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Tag: ICT

  • N80b unclaimed dividends: Role of ICT, by Afrinvest chief

    N80b unclaimed dividends: Role of ICT, by Afrinvest chief

    Afrinvest Securities Limited has said the deployment of information communication technology (ICT) tools to the operation of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) could put a stop or reduce the accumulation of unclaimed dividends in the country.

    Unclaimed dividends are profit payable by companies by the NSE which are yet to be claimed or received by the shareholders and equity investors in the companies.

    According to experts, unclaimed dividends could erode the confidence of the investing public in the stock market. Statistics from the NSE showed that by December 2013, unclaimed dividends was put at N60 billion. This figure has continued to grow at over 600 per cent in the last one decade. In 1999, it was about N2 billion; rising steadily to N8billionn in 2008 and N41billion in 2011. By 2013, it has risen to N60billion and peaked at N80billion at the end of last year.

    But the Managing Director, Afrinvest Securities Limited, Charles Egbunonwo said deployment of technology tools to stock management will stop this and others.

    Speaking on the sideline during the unveiling of its online trading portal–Afrinvestor.com, in Lagos, he said: “Deploying ICT will help prevent the continued increase of unclaimed dividends because if I have all my customers electronically, and I have created their Central Security Clearing System (CSCS) account and I have visibility to their bank account, it means anytime there is a dividend, I am sure that all my customers will get credited in their account.

    “But where we have a challenge is that a lot of customers historically prefer to hold their certificate because they see the certificate as an evidence of ownership but by holding a certificate, they are not on the electronic platform and so, when their shares are being paid dividend,  then you have to physically cut a cheque for them.”

    According to him, the preference for physical payment via the issuance of cheque is faced with a myriad of challenges one of which is the possibility of relation of the address of the shareholders.  “Now if this customer has a certain address–say he was living in Surulere and then he moves to Lekki.  He might not have informed Afrinvest that he has moved and suddenly we are looking for him at that old address. I cannot see him and I have his physical cheque to give him. So the cheque after a while, say about six months, go stale and then the money ends up sitting with the registrar as an unclaimed dividend.

    “Now all those things can easily be dealt with when the customer has an electronic account with afrinvest.com because in my system, I would have created an account number for him that can see his bank account and his title which the registrar has in their record. So when the registrar wants to pay dividend, he actually does an electronic payment straight to the customer; so even if the customer moves from here to America, we will still be paying his bank account in Nigeria his dividends,”

    According to reports, of the estimated N80billion unclaimed dividends, Nigerian Breweries, Diamond Bank, former Intercontinental Bank and Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank) are listed as the big four with large chunks of unclaimed dividends.

    Many factors have been identified as being responsible for this problem by the regulator of the capital market, the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). These include fraudulent activities of some market operators and banks’ refusal to pay dividend warrants into shareholders’ savings accounts. Others are ignorance on the part of the shareholders and preference for the old ways of doing things.

    Speaking on the online platform, Egbunonwo said the firm has always believed in the power of ICT tools.

    He said: “Afrinvest has always placed a premium on the use of technology as a business enabler, and the introduction of Afrinvestor.com is to empower clients to take more control of their investments, supported by sound investment advice and professional guidance.

     

     

  • Lawyers seek to boost legal practice with ICT

    Lawyers seek to boost legal practice with ICT

    Stakeholders met in Lagos  last week to discuss how ICT could be deployed in boosting the practice of law. ADEBISI ONANUGA reports

    Stakeholders in the justice sector, including lawyers and other related practitioners, gathered in Lagos last week under the aegis of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to brainstorm on the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the legal profession.

    The occasion was at the maiden edition of  “The e-legal conference “, organised by one of the country’s  fastest growing online community of legal professionals, “thelearnedfriend.com “.  The event, which had “Tomorrow’s legal”, as theme, held at Lagos Court of Arbitration, International Centre for Arbitration and ADR, Lekki, Lagos.

    Thelearnedfriends.com is an online news aggregator and social media platform focused on showcasing technological innovations in the legal sector.

    The firm’s Managing Director, Mrs. Mobola Obileye, said: “The nature of legal services is changing as more legal businesses are incorporating technology and digital media into their daily operations.”

    Former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos branch, Mr. Alex Mouka, while delivering the keynote address said the benefit of the conference was unquantifiable when juxtaposed with the cost of acquiring  technology, noting that lawyers must begin to brace towards the challenge ahead.

    Mouka pointed out that the world was moving in the direction of  digital  and that  lawyers cannot afford to be left behind. He said  the conference is, therefore, to prepare the minds of lawyers for the changes ahead.

    “I don’t expect that it will be an overnight change, no. It is not going to happen but, if we understand that someday we must operate in a completely online environment then the sooner we begin to pull down the roadblocks the better. We may not achieve a paperless office now, we do appreciate that more of our work has to be done in an online mobile environment and then begin to set up the tools,” he said.

    On how realistic this fusion between the ICT and the legal profession would work out, he said most of the solutions were scalable, pointing out that lawyers do not have to start with the most expensive solution. ‘’Some of the solutions that has been suggested here can be tailored to the size or scope of your practice; if you’ve a small firm,there’s solution for you and if you’ve a large firm there’s solution you can adopt,’’ he added.

    Asked if the conservative nature of lawyers would not affect the technological trend in the profession, he said   most of the lawyers you know are up to date when it comes to technology.

    “All the lawyers I know use smart phones. Virtually, every law office now have embraced the computer system, modern system in terms of having a web presence. In terms of working online, quite a number of law firms have Facebook pages, most lawyers even senior lawyers have personal Facebook page so when it comes to embracing change, I don’t think lawyers are conservative. On the contrary, I think lawyers are among the foremost people who embrace change. There is also the cost aspect, technology is expensive, lawyers generally are better able to afford some of these things and we are not conservative in that aspect.

    “I have no fear about how technology will impact on the legal profession. On the contrary, my view has always been that IT is something we must embrace as lawyers,’’ he said.

    In his contribution, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) noted that the popular saying is that the world is a global village and the legal profession must keep up with the international best practices.

    “All over the world, new trends are coming up and Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind when we have a country with so many lawyers, with so much intellectual capacity, we need to now combine that with technological advancement. That is a reason why this is going on and I think it’s a good innovation for the judiciary.

    “This will help law firms to keep up with their international counterparts, help the law firms to keep up among themselves, you can see that most of the work in the courts are now going digital so, it’s a conference that will be very helpful for the lawyers that have attended the conference today,”m he added.

    Mr. Femi Ojumu, who unbundled the expression  ICT and characterised it as a physical or web-based configuration which facilitates the use, exploitation, mining, storage and transfer of data that’s underpinned by scientific expertise.

    He noted that if a law firm could reduce its overhead “by operationalising internal business processes by exploiting ICT, commercial logic, and practical economics, would necessarily direct it to that pathway’’.

    He cited how ICT is being deployed in businesses, such as law firms, adding that organisations responsible for the administration of justice abound. ‘’Some of these include ton-line reporting of case law, such as The Lloyd’s List Maritime Reports; video conferencing facilities linking firms and clients across different time zones and jurisdictions; virtual law libraries; cloud –based databanks; 24hours x 365 days virtual business continuity suites; private and public websites of law firms and regulatory agencies, respectively; social media platforms e.g. Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook, electronic commerce and much more,” he added.

    Dean, Student Affairs, Covenant University, Azubuike Ezenwoke, in his presentation, asked: “In the midst of all these, how are the next generation of lawyers being trained? According to him, “problem solving requires specific skills and competencies dependent on access to accurate, timely, sufficient, reliable and relevant information (or FACTS).’’

    Mark Slade, the Chief executive Officer (CEO), Ringier Digital Marketing, painted a graphic picture of the growth on Internet penetration in Africa, concluding that Nigeria has the highest number of Internet and Facebook users and active mobile in the continent.

  • How agric sector can leverage ICT tools

    How agric sector can leverage ICT tools

    Things are gradually looking up for the agric sector. The agric transformation agenda is changing the fortunes of farmers, as most of them now have access to improved crop varieties as well as trainings to become better managers. Some of them are also moving into larger acreages, leading to improved food production. To sustain the tempo, experts say there is need to embrace Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools, otherwise known as e-agriculture. DANIEL ESSIET reports. 

    As an expert and key stakeholder in the agric sector, President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Mr. Tola Faseru, has been pushing for the deployment of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to promote agricultural development. He tells whoever cares to listen that the use of ICT in agric, otherwise called e-agriculture, remains a strategic and ambitious way of modernising the agric sector by pushing possibilities into the hands of farmers and ultimately, achieving food sufficiency.

    Faseru told The Nation that with widespread connectivity to global markets and networks, using the Internet and related technologies, there was need for Nigeria to establish a comprehensive ICT infrastructure for the agric sector. He noted that through formal institutionalization of e-agriculture, which is a global practice where people exchange information, ideas, and resources related to the use of ICT for sustainable agriculture and rural development, Nigeria stands a better chance of using the agric sector to achieve sustainable economic growth and development.

    Faseru is not only in this growing strategic approach of using ICT to drive agriculture. Worldwide, e-agriculture has emerged as a strategic tool, drawing private capital and large-scale investment to projects that benefit small farmers and boost food security. The strength of the approach, according to Faseru and other experts, is its integration of investments, policy frameworks and local institutions and ability to bolster connectivity to improve the functioning of markets, improve agricultural opportunities, create jobs and catalyze improved governance along the value chain. All of these are ingredients needed to spur inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

    The consensus of experts is that Nigeria will advance the agricultural sector through integration with other industries such as processing, storage, logistics, and e-commerce. This is so considering that transactions now thrive mostly online between nations and the international markets, as companies are now deploying money and resources into e-commerce platforms to fuel their growth. This has expanded into many different industries, including agriculture and transportation. Already, an increasing number of sellers and buyers are emerging to improve online agro produce transactions through overseas destinations ordered through e-commerce platforms.

    However, while there are indications that e-commerce in agriculture is emerging as a lucrative area in the online shopping sector, the development of e-commerce in the agricultural sector still lags far behind other sectors, especially in Nigeria. This has prompted agitations by agric experts most of who say there is need to shift focus from the traditional factors of production to the use of modern technologies, market-driven innovation and knowledge, which are growth drivers.

    In addition to ensuring food security and safety, such paradigm shift would modernise the sub-sector to provide employment opportunities, generate higher income and ensure sustainable development through better agronomic practices, quality inputs, modern farming technologies and improved infrastructure.

    With current efforts at making farming a business and encouraging young people who are interested in modernised agriculture, Faseru emphasised that e-agriculture will improve access to information services and training on how to use them. He however, wants government to adopt a participatory approach to the development of an e-agricultural strategy by involving a wide range of stakeholders.

    The expert added that the government should seek advice from experts and various agricultural educational and research institutes and other professional organisations in the agric sector. For start, he recommends that major agricultural institutions be equipped with relevant ICT hardware with Internet access, while their staff be trained to use and maintain the equipment.

    Besides, experts are calling for data centres and community multimedia centres as part of the infrastructure package. The thinking is that such systems would provide rural development extension services to farmers in rural areas.

    Chief Executive Officer, Anjorin & Atanda Nigeria Investment Limited, Mr. Sunday Anjorin, is one of those excited by the prospects of changing the fortunes of farmers and the agric sector generally by developing and embracing the e-agriculture strategy. The goal of the strategy, he noted, should be geared towards building the competitive advantages of the agriculture sector so that the untapped growth potential can be maximised.

    According to him, continued increase in globalisation and integration of food markets has intensified competition in the agric sector and also brought unique opportunities. He told The Nation that e-agriculture strategy would have stronger impact as it would help to deepen potential market opportunities for exports and assist young entrepreneurs explore openings in the international markets.

    As Director, Africa Region, Cassava Adding Value for Africa (CAVA), Prof Kola Adebayo pointed out, several types of activities related to e-agriculture applications are widely recognised today. Some of them, he said, involve delivering services such as market prices, extension services, technology, policies, programmes and projects using the Internet and related technologies. On the whole, he said e-agriculture provide end-to-end services to the agricultural value chain, bringing together farmers, input producers, transport providers, and banks/financiers.

    Adebayo expressed optimism that with e-agriculture working well, the industry will record more achievement than from conventional agricultural extension and farmer outreach programmes. This, he said, is because information given to farmers will be quick and timely. Besides, the outreach will be tailored to meet the needs of individual farmers. It is also cost effective. He added that with the social media and the key role youths are playing in agriculture, more opportunities for young agro entrepreneurs would be created.

    “The consensus of experts is that Nigeria will advance the agricultural sector through integration with other industries such as processing, storage, logistics, and e-commerce. This is so considering that transactions now thrive mostly online between nations and the international markets”

     

    HarvestPlus electronic

    (e-market) portal

    HarvestPlus, which leads a global effort to improve nutrition by developing and deploying food crops that are rich in vitamins and minerals, is riding on its electronic (e-market) platform to attract investors and create markets for vitamin A cassava products.

    Located within the precinct of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State, HarvestPlus Country Manager, Dr. Paul Ilona, said the organisation has linked major players and investors along the vitamin A cassava value chain to its e-market portal.

    He said through the use of the portal, HarvestPlus has been able to identify ulking agents, cassava stem traders, and investors who were then linked with farmers and cassava processors to create market for vitamin A cassava products. According to him, this strategy would do the magic of attracting investors to the business.

     

    SlimTrader

    SlimTrader, an e-commerce firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington, has partnered agro-chemical producer, Notore to streamline fertiliser delivery and collections.

    The firm also developed a mobile commerce platform called ‘MoBiashara’ (mo’ business in Swahili), specifically designed to serve fast-moving consumer goods companies. It is a mobile platform that enables people to purchase goods and services directly via their phone using Short Message Service (SMS), interactive voice response (IVR), or mobile web. It allows consumers to search for products from multiple providers and make purchases on their mobile phone using local payment providers.

    SlimTrader partners with trusted brands, whose distributors and retailers can upload their inventory onto MoBiashara, which also helps consumers to be certain that they are buying the genuine product. It brings the convenience of price comparison to basic feature phone users who lack reliable access to the Internet.

    When MoBiashara was initially launched, Notore was using it to enable farmers to shop for and purchase fertilisers from its accredited retailers. Retailers use the same platform to update their inventories via SMS in real time. Technologies used include mobile phones, SMS, IVR, and mobile web.

    SlimTrader charges a small percentage of the transaction value, which is charged to the merchant.

    MoBiashara is currently being piloted in Nigeria and the pilot is currently reaching several thousand users. Its greatest advantage is that everyone in the supply chain benefits. The main distributor incurs a significantly reduced supply chain credit risk and the retailer has reduced storage costs. These reductions in supply chain costs can benefit farmers with lower prices for fertilizer as well as a more efficient supply chain for them as end-users.

    Experts believe e-agriculture has the potential to increase profitability in agricultural markets by increasing sales and decreasing search and transaction costs.

    The creation of electronic markets that are expected to be more transparent and competitive than physical markets may attract more consumers.

    E-agriculture offers an alternative venue of promoting and marketing agricultural products that has a benefit of reaching extensive geographical populations and providing detailed product information at a relatively low cost.

     

    Fed Govt’s electronic

    wallet initiative

    The immediate past Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, sometime ago disclosed said Nigerian farmers now access fertiliser procured by the Federal Government via mobile phones or e-wallet. Government claimed that in 2012 alone, the e- wallet initiative saved the agric sector over N29.7 billion (US$188 million).

    At that time, Cellulant Nigeria Limited, the company running the e-wallet scheme, said the figure represents the amount that would have been lost by federal and state governments during the distribution of subsidised fertilisers, seedlings and other services. Its Chief Executive, Goke Akinboro described the initiative as a landmark success.

    “We are indeed, satisfied that we have helped start a revolution in the agric sector by bringing in seemingly simple and practical technology solutions, which have helped address age-long problems in the sector. We believe that this is the beginning of great things to come and we can only improve in years ahead,” he said, noting that the e-wallet scheme allowed government to effectively target its resources while providing an efficient accounting tool.

    According to Akinboro, the e-wallet initiative handled disbursement of subsidies valued at $294 million for federal and state governments into the wallets of farmers. The farmers used $52 million of the subsidy deposits and agro-dealers got US$50 million as matching funds from farmers, leaving about $192 million of unused funds, which would have been lost to corruption under the old scheme. The unused fund, he said, was returned to government’s purse.

    Akinboro added that in addition to saving money for the government, the e-wallet scheme’s greatest achievement was the fact that Nigerian farmers truly and directly benefited from government’s subsidy.

    However, with the departure of Adesina, there are fears that the e- wallet initiative would be short-lived. Perhaps, to prempt possible discontinuation of the scheme, a World Bank consultant, Prof Abel Ogunwale said if e-agriculture is adequately supported, farmers will access updated information to cope with challenges affecting production.

    He said the sector needs to improve delivery of quality information on farming techniques and practices, agricultural inputs and technology, agricultural markets/market information, science and research, data/statistics, environment, climatic changes and training and capacity building.

    Ogunwale also said research institutes need veritable e-agriculture platforms to enable agricultural experts and community members exchange opinions, experiences, good practices and resources.

    According to him, farming community members and other stakeholders need to interact with each other through regular forums and community networking to contribute to a range of resources to the platform, including case studies, success stories, lessons learnt, documents, links, learning resources, news and announcements.

    One of the areas farmers need to be connected is in soil testing. Soil testing, experts say, is important for any farmer to know what minerals their soil is deficient in and what type of fertiliser or other inputs may be used to increase soil health and fertility, yields, and resistance to pests and diseases. There is need for a soil testing service that provides results via SMS.

     

    Challenges

    As exciting as the new approach is, there are challenges. Faseru says, for instance, that he is concerned over how farmers and organisations will pay for obtaining and providing technical and market information through the use of ICT tools. Tariffs for ICT are still considered high.

    Besides, nationwide, there is serious limitation for ICT use, particularly in the rural areas despite the worldwide ICT revolution. The other issue is that government is not making serious investment in ICT.

    According to experts, the nation still suffer from poorly developed ICT infrastructural facilities including poor and limited number of telephone lines, most of which are still in the analogue mode.

     

    Bright prospects ahead

    Experts say that many factors would drive the use of ICT in agriculture in the next few years such as improved connectivity to mobile phones, Internet, and other wireless devices. Already, Nigerians are witnessing increased broadband Internet reach. Besides, affordability is improving dramatically.

    There is a National E-Agriculture Web Portal, which is a strategic initiative of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), to showcase the essential features and key aspects of the food and agriculture industry in Nigeria.

    The portal also highlights the strategic and operational components of the agricultural value chain in Nigeria, particularly as it relates to the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Federal Government, as developed and implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

    The web portal introduces investors and other stakeholders to food and agriculture as regards finance, farming, agro-industry, distribution and logistics, as well as food security, nutrition, and consumption. Some of the most vital information required is locally developed and adapted to meet the requirements of the average user.

    It is presented to enable planning, research, development projects, investments and policy-making. There are also links to relevant sites – from related industry partners and stakeholders – for updated resources; news and information on various aspects are regularly updated.

    The National E-Agriculture Web Portal is relevant for the comprehensive and integrated Nigerian food and agricultural value chain; from farm to fork. Interactive mechanisms for audience contributions and stakeholder feedback are available via forms, discussion forums, and an agric-centric social network.

    The portal is accessible on various devices and platforms – Web and Mobile (Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows 7, and Java-enabled phones such as Symbian OS).

     

    To sustain the tempo

    On the whole, experts want the government’s e-agriculture initiative to create a multi-stakeholder, people-centred, cross-sectored platform that will bring together stakeholders representing relevant constituencies in the industry.

    They also want the government and agricultural support institutions to develop ICT initiatives to support a National Market Information System. Farmers and investors need functional services – from daily commodity prices, to virtual shopping cart and mobile applications – along with an extensive archive of market information from previous years.

    Experts also want government to explore the possibilities of an e-agriculture strategy, which will synergise agriculture and ICT in a more structured manner. The strategy should recognise the real and current challenges leading to low ICT uptake in the agric sector and seek to address these challenges to the benefit of all stakeholders.

    In pushing these recommendations, the belief is that agricultural activities are categorised under crop cultivation, water management, fertiliser application, pest management, harvesting, post harvest handling, transporting of products, packaging, preservation, processing/value addition, quality management, safety, storage and marketing. What this means is that stakeholders need information and knowledge about these phases to manage them efficiently.

    “We are, indeed, satisfied that we have helped start a revolution in the agric sector by bringing in seemingly simple and practical technology solutions, which have helped address age-long problems in the sector. We believe that this is the beginning of great things to come and we can only improve in years ahead”

  • HP’s Technology Tour ‘ll boost ICT development, says Lagos

    The Lagos State government has said the deployment of information communication technology (ICT) tools to businesses and governance has reduced running cost, improve efficiency and enhance productivity.

    Its Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Nike Animashaun, spoke while declaring open, the HP’s 2015 Technology Tour at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

    He said businesses around the world need advanced technology as a way of reducing the cost of doing business while also churning out high scale productivity that redefines economies globally.

    She added that events such the HP Technology Tour will help fast-track the growth of the industry as it would provide stakeholders opportunity to brainstorm.

    She said: “As a responsible government, we are aware that with information technology, business transactions have become seamless globally, reducing physical presence and creating breath-taking pace of information exchange. The Lagos State government is happy to be part of the HP Technology Tour 2015.

    “An event of this magnitude will boost Nigeria’s ICT sector and enhance greater technological advancements through extensive brainstorming on pertinent issues within the IT industry alongside exhibition of the latest advancements in computer technology.”

    The tech firm explained that it is part of its contribution to information technology development in Nigeria. The event which also held in Abuja, was a gathering of captains of industry, small and medium scale business owners and IT professionals who were fascinated by the array of products of HP.

    The technology tour is aimed at providing businesses and IT professionals the opportunity to tap into the latest technology; and improve the performance and overall profitability of businesses while also guaranteeing security of business intelligence.

    “Growing with businesses globally, HP recognises the potential of information technology and have consistently re-innovate to ensure its customers are not left behind, especially businesses who dear to survive the very challenging global economic terrain.

    “The HP Technology Tour, presently being conducted across the globe is another giant move by HP to bring its customers closer to the latest in information technology.

    “With these new entrants, HP is redefining the style of doing business as a world class company. Investing over 10 per cent of its income on research and development last year, HP is focusing on creating values for businesses, ensuring mobility, cloud with enhanced security features that makes every HP product unique,” an official of the firm said on the sideline of the event.

    HP added that cloud, big data, security, mobility are reshaping the IT industry. HP World Tour offers incredible depth of information and access to experts from HP, HP partners and other professionals. Whether as a business or an individual trying to get the next project off the ground or to bring new ideas back to the organisation, HP World Tour provides the answers.

  • Six pupils chase ICT title in Dallas

    Six pupils chase ICT title in Dallas

    There were upsets at this year’s national finals of the Certiport Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Competition with new schools challenging the dominance of long-standing champion, Thomas Adewumi International College, Oko, Kwara State.

    The Certiport MOS World Championship is organised to encourage students to be proficient in the use of Microsoft office suite, namely Word, Excel and PowerPoint (2010 and 2013 versions), which are used by most business concerns worldwide.  They earn certificates that can be used for work.

    This year, Adewumi International College, which has claimed the most titles since ReadManna Ventures Limited started organising the competition in Nigeria in 2009, as well as earliest rival, Regent International School, Abuja, were surprised by new comers such as Aduvie International School, Abuja, British International School, Lagos, Bellina College, Akoka, and Holy Child College, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Both schools did not win the top slot in any of the six categories, which would have qualified their representatives for the world championship holding in Dallas, United States in August.

    Those that will represent Nigeria on the world stage include: Elizabeth Ochanya, Aduvie International School (PowerPoint 2013; 985/1000); Bendre Sidhant, British International School (PowerPoint 2010; 979/1000); and Clever Nabai, Aduvie International School (Word 2013; 963/1000).

    Others are: Adebusola Babington, Holy Child College (Word 2010; 954/1000); Oluwatinuke Griffin, Bellina College, Akoka (Excel 2013, 868/1000); and Abure Atafo, The Childville School, Ogudu, Lagos (Excel 2010; 925/1000).

    Their flights, and those of two accompanying teachers, would be sponsored by the Delta Airlines.

    Mrs Edna Agusto, CEO, Readmanna said the stakes have become higher as more schools join in the race.  She gave credit to ICT teachers who were committed to innovative learning of the subject as well as principals and school owners who provided resources to support them.

    “One thing I have to say about this competition is that it depends on the commitment of the computer teachers.  They are the ones actually pushing it,” she said.

    Mrs Agusto also said she was particularly happy that no school dominated the top spot for each of the categories and urged participating schools to work harder for the next edition.

    To excel in Dallas, like happened last year when Olubunmi Agusto of Day Waterman College, Abeokuta, came second in Microsoft PowerPoint (2007 version) in California, Mrs Agusto, said the six pupils would be groomed before departure.

    “We have entered a partnership with Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi.  They would host us for some days so we can put together the team.  It will allow us to prepare them appropriately and get experts to touch them up,” she said.

    The pupils will be accompanied by two teachers, Mr Timothy Osaigbovo of Aduvie International School, Abuja, which recorded the highest score in the competition, and Mrs Cynthia Ebelebe of Holy Child College, whose school had the highest number of pupil participation.

    Mrs Ebelebe, who was ecstatic about the trip, said she was inspired by the quest to make her pupils better.

    “The first thing is the quest to see how I can improve my students.  Then Readmanna also came to our school to advertise for the 2015 championship. The girls worked hard.  That I can say.  Because I have somebody in JSS3, who is doing the BECE; and I have somebody in SS3.  They are also here.  So they combined this particular training with reading their books,” she said.

    The top three winners in each of the six categories would be rewarded with Microsoft XBOX One games at a national awards ceremony to hold later this year.

  • Ex-ISPON chief urges Buhari on ICT Council, others

    Ex-ISPON chief urges Buhari on ICT Council, others

    Former President, Institution of Software Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), Dr Chris Uwaje has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prioritise the information communication technology (ICT) sector, set up a Presidential ICT Council and appoint a Chief Information Technology Officer of the Federation just as there is the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

    Speaking in Lagos, Uwaje said: “ICT should be our national priority and government compass. President Buhari needs to set up a Presidential ICT Council and indeed the office of the  Chief Information Technology Officer of the Federation.

    “In simplified analogy, competing with other nations of the world that are custodians of Information Technology for e-Government abilities and capabilities for national development, creation of wealth and sustainable security is a monumental challenge which is nonetheless attainable. Governing Nigeria without a dynamic IT at the centre of leadership and governance translates to running a government like a university without a library, professional librarians and competent information administrators.”

    He advised the president to design a professional framework for the information technology sector, arguing that if that is not done, any pursuit of development will continue to end up a mirage.

    He said: “Leading and piloting the national agenda of the current government of Nigeria without a professional Information Technology Framework (Executive Bills & Acts) will on the long run multiply our challenges and make our goals a mirage.

    “Our intellectual property to strategically build and safeguard the future will be permanently lost if Nigerian IT professionals are not allowed to make their mistakes now and learn from their experiences at the digital knowledge laboratory.

    “Indeed the possibility of effective and productive governance of organising and managing the dreams, needs and aspirations of 170million Nigerians and over 1 billion Africans in this 21st “Century knowledge economy and information society is not only practically unattainable but complexly impossible.”

    According to Uwaje, these developments underscore the fundamental reason and assurances for the new leadership to engaging governance challenges with a professionally crafted IT Master plan.

    He warned that failure to do this translates into creating a ‘serious weak-link for digital-capitalism to devour its prey’ adding that by extension, it will amount to sailing in the torrential and turbulent ocean infested by greedy whale-like globalisation without a compass.

    He said IT, having played a pivotal role ensuring a smooth democratic transition in the country and saving the nation the threat of disintegration or going into crisis, should be brought at the centre of decision making in the country.

    “Given the writings on the wall and with all benefits of doubts, I am convinced that President Buhari will deliver its electoral pledges. The other side of the coin remains how to effectively deliver without IT.

    “Today, IT remains a strategic veritable tool and centre of gravity for restoring patriotism and human dignity, tackling corruption by sealing the leaking national resources and revenue baskets, accelerating creative knowledge production and innovation, strengthening the rule of law, justice, equity, institutionalisation of merit culture, wealth creation, national security, peace and prosperity and above all, building sustainable trust and global respect for Nigeria in the comity of nations,” Uwaje said.

    According to him, the new frontier informs that globalisation has taken over and “we now live in a world better described as a dense and fearful ocean of information-web, where every data under the universe is clustered – and currently undergoing an intensive final digitisation process.

  • ‘Only 25 percent women use internet’

    ‘Only 25 percent women use internet’

    A report has revealed that women are at a disadvantage on the use of technology and access to the internet.

    The report by Intel claimed that compared to men, women still have lower access to the internet.

    Considering the reports which stated that 25 percent fewer women than men are online in developing countries, Intel reaffirmed its commitment to bridging the gap with its Intel She Will Connect Programme.

    However, the Programme, in recent time, has been in the forefront of educating young girls and women on maximum contributions toward economic and social development across the world.

    At the recently concluded capacity building workshop on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for women journalists in Lagos, Mr. Olubunmi Ekundare, Intel Nigeria Managing Director, Intel West Africa, stressed the dedication to bring about positive change in the African Girl Child.

    Further reiterating the importance of educating the girl child, the Director said, “Here at Intel, we believe, and I’m sure we all agree, that smart girls are the equivalent of a smart world.

    “What we seek to do, more than encouraging you all, is to do your best in school and seize the opportunity to build a world where youths are inspired to be advocates for change.”

    The Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr. Babatunde Akinola, explained that She Will Connect Programme aims to close the gap for girls in terms of access to the internet and digital literacy.

    Akinola maintained that the company will provide technical resources and expertise to deliver digital literacy training, online peer networks and gender relevant content to empower young girls and women in Nigeria.

    The programme hopes to have reached five million women and girls across Africa by 2020, empowering them to get and stay online and help others like them, thereby reducing the gender gap by 50%.

    Intel She Will Connect is a model that incorporates digital literacy with gender and development programming targeting women and girls. The programme was first launched in September, 2013 in the USA.

  • LCCI: ICT has revolutionalised business

    LCCI: ICT has revolutionalised business

    The growth in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) industry in the last 15 years has revolutionalised businesses, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Alhaji Remi Bello, has said.

    He spoke at the ICT Expo (ICTEL EXPO) by the Trade Promotion Board of LCCI in Lagos, which  had its theme as ‘Connecting businesses and creating opportunities’.

    Bello said all sectors of the economy rely on ICT for their operations.

    “From the financial sector, where e-banking is now the vogue, the agricultural sector, where the government now sells fertiliser through mobile phones to the consumer goods sector where online stores are now all over, ICT and telecommunications have become the backbone of businesses,” he said.

    Bello explained that the expo was aimed at providing a credible platform to advance the opportunities and linkages in ICT.

    He reiterated the chamber’s optimism towards a great investment opportunity that would come from closer interactions and business integration among ICT players and their customers at the expo, pledging his support towards it.

    LCCI Vice President and Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, said the chamber chose the ICT sector because of its potential to revolutionalise business transformation, growth and improving the standard of living of people and communities through innovations.

    He added: “The expo gives a 360 degree view of the ICT industry and provides visibility to sweeping trends and innovations as well as providing an excellent networking opportunity for business decision makers, innovation managers, enterprise solution providers and start-ups.’’

    Others are ICT academics, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), investors, venture capitalists and other players in the ICT and telecom sectors,” he explained.

    Olawale-Cole said LCCI was aware of the revolutionary roles ICT and telecoms play in business relationship and development.

    He said with the incursion of ICT and telecoms, it would no longer be business as usual. “It has dawned on business people that you either embrace this technological evolution or ignore it at your own peril,” he said.

    Earlier, Executive Chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugune Juwah, said ICT  has grown such that it has moved into data and broadband.

    He said though there were challenges, the advantages of ICT in modern business could not be over emphasised.

    Juwah, who was represented by the Director, Special Duties of NCC, Ms Akiode Funlola, said with appropriate infrastructure the sector would grow the industrial sector.

  • NGO trains FCT women on ICT

    A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) High Tech Centre for Women and Youths in partnership with Nigeria Technological Development Agency (NITDA) has trained selected women in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Information Communication Technology (ICT).

    The training which was co-sponsored by CITEX And National Library of Nigeria (NLN) was organised for women leaders in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as opinion makers in the local councils, who are capable of influencing changes in their environments.

    The women were enlightened on coding techniques application development, business and enterprise developments in Information communication technology, empowerment,  skills and maintenance computer system among others.

    Speaking during the workshop, President of the NGO, Dr. Wunmi Hassan explained roles of women in national development.

    She said it was important to train women on ICT and empowerment, which according to her was capable of developing the society.

    Hassan encouraged the participants to think and act like entrepreneurs. She urged them to take advantage of little business opportunities and transform their livelihood.

    The NGO is engaged in training, capacity building and empowerment.

    “We are looking at change makers and people that can influence decisions. We want women who through their position can influence other women and their environment through empowerment.

    “We want to ensure that the library is well utilised by women ýto drive a change and do much more than reading.”

    “We say Nigerian need a change but the change will start with women. It is the women that will contribute more to moulding thýe society,” she added.

    In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, National Library of Nigeria (NLN), Alhaji Mallam Jato described the workshop as timely.

    The CEO urged the present administration to focus more on education, adding that if government could get a grip of the sector, it will hasten national growth.

    Jato, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Virtual Library Services Department, NLN, Mrs. Oluchi Kalu complained over situation where majority in the country cannot read or write which, according to her has slowed down development of the nation.

    She said: “When you talk of digital divide that is what Nigeria is actually going through. ICT is in vogue and Nigeria is behind. A situation where many people are not computer literate, they cannot even read or write and this is what one third of our population is suffering from.”

    However, she expressed optimism the training would positively influence the participants.

     

  • Leverage on opportunities in digital world, ICT experts urge students

    Students have been advised to showcase their creativity to tap into opportunities in the digital world. The advice came from Information and Communication Technology (ICT) entrepreneurs who spoke at a summit held in Afe Babalola Auditorium of the University of Lagos.

    The Country Head of India Institute of Technology (IIHT), Mr Joshy Hajosh, Chief Executive Officer of Commit Communications, Dr Niran Oyelade and Building Technologist-turned Software Developer, Mr

    Rotimi Oladapo, spoke to students on the theme: Digital literacy.

    Chairman of UNILAG Radio, Prof Ralph Akinfeleye and Head of Department of Mass Communication, Dr Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika hosted the event.

    Prof Akinfeleye said the summit would stoke the students’ passion in ICT, with the aim to make them relevant in the digital world.

    Ogwezzy expressed optimism that the summit would make students to go completely digital.

    She said: “We don’t want a situation where our graduates would not be able to compete with their peers in the digital world. We are now in a world of media convergence. So we have to set the standard for the world to see.”

    Hajosh said IIHT was committed to empowering students with the skills and knowledge on database management, security storage management, software programming, web development and cloud computing.

    Dr Oyelade said opportunities abound for a youth versed in digital literacy, adding that the emerging trend would make digital knowledge competitive among graduates.

    Oladapo said students should explore all avenues at discovering the potentials that will drive their academic development and career.

    He tasked students to make new discoveries in technology and other fields with the use of application software and use of digital gadgets.