The Nation Newspaper

Tag: indigenous

  • Huawei to expand indigenous enterprise partners

    Huawei to expand indigenous enterprise partners

    Leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, Huawei, has announced the expansion of its cooperation with its Nigerian partners, to integrate ICT products and solutions to enable rapid growth of enterprises business in the country.

    The firm stated this during the E-Nigeria Summit 2014 in Abuja. The summit was organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)  with Creating Market Opportunities for Indigenous ICT Products and Services as its theme.

    One of Huawei’s major business solutions, Huawei’s Enterprise Business Group, is growing steadily, allowing the firm to solidify its position as the leading ICT solutions provider in the industry. The enterprise business also remains a key strategic direction for Huawei’s overall growth plans, with  UC&C Product Line comprising telepresence, video conferencing and contact centre; IT product line comprising servers, storage, cloud computing & data centre; networking product line consisting of switches, routers, and energy product line comprising UPS and solar .

    According ot the firm, to support these products and solutions, it has set up sales and technical service platforms, to further establish its commitment in the enterprise market and support enterprise business operations.

    Vice President of Huawei West Africa, Mr. Richard Cao, said: “With a firm dedication to customer-centric innovation, Huawei Enterprise caters to customers from the government and public sector, financial institutions, transportation, energy industries, oil & gas sector, hospitality, education and SMEs.

    “Huawei is committed to serving as the most innovative and optimal ICT Technology partner for global enterprises, accelerating ICT development and improving operational efficiency in Nigeria.

    “We will work with our Channel Enterprise Partners to jointly embrace the challenges brought about by ICT transformations, build a favourable industry ecosystem, and promote sound development of the ICT industry and society at large, so as to ensure customer satisfaction.”

    According to him, upholding the business strategy, Huawei focuses on strategic and committed cooperation and integration with Enterprise Channel Partners, and the firm implementation of a transparent and stable channel policy, adding that it strives to share benefits with partners, and works hard to build a harmonious ecosystem for win-win partnerships which have yielded significant milestones in winning and co-deployment of so many projects in Nigeria with the channel partners.

    As part of its strategies, Huawei provides Channel Partners with free pre-sales and post-sales training to their engineers, so as to improve their technical capabilities on Huawei Enterprise solutions and products. Also Huawei offers free certification exams to Channel Partners. This is a major requirement for Tier 2 partnership.

  • Confusion in indigenous languages’ adverts

    As the world celebrates International Languages Day, a lead translator at XML Language Services Limited, Olugboyega Adebanjo, examines the use and misuse of indigenous languages in advert copies.

    The bedrock of ads in languages is translation. As the copywriter writes the copy in English, the translator writes the copy in Nigerian languages. Suffice to say: what a copywriter is to the English-Nigerian audience, is what a translator is to the non-English Nigerian audience. For emphasis, what a copywriter is to the English-Nigerian audience, glish Nigerian audience.

    Moreover, a translator “must, therefore, have a mastery of the two languages and of the subject matter of the work, thus expressing his own personality in it. It follows that to translate is to create,” Translation Rights and Translators’ Rights by The World Intellectual Property Organisation et al. It is the expression of “his own personality” that equates him with a copywriter.

    And the icing on the cake, as postulated by Tsehai Wada of the Addis Ababa University (AAU), is: “Translators as mediators between cultures have much responsibilities than authors (copywriters) (bracket added).” It is the dearth of this understanding that ruins ads in Nigerian languages. Such ruins are the translations of ‘SIM’ as ‘phone’, ‘registration of SIM’ as ‘registration of name’, ‘scratch’ as ‘peel’ etc. by the telecom operators.

    Another of such ruin is the translation of a popular brand of phone slogan – Be Original, Buy Original. A Yoruba radio ad of the phone simply translates and renders the slogan as an-an la n rin, Ra Ojulowo. The first thing to note is the inconsistency in the translation of the word ‘original’ as an-an la n rin and Ojulowo. While Ojulowo is apt translation of the word ‘original’, an-an la n rin is ‘to walk in a straight direction’. In context, the translation reads ‘Walk in a Straight Direction, Buy Original’.

    Absolutely, no correlation, and it is sheer confusion – no clarity. Besides, would J Ojulowo be apt translation of Be Original? But that would be the Yoruba of a non-Yoruba stock. Be Original is best translated as Fran Nnkan Ojulowo which means ‘to like something original’. If you like something original, then you can be said to Be Original. Absurdity of this nature is bounteous in ads in Nigerian languages. The absurdity is in sync with Fred Allen’s (a late American humourist) witticism that “An advertising agency is 85 per cent confusion and 15 per cent commission.” Indeed, the agencies (in connivance with the advertisers) sell 85 per cent confusion to us in order to line their pockets with 15 per cent commission.

     

    Why the confusion?

    Deliberate evasion of translation process by advertisers and advertising agencies. Proof reading – a second person and independent perspective to translation – completes the cycle of the process. The process would remain detracted, just as it is today, if the services of mavens are not employed. A voice over artist, a radio or TV presenter, or a Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa orator is not a translator.

    A translator is first a linguist, and native speaker of a language. It is only a linguist who has the knowledge and depth on the grammar and stylistic usage of a language. Native speaker? Yes! A Yoruba or Edo man who speaks Hausa is inapt to do Hausa voice over. If anything, his pronunciations will betray him. Could the N20,000 (or less in some cases) being paid as the price of translation of a script in the advertising sector be justifiable? Based on my earlier assertion, if translation is seen as a copy in another language, and that is what it is, the question is: Would N20,000 be paid for a copy of any sort in English?

    The price defies economic logic in relation to the Advertising Standard Panel’s vetting approval of a script at N20,000 – the least. Come to think of it, you never know when you will be paid the money (for translation). Based on comments from at least two different A-rating agencies, it takes between three months and one year. The disinclination of the Nigerian state to regulate and protect this form of art remains a concern.

     

    Who is vetting what?

    I really find it difficult to believe that Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) – Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) statutory committee – empower to vet ads do vet ads in Nigerian languages. If it does, one thing is clear: the linguistic incompetence of its members in Nigerian languages. Page 3 of the Vetting Guideline says, “The Vetting Guidelines apply to the entire contents of an advertisement, including words….” There is an urgent need for ASP to employ the service of experienced linguists and translators to help them take ‘care of words’ in Nigerian languages.

     

  • ‘Why indigenous pilots are not employable’

    ‘Why indigenous pilots are not employable’

    Managing Director of Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited, Captain Akin Oni has attributed inadequate flying hours, inability to pass competence tests, and low quality training from overseas training institutions as part of the reasons  many indigenous pilots are unable to secure employment in the aviation sector.

    He said the rising unemployment rate among young  indigenous pilots may be difficult to check because many of the young pilots do not have the mandatory 150 hours required to show their competence on any aircraft.

    He made this known yesterday while unveiling the 20 cadet  helicopter pilots to be sent to the United States by the firm for a one-year training programme at the academy run by the Bristow Group in America.

    Oni said the 20 cadet helicopter pilot trainees would cost the airline over $500 million.

    He said it costs about $250,000 each  to train  cadet pilot for the one -year training in the US.

    Oni said the firm has trained over 300 pilots in the past 30 years to boost capacity building.

    Oni said the firm will continue to invest in the training of indigenous pilots as part of its contributions to improve indigenous competence and competitiveness.

    He said the airline will continue to train more helicopter pilots to reduce the number of expatriate pilots in its employ, adding that the airline is carrying out the manpower development programme in compliance with the local content  policy of government to create opportunities for Nigerians to run critical sectors of the economy.

    He said it cost the airline more money to engage expatriate pilots, who are not necessarily more competent.

    Oni said airlines incur more costs to engage foreign pilots, for which they pay more to  guarantee  their security in view of kidnapping, huge costs of accommodations, travel expenses, salaries and other incidentals associated with foreign employees.

  • Indigenous investor unveils 20m-song phone

    Indigenous investor unveils 20m-song phone

    With the catch phrase: ‘Let’s Go Solo’, an elegant smartphone enters the Nigerian market with a bang, priding itself with the best content and services ecosystem, and coming from an indigenous investor.

    “This is an exciting day for all of us in the Solo Family,” says Tayo Ogundipe, founder and Global CEO of Solo Phone, at the media unveil of the new product on November 22. He described the initiative as providing an intuitive user experience on elegant, affordable devices.

    “It is especially thrilling that we are launching our global brand in Nigeria; it’s great to be home,” he said, adding: “Our mission is to combine our roots in emerging markets with our global industry experience in the mobile telecommunications space to deliver a compelling and complete experience on affordable smartphones across Africa and other emerging markets. This vision is our passion because this is our home,” said the eloquent Solo phone honcho.

    Ogundipe said at the media launch at Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos, that the new device is offering over 20 million local and global songs, as its Unique Selling Point (USP). The phone, which came with an initial screen display photo promo, has Afro Pop singer, Iyanya Mbuk, as its ambassador. Ogundipe’s presentation at the event captured the product as having free up-to-date music, Nollywood movies and strong gaming applications.

    Asked if his company took permission for the use of the songs, the Solo Phone boss, who said he is a respecter of intellectual property, said his company is signed to Sony, Warner and Universal music, with Olisa Adibua of Beat FM as link man to the local choice songs.

    He said the device is “not just a smart phone, but comes with an easy widget and experience that makes you a moving DJ,” noting that his company, in addition, is collaborating with Etisalat, to offer six months and one-year free data in the two categories of the phone for buyers.

    Head, Devices & Terminals at Etisalat Nigeria Olayiwola Onafowokan said at the event: “Etisalat is happy to partner with Solo in fulfilling our objective of providing Nigeria with the best Internet experience. We believe it is important for network providers and phone manufacturers to collaborate and initiate products and services to satisfy the increased demand for data and smartphones by subscribers.”

    The range includes Solo S350 and Solo S450; the former, a 3.5″ screen Android Jelly Bean 4.1 smartphone with dual SIM capabilities, 4GB internal memory with 8GB of SD card, expandable up to 32GB. The latter, a 4.5″ screen, Android Jelly Bean 4.2 smartphone with dual SIM capabilities and 16GB of internal memory, coupled with SD card capabilities of up to 32GB.

    The package, according to Ogundipe, is an unusual digital video rental service that enables customers to stream, download and store videos for up to two weeks on their mobile devices.

  • NEXIM Bank’s credit to buyers of indigenous goods coming

    NEXIM Bank’s credit to buyers of indigenous goods coming

    The Nigerian Export- Import Bank (NEXIM) will provide loans to buyers of indigenous products to boost exports and deepen transactions in 2015, its Managing Director, Mr Roberts Orya, has said.

    He told The Nation that the initiative was aimed at making local products more competitive in the international market and enabling them to have an edge over others.

    He said to enhance the bank’s share capital, the bank was discussing with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Ministry of Finance.

    Buyers’ Credit is a financial arrangement in which the bank or financial institution would extend credit to any country that is willing to buy made-in-Nigeria products. It is also known as financial credit.

    Orya said this is how it is done in some developed countries,adding that NEXIM Bank has studied other countries and is ready to introduce same to Nigeria.

    He said the economy has reached a level where it can also give the potential buyers of its products fund to buy goods, at least within the sub-region, adding that this will boost exports.

    On the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Support Facility (ETSF), Orya said it was created by NEXIM for indigenous exporters to look for exports in the sub-region and that they were working with ECOWAS Bank on the project.

    Orya assured that the bank would provide more services when its capital base is increased, and that this is how EXIM banks in countries, such as India and Malaysia have helped their economy.

    He, however, raised concerns that lack of credit insurance has made it difficult for the bank to take exporters to the sub-region and take advantage of the huge potential there.

    He said any bank wishing to participate in co-financing a project with NEXIM must be in good health, adding that it must provide three years audited accounts and meet additional criteria by NEXIM.

    He said: “A borrower must be a credit worthy limited liability company, co-operative society, existing/new production units with a minimum of 50 per cent export orientation or an existing provider of export services. The borrower must establish that the loan will develop or expand his export business.”

  • SMEDAN, Oyo, Niger partner on indigenous products

    The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) said it would partner with Oyo and Niger states to develop indigenous products.

    Head of Southwest Zone of SMEDAN, Mr Gbenga Ogundeji, said the partnership was based on the agency’s “One Local Government, One Product’’ initiative.

    He described that the initiative is a process whereby councils could be identified by the indigenous products they had comparative advantage to produce.

    According to him, the initiative is being supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

    He said research on durable industrial products in Oyo and Niger states had begun.

    Ogundeji also said SMEDAN had discovered two local governments in states where the recruitment of entrepreneurs would begin.

    “SMEDAN is working hard to ensure the implementation of the initiative in all the states.

    “At present, we are working with Oyo and Niger states to get products in which they have great capacity to produce.

    “By the time the research on each state is completed, it would provide a branding and mass production of a product of their choice and capacity by each local government,’’ he said.

    Ogundeji said: “With this, there would be more number of employed youths and business owners empowered by SMEDAN in the states.’’

    He said the partnership with the states would boost the production, processing and packaging of the goods since they were mostly agricultural products like cassava.

    Ogundeji assured that the packaging of the products would be done to meet international standards for exports.

    Director-General, SMEDAN, Mr Muhammad Umar, said the programme would revitalise the economy through the establishment of businesses in the rural areas based on comparative advantages.