigeria Digital Sense Forum, has been uniquely successful in creating a roundtable for the discussion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) with particular reference to Internet Governance.

This year, she said, that the forum’s theme would dwell on ‘Internet Governance and Broadband Evolution in Nigeria.’

She explained that the essence is to bring to the forefront the knitty gritty of Internet Governance likely impact on the burgeoning broadband evolution which reportedly berthed in the country with the successful landing of two submarine cables; namely the Glo 1 and MainOne cable respectively.

Mrs. Nweke confirmed that the two-day event would hold at the prestigious Golden
Gate Paradise, Ikoyi-Lagos with several speakers lined up for the event from within the shores of Nigeria and internationally.

She noted that apart from re-examining the previous dual editions, those issues of concern, especially on the preparation of Nigeria to host the West African Internet Governance (WAIG) forum is top on the agenda.

Pointing out that notable Internet Service Providers (ISP), Value Added Service (VAS) providers, network vendors and consumer groups are expected at the forum.

“Most companies would use the platform to showcase their brand offering and services,” he said.

“Exhibiting ISPs, she said, would be handy to explain to Nigerians at the event how their products would facilitate penetration and improved competition for the benefit of ordinary internet users in the country.

She further urged members of the Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) who have commenced mobile internet services to take full advantage of the forum and expo to expose their various products to participants.

DSA boss equally said, the forum and expo would attract co-location companies, thereby availing subscribers and potential cyber café operators an avenue to interact and discussion subjects that could move the country forward, especially on Internet governance in line with the global internet forum otherwise refer to as IGF.

She further said that the forum would enable Nigerian internet community to articulate their views so as to ensure that Nigeria voice is coherent during WAIGF slated to hold mid-2011.

This important outcome, she said, was reaffirmed by paragraphs 37 and 38 of the Tunis 2005 Commitment, which states in part, “… goals can be accomplished through the involvement, cooperation and partnership of governments and other stakeholders, that is, the private sector, civil society and international organizations, and that international cooperation and solidarity at all levels are indispensable if the fruits of the Information Society are to benefit all.”

In addition, the paragraph 38, she pointed as stating that aforementioned efforts “should not stop with the conclusion of the Summit … emergence of the global Information Society to which we all contribute provides increasing opportunities for all our peoples and for an inclusive global community … we must harness these opportunities today and support their further development and progress.”

The Tunis Summit of 2005 paved the way for the IGF mandate of which paragraph 72 of the Tunis agenda, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General was charged to convene a meeting with regards to the new multi-stakeholder forum, known as the IGF.
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Nigeria Digital Sense Forum 2010 – Communiqué

Nigeria Digital Sense Forum 2010 – Communiqué
Friday, April 16, 2010
Golden Gate Paradise, Ikoyi-Lagos, Nigeria

Theme: “Internet Governance Forum: The Way Forward for Nigeria”

We, the participants at a one-day Nigeria Digital Sense forum held at the Golden Gate Ikoyi-Lagos on “Five Years of Internet Governance Forum: The Way Forward for Nigeria” on Friday, April 16, 2010, organized by Digital Sense Africa (DSA), an initiative of Remnek Kommunications Ventures in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

We reiterated the need to coordinate the position of the Nigerian Internet community through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) in recognition of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) push for the involvement of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for development.

Participants received the report of the Presidential Inter-Ministerial Committee on WSIS outcome in review of the nation’s efforts since 2005.

We recognized the effective participation of governments and all stakeholders in developing an Information-based society requiring cooperation and partnership among all of them.

The Internet was also recognized as the centre of modern business in the country and the sub-region and African continent as a whole, anchored on the belief that the future lies on the Internet.

Besides, the forum commended the present collaborative efforts between the government and the private sector being champion by Digital Sense Africa, in empowering the Nigerian populace on the values embedded on the Internet, more so in alerting the Nigeria government and officials on the need to have a common front prior to the engagement of the world at the fifth annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) scheduled to hold in Vilnius, Lithuania on September 14-17, 2010.

The 2010 edition of the Nigeria Digital Sense forum acknowledged security as a major issue of concern for the Nigerian Internet community, but noted that while its being discussed at all levels, stakeholders should not despair, as the platform offered the Nigerian Internet community the opportunity once again to assemble and deliberate on how to take advantage of the available Internet Access, its Openness to address issues on Security, Diversity and its Governance.

Apart from reaffirming support on the release of ‘Affirmation of Commitment’ to the global internet community via the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), by the US government through its Department of Commerce (DoC); the forum welcomed the recent court judgment over the controversial 2.3GHz spectrum in Nigeria, saying its reassuring on independence of NCC and the need to move forward through this spectrum allocation intended to boost ICT in the country.

And in living up to the call by the West African Internet Governance Forum (WAIGF) at Accra in 2009 as part of efforts at advancing Internet Governance related issues more seriously among stakeholders. The forum identified as follows:

1. That members of the Nigeria Internet community must be encouraged to participate at the fifth Internet Governance Forum, either individually, group or remotely.

2. Make it abundantly known to the global Internet community that Nigeria and Nigerians are very interested in the fight against cyber-related crimes purportedly emanating from Nigeria-based Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.

3. Urged international internet community to help Nigeria by making sure that only those engaging in fraudulent practices should have their Internet Protocol addresses barred from Internet transactions.

4. There are several online startups that Nigerians and the youths precisely can involve themselves without being fraudulent.

5. Internet access should be seen as fundamental to human development and capacity building of Nigerians.

6. Parental care was identified as crucial if the fight against ‘yahoo, yahoo boys’ is to be won, by way of their setting up guidelines on either mobile phones or computers of their wards. In fact, they should show interest in what their wards are doing online.

7. While both the government of Nigeria and Internet community in the country should continue on the enlightenment of the citizenry, participants called for regular organisation of such a laudable forum.

8. Both individual and corporate organisations were charged to localize their online presence by patronizing the nation’s Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD), .ng, being managed by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA).

9. .ng was recognized as a goldmine only if Nigeria Internet community can take it up and fly it on the Internet, so as for it to develop alongside other similar ccTLDs o the continent, of course not without challenges like the lack of adequate public power supply, among others.

10. The importance of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) was also stressed and the danger of being left behind, even as the forum lamented that about 10 per cent of IPv4 is still unused on the continent and called for the set up of Nigeria Internet Registry to harmonize what is available and monitor the improvement and implementation of IPv6 as the new Internet.

11. The Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and telecom operators were encouraged to ensure that their equipments comply with IPv6 specifications to boost deployment of the IP in the country.

12. The urgency for members of the ISP Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), to connect with the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) was stressed, in order to keep local Internet local and save foreign exchange for the country.

Stakeholders were charged to:

(a) See to the participation of more Nigerians as Internet continues to be readily available for the populace, especially on mobile.

(b) The National Assembly was urged to speed up actions on the Cyber crime bill, but first of all ensuring harmonization of various bills relating to the same subject to hasten the acceptance of electronic evidence in the country and court trials.

(c) Reiterating the partnership of the forum through collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, mostly at the Federal level, including the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Galaxy Backbone (GBB) Plc, and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) among other public private partnerships.

The Nigeria Digital Sense forum 2010 was proudly supported by MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, Omatek Plc, Teledom Group, HiiT, New Horizons Ltd, NIXP, iWayAfrica Nigeria, Telecom Answers Associates (TAA), Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, StartUps and endorsed by NiRA, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) among others.

Digital Sense Africa (DSA), April 16, 2010, was presided over by the President, Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), Chief Sam Adeleke. The forum was attended by over 500 participants, cutting across decision makers, regulators, govt reps, NGOs, technocrats, ISPs, major GSM/mobile operators, online entrepreneurs, students, market women/men and religious organisation and community based organisation.

For further information please contact:

Executive Director, DSA, Nkemdilim Nweke (Mrs), 234-8023725607;
www.digitalsenseafrica.blogspot.com, www.digitalsenseafrica.com.ng, www.igf.org.ng
Inquiries: remnekkv@gmail.com, info@digitalsenseafrica.com.ng

... Making sense out of digital revolution!

Nigeria needs Internet Registry – Rudman

Managing Director, Internet eXchange Point Nigeria Limited (IXNP), Mr. Muhammed Rudman, has advocated for the establishment of a National Internet Registry (NIR) to oversee the management of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses in the country.

Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to devices participating in a computer network that use the Internet to communicate with each other. Also referred to as ‘IP number’ or just ‘IP,’ this code usually consists of numbers separated by three dots that identifies a particular computer on the Internet. IP started with IP version 4 (IPv4) with 32 bit address worth 4.3 billion hosts and now there is version 6, (IPv6).

He also said that registry when established should be tasked first and foremost to develop a National IPv6 Roadmap to strategize the IPv6 transition, nationwide.

Speaking on ‘IPv6 and Challenges in Nigeria’ at the recently held one-day forum organized by Digital Sense Africa (DSA) with the support of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Lagos, in preparation of the country for the global Internet Governance Forum 2010 scheduled to hold in Lithuania, in September this year, Mr. Rudman also said there is need to set up an IPv6 awareness and capacity building through seminars and trainings and incorporate IPv6 into the university curriculum.

The Federal Government through the regulator, NCC, should as matter of urgency provide some incentives to Internet industry to encourage them to adopt IPv6-based Infrastructure.

“These incentives can include reduction in regulatory fee and tax rebates,” he declared, noting that currently, Nigeria has about 300 lnternet Service Providers (ISPs), but only an estimated 20 per cent, which is 60 of the licensees are operational.

Noting there are only two ISPs in the country with IPv6, namely, 2001:4270:: 32 was allocated to Netcom Africa on June 15, 2006 and 2001:43b0: 32 was allocated to Cyberspace on March 10, 2009.

He also advised that upstream Internet connectivity providers should be asked to enable IPv6 readiness in their networks.

Mr. Rudman told participants at the forum presided over by the chairman, Internet Service Providers Associations of Nigeria (ISPAN), Chief Samuel Adeleke that the world cannot wait for Nigeria to migrate, therefore the nation needs every step forward to ensure any leap makes a milestone.

Pointing out that when the internet began it was in a university and they have no problems giving out IP addresses and over time, the initial IP addresses available was the IPv4 with about 4bn, which is now depleting.

Globally, he said, IPv4 remains 10 per cent, hence the introduction of version 6 became crucial, noting though that in Africa her quota is still remaining about 60 per cent at the African Network Information Center (AfriNIC) based in Kenya and 40 per cent has been distributed, while Tunisia has 2 per cent, Morocco 4 per cent, Algeria 5 per cent, Egypt 16 per cent, South Africa 59 per cent with others including Nigeria having 14 per cent.

“Most of the Internet security we have been talking about has to do with IP addresses. And because of billions of new users in China and India and new devices like mobile phones, Personal Data Assistant (PDA), cars, with IP addresses so that you can browse, IPv6 was introduced,” he said, citing an instance within an Indian refinery that runs on IP addresses using 51,000 devices and each one must have an IP addresses.

On the IPv6 challenges in Nigeria, Rudman said ISPs need business cases, but presently lack technical knowhow, core equipment compatibility issues, maintaining that lack of IPv6 upstream service providers and non request of IPv6 from end users have contributed to slow in adaptation of IPv6 in the country.

“All new IT equipment supplied to government should be IPv6 compliant and government to set target date for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to have IPv6 compliant networks.

IPv6, he said, is scalability and has security, real time application, auto-configuration, mobility, addressing and routing, as well as extensibility, just as he assured that the transition and co-existence techniques showed that IPv6 has been designed for ease application with dual stack, which allows for simultaneous support for both IPv4 and IPv6 stacks, while the tunnels for IPv6 packet have been encapsulated in IPv4 models in addition to dual mechanism for translation.

According to him, based on the Darwinian imperative, it is either one modernizes, reorganize or die if not ready to adhere to IPv6.


... Making sense out of digital revolution!

ICANN releases interim report on regional review

THE Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) ahead of the international meeting in Brussels, Belgium this month, has released the draft of the community-wide Geographic Regions Review Working Group (WGGR).

Policy analyst at ICANN, Mr. Robert Hoggarth said that the draft document could be found on the Socialtext Wiki page of the working group.

ITRealms Online recalls that the working group was formed by the ICANN board, to study and review the issues related to the definition of the ICANN geographic regions, by way of consulting with community stakeholders to develop and submit proposals to the board so as to resolve any problematic issues relating to the current definition of its geographic regions.

According to him, the first phase of the work tagged “Initial Report” in July of 2009 identified various applications and functions to which “ICANN Geographic Regions” are currently applied by existing ICANN structures via its geographic diversity among volunteer leaders.

He also said that it briefly documented other regional structures used within ICANN but not defined in the Bylaws and documented a number of potential “matters” that working group members from the ALAC, ASO, ccNSO, GAC and GNSO; thought should be covered during the Working Group’s subsequent investigations.

On the second phase, he said that WGGR effort has been to produce an Interim Report that builds on the foundation of the Initial Report and begins to focus on General Principles, Specific Considerations and some of the critical issues (“Matters”) that it will address in its Final Report document. In its present form, the draft document addresses two particular areas: (1) a review of the underlying objectives and general principles of geographic regions; and (2) identification of specific matters to be addressed in the Final Report.

He pointed out that members of WGGR were determined that additional community input would substantially enhance preparation the Interim Report.

So, draft Version 5 of the Interim Report, he said, is still a work-in-progress and is being formally provided to the community solely for discussion purposes and in order that WGGR members would have the option to discuss its contents with their respective communities - as well as the general ICANN community - during the Brussels meeting next month. Previous drafts of the Interim Report have been made regularly available on the Working Documents page of the WGGR wiki site.

“That wiki page is set up to accept community comments and such comments about the Interim Report and the WGGR’s work in general are welcomed and will be shared with and viewed by WGGR members. Of course, a full Public Comment Forum will be opened for community comments on the Interim Report document when it is published,” he explained.


... Making sense out of digital revolution!

Nigerian, 7 others eye AfriNIC board

A Nigerian expert in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, Mr. Obinna Nweje and seven others from various African countries have been nominated into the league of candidates to battle for the board of directors in the African Network Information Center (AfriNIC) is the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for Africa for this year.

The nomination for AfriNIC Board of Directors seats closed on May 14, this year.
Confirming this, the office of the chairperson, AfriNIC Nomination Committee (NomCom) 2010, in a press statement stated they have received a number of nominations for the board election to be held in Kigali on June 5th, 2010.

According to the list made available to ITRealms Online, North Africa region has two candidates namely Nezar Sami, and Khaled Koubaa; while the West Africa region has the highest candidates of six, viz, Mouhamet Diop, Katim S. Touray, Yen Choi, Alioune Badara Traore, Obinna Nweje and Ndeye Maimouna Diop Diagne.

AfriNIC is a non-governmental and not-for-profit membership based organisation, with main role being to serve African region as Regional Internet Registry, by spearheading Internet technology and policy development on the continent.

AfriNIC’s core values are to operate with transparency, professionalism and efficiency; committed to integrity in all that we do, always and everywhere; recognize and value individual contribution and teamwork; cultural and language diversity in our region; technology driven organization that encourages continuous learning and innovation; value collaboration and cooperation with related organizations.

The AfriNIC organizational structure is set to encourage a bottom-up self governance management model where policies and other organisational functions are determined by the community in general and members who elect representatives that seat on the Board of Directors.

The discussions are conducted via both public meetings and e-mail discussion lists, whereas there are no requirements or pre-requisites for any person or entity to participate.

AfriNIC has a general assembly which meets once a year even as Public Policy Meetings are organised twice a year one back-to-back with the General Assembly.


... Making sense out of digital revolution!