CWG achieves 81% PAT growth, Okere expresses confidence

DigitalSENSE Business News:

The Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) plc has formally released its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2013 to the Nigerian Stock Exchange with 81 per cent growth on Profit After Tax (PAT), reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

Also DigitalSENSE Business News gathered that the results show a strong and positive performance across all financial indices in affirmation that the company’s position as the foremost Pan African ICT services provider is unchanged.

Head, Marketing Communication, Ms Success Nmerife affirmed to DigitalSENSE Business News that the company’s revenues grew by 10 per cent to N20.7bn (2012: N18.7bn) while Profit After Tax increased by a whopping 81 per cent to N612m (2012: N339m) showing strong efficiency of operations.

Result of this, the company told DigitalSENSE Business News revealed a return on equity of 13 per cent in 2013, as against 11 per cent in 2012 and Returns on Capital Employed (ROCE) of 13 per cent against 7 per cent in 2012. 

Equally, DigitalSENSE Business News gathered that the company’s asset increased by N2bn to N13.4bn as at 2013 year end, while shareholders’ equity increased by a remarkable 66 per cent to N5.0bn in the same period. Thus, they finished with a strong cash position of over N1.1bn at the year end, with a 38 per cent increase in cash from operation over 2012.

Based on this improved performance, the directors have recommended a 33 per cent increase in dividend to 8k per share (2012; 6k)

The group chief executive officer, Austin Okere said that CWG used 2013 to consolidate her operations by investing in new systems and processes, which culminated in the cost efficiencies which in turn, resulted in the percentage growth in her bottom line. 

“This shall give CWG a cost leadership position whilst delivering superior service to its customers,” he said, pointing out that CWG shall continue to make investments that would make the company a global brand to behold.

The focus in the future would be to continue growing the brand through initiatives directed towards empowering the African entrepreneur. This would be done by making IT available to SME’s on a subscription basis, thereby lowering the entry barriers to the use of information technology. It is alsoa social impact investment 

Okere further noted that CWG, aside from consolidating its base in Uganda and Cameroun, will also make some acquisitions in the near future as part of its Pan African growth strategy. This would have an overall impact on its brand equity.

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Airtel top-up now @ Sweet Sensation outlets

DigitalSENSE Business News:

Airtel Nigeria has partnered with Sweet Sensation, to make electronic airtime recharge available at every outlet of the fast food brand, reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

Branded as ‘Refresh and Recharge’ official told DigitalSENSE Business News at the head office of Sweet Sensation in Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos, that the launch is a unique service.

According to the Lagos Regional Operations Director for Airtel, Mr. Adebayo Osinowo, the telco, conceived the ‘Refresh & Recharge’ package for its teeming customers as an addition to the numerous convenient channels available for access to recharging their lines and purchasing data bundles.

The service, he noted is to give customers of Airtel Nigeria quality service as well as convenience and value, stressing that each time Airtel customers walk into any Sweet Sensation outlet to get their meals, they could also topup their lines with Airtel Easy Recharge, which is a convenient, time-saving and secure way to get airtime without scratching cards.

“With Airtel Easy Recharge, customers, while enjoying  the cool ambience of Sweet Sensation, can buy airtime in flexible denominations like N67, N105, N999 etc., which otherwise may not be possible with physical recharge cards. They can also purchase data bundles directly in these outlets.”

The Managing Director, Sweet Sensation, Mrs. Kehinde Kamson, expressed delight in the partnership saying the relationship would definitely engender value added services for the two companies.

“The strategic alliance between these two leading brands is definitely a drive towards delivery of quality and excellent services to Nigerians as it prioritises the need of customers of both Airtel and Sweet Sensation,” she declared.

Remmy Nweke

... Making SENSE of digital revolution!

G.FAST, a factor in EU broadband penetration

ITRealms:

G.fast, a technology that is yet to be fully realized by the industry is set to emerge as a major solution for service providers looking to meet European Union kind of broadband penetration targets set out as 2020 strategy and digital agenda initiative, reports ITRealms.

The chief executive officer (CEO), Broadband Forum, Mr. Robin Mersh at the G.fast pre-conference focus day ahead of Wednesday’s Fixed Access Networks Summit in Berlin, highlighted that G.fast is a global solution for hard-pressed service providers looking to meet the growing customer demand.

Also, ITRealms report that G.fast will provide from 300 to 800 Megabits Per Second (Mbps) with fast, cost-effective deployment, a breakthrough in self-install capabilities due to a unique reverse-power feature, and even the option to use the technology for mobile backhaul.

“Those who think G.fast is just another DSL technology are way off the mark – G.fast is coming fast and it’s going to make an enormous difference for service providers and their customers,” he said, stressing that G.fast is a giant step away from Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), borrowing the best from ADSL and VDSL to create a new generation of technology that is lower in power, more efficient, faster and easier to install.”

Smaller equipment and self-install capabilities give operators a more cost- effective method of deploying FTTH-speeds to the subscriber’s home by deploying fiber up to the last 200m, from which the distribution point can then utilize G.fast to complete the final meters. This avoids the cost of sending a technician, the inefficiency of scheduling technicians, and the inconvenience to the customer of having a technician in their home.

“Customer self-install environment was included in the design of G.fast from the beginning and will therefore bring significant cost savings. Alternative technologies, such as VDSL2, were not designed from the start for a customer self-install, it was always assumed that the technician would install it.”

Mersh’s abstract comes as the Broadband Forum continues to develop its global G.fast testing program in order to meet market demand and Digital Agenda objectives, and enable interoperability. Testing is already under development and includes functional, interoperability and performance testing, however support is needed from service providers in defining requirements and test cases.

Chuks Egbuna/GEE
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All is set for 2014 Innovation Forum in Tinapa

DigitalSENSE Business News:

All is now set for the 2014 Innovation Forum to be hosted by the Cross Rivers State Government in collaboration with Microsoft Nigeria and Nokia West Africa on Friday, April 11 at the Tinapa Lakeside Hotel in Calabar, reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

This year’s Innovation Forum also endears the partnership of Dahlberg, a global development advisor to the event, which is expected to focus on ICT innovation in education and agriculture as key drivers of national development in Nigeria.

DigitalSENSE Business News also reports that the forum will be a boost to public private partnerships (PPP) clamour in the country, while stakeholders across governments, SMEs, academia, civil society and local entrepreneurs are expected to grace the event.

Confirming to DigitalSENSE Business News the readiness of Cross River State government to host this forum, the special adviser on ICT to the Governor, Mr. Effiong Odoh, said they are delighted to be the host for this year, even as they had earlier focus on dependence and oil.

“We want to see how technology can be used to change the mentality of our people and reposition farmers in the State, who make about 70 per cent of the population,” he said, stressing that they are excited to partner with Nokia, Microsoft and other stakeholders who are interested in using ICT to change the life of the people for better.

In Cross River State, he told DigitalSENSE Business News  that they are re-strategizing on ICT usage.

“We’re thinking outside the box by not depending on oil as the only source of revenue or to build our developmental plans on oil. For instance, 60 out of 242 public schools in the State have been upgraded with ICT facilities to meet the educational quests of our people,” he said, pointing that the State had previously aligned with Microsoft on several areas to bring about maximize technological trends to improve on educational system of the people.

Director, Public Sector, Microsoft Nigeria, Mr. Chuma Ukeagu also told DigitalSENSE Business News that the platform is of national relevance as issues to be discussed rotate around e-health, e-governance, agriculture, and education to name a few.

He cited for instance, that the unemployment situation in the country should be seen from the perspective of curriculum disconnect.

“So, we in Microsoft have discovered that one of the ways to address this challenge is by digitizing the curriculum,” he said, adding that Microsoft is working on ensuring that information on starting up a business, writing a business oriented proposal are readily available and accessible, hence, they dedicated a portal to that effect.

For the head, Corporate Affairs, Microsoft Nigeria, Mrs. Ijeoma Abazie, told DigitalSENSE Business News that at least 12 developers are been expected to make solution presentations on education and agricultural in general.

She revealed that some of the developers have already demonstrated and implemented such solutions in other States of the federation. 

DigitalSENSE Business News also gathered from her that the Forum was introduced in 2012 and this year, will be focusing on agriculture and discussing it on a national scale and zero-in on Cross River State.

“The forum dwells on the usage of innovations and technology orientation solutions to spur our national competitiveness. Developers are coming with their solutions to give farmers hope, among other important discussions to be looked at,” she said, emphasizing that studies have actually shown the link between ICT and national competitiveness hence the imperativeness of the Forum in driving Federal Government’s vision 20:2020 agenda.

Nokia’s perspective at the press meeting and senior product manager, Nokia West Africa, , Mr. Olumide Balogun, told DigitalSENSE Business News that they at Nokia see the Innovation Forum 2014 as “invention inclined.”

Mr. Balogun further said it’s an opportunity to reach out to the software developers’ community, aiding them to articulate solutions capable of re-inventing the primary economic sectors to be focused on at the Innovation Forum.

... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
Pix: L-r: enior product manager, Nokia West Africa, Mr. Olumide Balogun, Director, Public Sector, Microsoft Nigeria, Mr. Chuma Ukeagu, Head, Corporate Affairs, Microsoft Nigeria, Mrs. Ijeoma Abazie, and special adviser on ICT Cross River State Governor, Mr. Effiong Odoh.

Nigeria missing in global index on cybersecurity

Breaking News!

DigitalSENSE Business News:

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has unwrapped the latest Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) with Nigeria conspicuously missing in the current index, exclusively reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

Also, DigitalSENSE Business News observed in the current report released in Dubai at the weekend that both in the countries that had their cybersecurity indexed and those who submitted survey for this research, Nigeria was nowhere to be seen.

In the cybersecurity index were 44 responses received, according to DigitalSENSE Business News, while 15 countries that responded and are preparing survey answers including Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, Angola, Brazil, Chad, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea, Iraq, Jordan, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Norway, and Uruguay.

DigitalSENSE Business News also gathered that GCI was an initiative launched by ITU and ABI Research to measure the levels of cybersecurity in countries to underline ITU’s commitment to strengthening cybersecurity and plugging the gaps worldwide while building capacity at the national level, particularly in developing countries.

Nigeria invariably may be leading some 134 ‘No survey or response received’ countries for the GCI which core objective is to release a global status of cybersecurity for 2014.

DigitalSENSE Business News recollects that the long term aim is to drive further efforts in the adoption and integration of cybersecurity on a global scale. A comparison of national cybersecurity strategies will reveal those countries with high rankings in specific areas, and consequently highlight lesser known – yet successful – cybersecurity strategies.

Chuks Egbuna/GEE

... Making SENSE of digital revolution!

Slot Systems celebrates 15-yr with promo, Mary Ogwu wins star prize

DigitalSENSE Business News:

Slot Systems Limited has celebrated its 15 years of existence with a woman, Mrs. Mary Ogwu winning the star prize of new Kia Rio car.

Speaking to DigitalSENSE Business News, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Ezeigbo described the past 15 years as “15 years of quality service to Nigerians,” noting that has become a become a tradition that every year they invite some lucky customers from across the country to participate in a raffle draw that will throw up winners for various prizes of which the star prize is a brand new cars.

So, also, this year, Ezeigbo told DigitalSENSE Business News that the event is very remarkable because of the 15 years anniversary.

“15 years of doing business in Nigeria; of being able to weather the storm, take the risks and grow a brand that is built on solid ethical principles. And we are glad to say that the Slot experience is proof of the fact that good things can grow on the Nigerian soil,” he said.

Ezeigbo also asserted that Slot is an indigenous telecoms company, committed to selling quality products, creating values for customer and delivering good customer experience.

“We have presently 40 retail stores across Nigeria with the aim of meeting customers IT and telecoms needs. We couldn't have achieved this great stride and tremendous growth without the patronage, support and loyalty of the Nigerian people,” he said.

Slot, he said, is concerned about delivering excellent products and services at affordable prices to meet the standards and requirements of the high-tech individual who could have traveled overseas for such services, and for those who have known what is good.

He pointed out that the core values of Slot are integrity, transparency and mutual respect, hence, they believe that integrity is not just a value, but a culture to be imbibed and expressed in corporate and personal characters.

He, therefore, promised that Slot shall continue to sustain this culture in order to give customers the peace of mind they need each time they buy their devices from Slot outlets nationwide.

“We thank the government of the day for providing a business friendly and enabling environment. As we know that enterprise thrives in an environment of peace and harmony, the great potentials of our country can only be release in unity. We believe in one Nigeria and pray for a united and peaceful country,” he said.


The prize was later presented to a representative of Mrs. Ogwu alongside others who emerged winners in various categories including DVD, refrigerator, Air Conditioner among consolation prizes.

... Making SENSE of digital revolution!

Seriously, Glo 10 innovative services!

DigitalSENSE Business News:

Globacom as part of stepping up the game of competition has introduced what it tagged 10 innovative services at the weekend, reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

Globacom’s Marketing Coordinator, Mr. Adeniyi Olukoya disclosed to DigitalSENSE Business News that the 10 services include Glo Family and Friends Finder, Glo Game Store, Glo Medicare, Glo Mobile Newspaper, Glo Directory, Glo Borrow Me Credit, Glo Security Tips, Glo Love Zone, Glo Property Tips, Glo Daily Inspiration and Glo Legal Adviser.

He also confided in DigitalSENSE Business News that these offerings came out of several months of thorough research, noting for instance that Glo Family and Friends Finder is a new security service that makes it easy for friends, family, employers and employees to locate one another anytime, anywhere around the country.

“All a subscriber has to do is to send the text “find” followed by the telephone number of the person to be found to 5511. The platform will alert the person to be found also by SMS who will in turn reply “yes,” to give consent that he should be located and followed. Each request will be charged at N50 per SMS. The response is free.

As soon as the consent response is sent, the subscriber will immediately receive an SMS from 5511 indicating the location (relative to an existing landmark) of the person to be found.

An example of the SMS is: “0705******* is on Ahmadu Bello Way, near Nigerian Television Authority, Lagos.”

The live demonstration of the products and services took place at Mike Adenuga Tower, Victoria Island and was graced by Glo Ambassadors.

Remmy Nweke

... Making SENSE of digital revolution!

Cybercrime: Middle East building njRAT malware groups says Symantec

DigitalSENSE Business News:

Symantec in its latest report made available to DigitalSENSE Business News says that it observed the growth of indigenous groups of attackers in the Middle East, centered around a simple piece of malware known as njRAT.

Also DigitalSENSE Business News gathered that while njRAT is similar in capability to many other Remote Access Tools (RATs), an interesting part is that this malware is developed and supported by Arabic speakers, resulting in its popularity among attackers in the region.

DigitalSENSE Business News  equally gathered that majority of njRAT’s Control-and-Command (C&C) servers were found in the Middle East and North Africa according to Symantec, just as the malware could be used to control networks of computers, known as botnets.

Although most attackers using njRAT, DigitalSENSE Business News noted, appeared to be engaged in ordinary cybercriminal activity, there is also evidence that several groups have used the malware to target governments in the region.

DigitalSENSE Business News investigations showed that Symantec analyzed some 721 samples of njRAT and uncovered a fairly large number of infections, with 542 control-and-command (C&C) server domain names found and 24,000 infected computers worldwide.

“Nearly 80 per cent of the C&C servers were located in regions in the Middle East and North Africa, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories and Libya.

DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that njRAT is not new on the cybercrime scene, but has been publicly available since June 2013 and three versions have already been released, all of which could be propagated through infected Universal Serial Bus (USB) keys or networked drives.

As reported by Symantec, the main reason for njRAT’s popularity in the Middle East and North Africa is a large online community providing support in the form of instructions and tutorials for the malware’s development. Just as the malware’s author also appears to hail from the region.

Even as Symantec experts revealed that most njRAT users seem to be home users who are interested in online pranks such as spying on webcams or taking screenshots of victims’ computers.

“However, infections have also been recorded on the networks of a number of governments and political activists,” says Symantec official, Ms Katie Beck.

Chuks Egbuna/GEE

... Making SENSE of digital revolution!

eWorld to commemorate Telecoms Day’14

DigitalSENSE Business News:

Organisers of the eWorld Forum annual event, the Ajomedia Limited has once again adopted the World Telecom and Information Society Day (WTISD) theme which is ‘Broadband for Sustainable Development’ for the 2014 session billed for Lagos on May 17, reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

The World Telecommunication Day has been held worldwide by industry stakeholders and the public to commemorate the founding of the International Telecommunication Union in 17 May 1865. Nigeria had joined other nations in the since 1980s to celebrate the day.

Chief Executive of Ajomedia and publisher of eWorld Magazine, Aaron Ukodie told DigitalSENSE Business News that eWorld collaborated with the Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency ( NITDA) to hold the 2013 edition which theme was ‘ICTs and Improving Road Safety.’

He also said in a press statement made available to DigitalSENSE Business News that the eWorld Forum keys into the current focus of the federal government and its agencies, the National Broadband Council in their bid to create awareness on the benefits of broadband to the economy and to Nigerians.

Ukodie said eWorld Forums have been at the forefront in pushing for the adoption of a national strategy for driving broadband development and adoption since 2009 when it began its eWorld Forums, tagged then as eWorld Broadband Forum.  

He noted that it was at the 2009 and 2010 editions that Professor Raymond Akwule first mooted the idea of a national broadband strategy, which has now gained currency.

“We at eWorld agree with the ITU that digital development is a transformative tool to fast-track sustainable development. In order to realize its full potential it is essential to roll-out high-speed broadband networks, making it affordable and universally accessible,” he asserted.

According to him, the eWorld Forum and the WTISD would focus attention on multi-stakeholder commitment to achieve universal access to broadband connectivity and content and foster political will on achieving this objective and identify key gaps in broadband research and development, infrastructure, and packaged development of applications and services.

The forum, he anticipated, would be used to define policy priorities for action in the areas of allocating radio frequency spectrum for broadband, universal access obligations and innovative financing mechanisms; and lead to technological solutions, particularly in the extension of broadband access into rural areas, least developed countries and small island developing states.

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CWG unveils Investor Relations website

DigitalSENSE Business News:

The Computer warehouse Group (CWG) Plc has unveiled its new investor relations (IR) website, reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

The website, DigitalSENSE Business News gathered was launched to meet the information needs of investors, stock brokers and journalists, was developed, hosted and maintained by NASDAQ OMX.

DigitalSENSE Business News equally gathered that the NASDAQ OMX-hosted IR website incorporates the look and feel of Computer Warehouse Group’s corporate website, providing visitors with a seamless experience, targeted at increasing the benefits to investors, providing the investor with unparalleled transparency, combined with a personalized online experience, and facilitating return visits.

“It provides the exact information for identifying opportunities and to advance valuation, a goal that all stakeholders share,”declared the group managing director, CWG, Mr. Austin Okere, was quoted as saying.

He also stated that the contents of the website site incorporate the financials and Press Room, comprising news releases, official logos, executive information, and corporate information, all in a robust media site.

In addition, the IR website features SEC Filings, which is an anticipated complete SEC page with filings made available as discrete categories of documents.

First Call analyst estimates, he said, would be provided for the same industry recognized data that professional investors’ use when gaining a perspective on corporate financial earnings forecasts.

He explained that this page includes earnings comparison, price earnings (P/E) comparison, analyst ratings, earning per share (EPS) trends and revisions.

He further explained that Stock Quotes is another feature of the new website, communicating share value as one of the most important functions of the IR website, even as options include current and historical stock performance, stock splits, and benchmark comparisons.

For the Corporate Governance Library, Okere elucidated that the page presents the groups governance mission and a brief on subjects, governance structure, roles of the board, responsibilities of the board, board committees, executive management committees, code of professional conduct and internal management structure.

Remmy Nweke
... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
Pix: “Founder and Group Chief Executive officer, CWG plc , Austin Okere, rings the bell on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange during the listing of the Company on the Nigerian stock market”

Dr Emma Nnamah, former NCC boss, shot dead in Nibo

DigitalSENSE Business News:

Former Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Dr Emmanuel Nnamah is dead according to reports reaching DigitalSENSE Business News.

The tragedy struck at his home town, Nibo in Awka-South local government area in Anambra State, following gunmen attack on him.

Nnamah, DigitalSENSE Business News reports was confronted by his attackers when entering the compound of his late Aunty for a family meeting of her burial and was asked to lie down but he allegedly queried them on why as an Owelle of Nibo, before he was badly shot and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced died.

President-General of the community , Okey Goodluck Nwankwo confirmed the death of Nnamah, even as the Police spokesperson Emeka Chukwuemeka was waiting for the official report as at press time.

... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
Pix: late EVC, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Dr Emmanuel Nnamah

Nwana joins Dynamic Spectrum Alliance as Executive Director

DigitalSENSE Business News:

The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance Tuesday confirmed to DigitalSENSE Business News the appointment of Prof. Hyacinth Nwana as its Executive Director. This comes at an exciting time as the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance strengthens its engagement with regulators and government officials to promote the adoption of legal and regulatory frameworks that facilitate dynamic access to radio spectrum.

DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that prior to joining the Alliance in this newly created role, Nwana was Group Director of Spectrum Policy at Ofcom, the UK’s independent communications regulator, where he spearheaded dynamic spectrum management, specifically focusing on TV White Spaces for broadband, and led on all UK Spectrum Policy. Nwana has also recently founded Atlantic Telecoms and Media.

As a recognized authority in Telecoms, Media and Technology (TMT) Prof. Nwana has recently authored an authoritative book on TMT for Developing Economies where he strongly argues the case for Dynamic Spectrum and TV White Space access in combination with low cost models and technologies to provide Affordable and Accessible broadband to the next ‘5 billion unconnected’. This has already moved Dynamic Spectrum efforts and TV White Spaces up the agenda in Africa, Europe, Asia, and elsewhere.

Whilst at Ofcom, Nwana was responsible for multi-million pound policy projects including the UK’s Digital TV Clearance programme of Channels 61, 62 and 69. He also oversaw the completion of the policy implementation of the rest of the UK’s digital switchover programme, and the multi-billion pound successful auction of the released spectrum. Nwana was also the Chairman of the Ofcom Spectrum Clearance and Award programme which reported into the Ofcom Board as well as the British Government and commercially negotiated deals with UK broadcasters, broadcast transmission providers and radar manufacturers totalling over a hundred million pounds sterling.

Prior to Ofcom, Nwana was Managing Director for 4 years at Arqiva, the UK’s £800M leading transmissions provider, communications infrastructure and media services company. Before Arqiva, he was Executive Director at Quadriga Worldwide Ltd where he was instrumental in the introduction of digital technology and services to the hospitality industry across Europe, Middle East, and Africa including high speed Internet, Wi-Fi, digital pay TV and video-on-demand in over 1700 hotels. Before Quadriga, he was a venture capitalist for 2 years and, even earlier, a Senior award-winning and published technologist at BT plc for 5 years.

Working in collaboration with, and under the direction of, the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance Board of Directors and Chairman, Nwana will assist with the development and execution of the organization’s strategic initiatives and outreach to and recruitment of potential partners and members across the private, public, and non-profit sectors. He will also serve as a public spokesperson for the initiative in worldwide venues and manage the organization’s vendors, overall budget and communication programs.

“H Nwana brings a wealth of public and private sector experience in the areas of wireless technology and spectrum policy and regulation,” said Paul Garnett, Dynamic Spectrum Alliance Chairman of the Board and Director of Technology Policy at Microsoft. “H understands that spectrum policy – when done right – can deliver huge benefits to society, including in the areas of social and digital inclusion and in improving quality of life for the world’s inhabitants. H also happens to be great at bringing people together around areas of common interest.  So, I am thrilled that H has agreed to lead stakeholders from industry, academia, research, and government in looking at new ways of managing the radio spectrum leveraging dynamic spectrum access technologies.”

Nwana added: “The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance is investing in the future, paving the way for new innovative wireless technologies and spectrum-sharing. The nirvana of dynamic spectrum regulation should be something all regulators should aspire to, in order to drive-up spectrum efficiency.”

One of H Nwana’s first tasks will be leading this year’s Dynamic Spectrum Alliance Global Summit, which takes place in Accra, Ghana on 13-14 May 2014.

... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
Pix: Prof Nwana

National Confab email rides on yahoo.com, IT experts lament

DigitalSENSE Business News:

The ongoing National Conference may have taken the wrong path by having as its official electronic mail (email) address on ‘yahoo.com’ platform, authoritatively reports by DigitalSENSE Business News, just as Information Technology (IT) experts decried action, saying it lacks patriotism.

This development came as the officials of the National Conference on Tuesday showcased means of reaching or contributing memoranda on any subject matter for discourse, including that Nigerians could reach the confab via nationalconference2014@yahoo.com.

According to an official public statement made available to DigitalSENSE Business News by the Secretariat of the National Conference, extending invitation to the Nigerian public to submit memoranda on any subject matter for possible discourse at the ongoing National Conference, except the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a nation.

Some experts who spoke to DigitalSENSE Business News on anonymous, lamented the lack of patriotism in national assignments which has shown both in the nomination of delegates without any representatives from the Information Technology (IT) professionals which is abound in the country.

This, our source also said has just been reflected in contacts for such a national assignment having a foreign email from Yahoo, which in effect means that associated with the national conference will be exposed to a foreign databank.

DigitalSENSE Business News source, further said that either those handling the IT section of the confab must be ignorant of Nigeria domain name uptake and availability or they are not patriotic.

According to our source, lack of IT professionals sound in local environment in Nigeria has played out and was not taken aback because more of ignorant decisions are abound to be taken before the National Confab rounds off.

However, the Secretary to the Conference, Dr. (Mrs.) Valerie-Janette Azinge was quoted in the press statement, as saying that all memoranda should be clearly typed and presented in a given format, including an introduction to the subject matter; statement of facts on the subject matter; issues from the statement of facts for determination; arguments in support of issues for determination and reliefs or prayers sought.

In addition, Azinge said that there must a name, address and signature(s) of the writer(s) which should also be clearly indicated and submitted in 10 hard copies and two soft copies saved in Portable Document Format (PDF) and Microsoft Word formats respectively on or before Tuesday 15th April, 2014, to:

“The National Conference
National Judicial Institute,
Mohammed Bello Center,
Adjacent Jabi Junction Fly-over,
Airport Road, P.M.B. 5020 Wuse,
Abuja-FCT.
Email: nationalconference2014@yahoo.com”

... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
Pix: Secretary to the Conference, Dr. (Mrs.) Valerie-Janette Azinge

Singapore49 marks new era in ICANN

DigitalSENSE Business News:

The President and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Mr. Fadi Chehadé, has described the just ended 49^th public meeting of ICANN in Singapore as new beginning, reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

The 49th meeting, DigitalSENSE Business News reports quoted Mr. Chehade as saying marked the beginning of a new era for the organization and the future of Internet governance.

"ICANN49 will be remembered as a meeting that, in many ways, ended the early phase of ICANN and brought the organization into a new phase of maturity and responsibility," Chehadé said.

As said by him, this was exemplified by the recent decision of the United States Government to hand us the very ominous responsibility to facilitate and convene the world toward determining how ICANN will be providing assurances of accountability across the board.

ICANN's Board Chairman, Dr. Stephen Crocker, told DigitalSENSE Business News at the Singapore meeting attended by over 1,940 people registered from 150 countries, that people from all over the world, from all segments of the Internet community, were at the meeting, interacted not just with ICANN, but also with each other.

The Singapore meeting was dominated by discussions stemming from the recent announcement by the U.S. Government that it wants to transfer stewardship of some vital Internet technical functions to provide for global accountability.

US government, he said, reached out to ICANN, which will continue to manage those functions as it has for more than 15 years, to help determine the best process for transferring that stewardship.

"These are important times," said Chehadé, stressing that the U.S. Government has modulated its stewardship over time, it has dialed it down and this was just a natural moment for all this to happen, as the U.S. government has said, due to the community's readiness to actually embrace these responsibilities and establish the appropriate accountability mechanisms to replace the U.S. role."

... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
Pix: ICANN board chairman, Steve Crocker