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Tag: Tech

  • Yellow Card to boost women in tech

    Yellow Card to boost women in tech

    A financial technology company, Yellow Card, has decried the high level of barriers faced by women in the technology space.

    Speaking in Lagos at the weekend, its Chief Operating Officer, Jason Marshall, said through the company’s YC Social Good Initiative, it intends to close this gap, equipping and preparing young African talents with the necessary skills required to shape the future of the continent.

    The company, which is also a cryptocurrency exchange platform, therefore, said through a $3,000 grant, has partnered the Web3Ladies mentorship programme to empower over 500 women with tech and blockchain skills.

    He said the move is part of its YC Social Good, company’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative, aimed at promoting financial freedom and enabling access to tech resources for everyone across the continent.

    For Yellow Card, the decision to partner with Web3Ladies, a women-centric organization, was driven by the need to provide greater access to training and tech resources for the burgeoning young population of the continent, particularly females, who face significant barriers.

    Read Also: How African tech startups can compete globally, by experts

    He said an estimated 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030, and UNESCO estimates that only 30 per cent of women receive science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) training, with even fewer girls possessing essential digital skills for the modern workforce in the region.

    “We are committed to helping people across the African continent improve their lives through various partnerships and programs that focus on financial inclusion, youth empowerment, education, and innovation,” he said.

    Jason said women and girls face significant barriers to technology and digital literacy education, making it an easy decision to grant Web3Ladies the $3,000 for the mentorship program.

    “This is just one of our several efforts under the YC Social Good, our CSR initiatives, which promote inclusion and financial freedom across the continent,” Jason added.

    The Web3Ladies mentorship program is a three-month intensive boot camp designed to train skilled designers, engineers, and managers for the blockchain industry while providing them with the necessary tools and tech resources needed for post-training success.

    Despite Nigeria’s strong entrepreneurial spirit, only 15per cent of tech startup co-founders in Nigeria are women.  A study published by LongHash in 2018 showed that among 100 blockchain startups surveyed, female employees accounted for only 14.5per cent of the workforce. So, while the digital ecosystem is dynamic and exciting, gender inclusivity remains a growth inhibitor. Yellow Card, through this partnership, has gone beyond mere words and reiterations of the problem to contribute to the empowerment of more women, an investment they believe will yield overall positive results for the African economy in the near future.

     Associate Program Manager for Web3Ladies, Nkechi Enebeli, said the $3,000 grant to power their mentorship program, is welcome.

    “Yellow Card’s commitment to corporate social responsibility is nothing short of remarkable. Their partnership reaffirms the belief that empowering women in tech is not just a matter of equality but an investment in the future. The partnership is more than just financial support; it’s a testament to the power of collaboration. We are immensely grateful to Yellow Card for recognizing our mission and offering their hand in our journey towards a more equitable tech ecosystem, “she said.

    According to her, the Web3Ladies mentorship program runs in four different phases for a duration of three months. During the program, mentees attend live classes and weekly workshops under the guidance of on-site mentors. The workshops are in-depth sessions on specific blockchain topics delivered by industry experts and experienced professionals. There are over 500 registered mentees and an intake of over 200 accepted applicants in the current cohort. “We are looking to provide work tools such as laptops, inverters, and MiFis to successfully graduated mentees after the cohort program,” she added.

    Since its launch in Nigeria in 2019, Yellow Card has contributed thousands of dollars to sponsor various projects and initiatives. This support extends beyond Nigeria and expands across the continent. Yellow Card has supported initiatives such as Generation Empower (GenEm) in support of their mission to educate and empower the youth in Tanzania, a $5,000 grant to the Purple Skills Klinic Foundation, which seeks to empower young people in Uganda, among other projects led by the company.

  • How African tech startups can compete globally, by experts

    How African tech startups can compete globally, by experts

    By Esther Uyor

    Experts have urged African technology startups to embrace innovation for them to compete on the global stage.

    Experts, who spoke during the Texcellence Conference 2.0 organised by CWG Plc in Lagos, said innovation presents enormous opportunities for African tech startups to excel and compete globally.

    Group Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc, Adewale Adeyipo, said the choice of the conference’s theme: “Innovating for the Future”, was appropriate because of the roles of innovation and development stage of African startups.

    He noted that technology plays significant roles in nation-building, thus the need for Nigeria and other African countries to focus on developing their information and communication technology (ICT) sectors.

    According to him, technology plays fundamental role in wealth creation, improving the quality of life, and driving real economic growth and transformation in any society.

    Read Also; Soldiers rescue Zamfara varsity students

    Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, pointed out that there were opportunities and challenges that come with technology.

    He said technology inspires to greater heights while connectivity that comes with tech advancements opening more opportunities for individuals and the society.

    Chairman, CWG Plc, Mr. Philip Obioha also emphasised the significance of Africa focusing on innovation and discovering new, efficient ways of doing things rather than duplicating existing solutions.

    He highlighted CWG’s commitment to reinventing itself and developing new solutions, such as FifthLab, a fintech company launched during its 30th-anniversary celebration.

    Chief Operating Officer, CWG Plc, Mr. Afolabi Sobande, noted that innovation plays important roles in driving development within the tech space in Africa.

    According to him, innovation is all about problem-solving and is a key characteristic of any successful technology company.

    He added that rapid evolution of technology underscores the importance of collaboration and partnership with organisations working towards similar goals.

    Chief Technology Officer, CWG Plc, Mr. Ireti Yusuf urged the Nigerian government to invest in its people, particularly in the field of ICT.

    He pointed out that ICT is a thriving sector and one of the next prominent job markets apart from the medical occupation.

    He stressed CWG’s dedication to innovation and its focus on creating solutions that improve clients’ lives and daily operations is evident in CWG’s efforts to stay at the forefront of the industry.

  • Legal tech startup wins international award for Nigeria

    Legal tech startup wins international award for Nigeria

    LawGlobal Hub, a Nigeria-based legal-tech company, has emerged the ‘Best Emerging Legal Repository of the Year’ at the prestigious APAC Legal Awards 2023.

    This award celebrates LawGlobal Hub’s remarkable contributions to the legal landscape in the Asia-Pacific region.

    LawGlobal Hub stands at the forefront of legal innovation, bridging the gap between technology and the legal profession.

    The emerging legal-tech company has made its mark by providing indispensable legal information and resources to users across Nigeria, India, South Africa, the United States, and various other countries worldwide.

    The company is led by Inioluwa Olaposi, founder and director, with a team of committed minds.

    The expansive reach of LawGlobal Hub enables users to access a wealth of domestic and international legal resources, including legal articles, statutory documents, topical cases, and judgments. Its robust repository empowers legal enthusiasts, practitioners, judges, and students alike, democratizing the knowledge and practice of law.

    Read Also: Adoption of blockchain tech will create jobs, transparency, say Fed Govt, SEC, others

    What sets the legal information giant apart is its multifaceted approach to legal support. Not only does it provide comprehensive legal information for people worldwide, but it also equips legal professionals with cutting-edge IT tools, and supports cross-border legal research.

    The APAC Legal Awards 2023 is a prestigious platform that honours top legal talent within the Asia Pacific region.

    These awards recognise individuals and organizations whose profound knowledge, unmatched skill, and groundbreaking innovation set them apart in the legal sphere.

    The Asia Pacific region is experiencing significant growth in the legal sector, driven by abundant investment opportunities and high activity in sectors where legal services are indispensable.

    The APAC Legal Awards 2023 aim to commend those instrumental in the region’s legal development and success, welcoming nominations from businesses and professionals of all sizes operating in the Asia Pacific legal sector.

    LawGlobal Hub’s remarkable achievement at the APAC Legal Awards 2023 underscores the transformative role of technology in the legal profession, not only in Asia-Pacific region or Nigeria but also on a global scale. In recent times, technology has evolved as a strong force, revolutionizing and improving how people access, understand, and apply the law.

    Legal-tech companies like LawGlobal Hub are at the forefront of this transformation, ensuring that legal information is readily available and easily comprehensible for all. Technology empowers individuals to know the law, find the law, and utilize it proficiently. It facilitates efficient legal research, streamlines document management, and enhances the overall practice of law. Similarly, it promotes legal education and awareness, making legal resources accessible to a broader audience.

    As technology continues to advance, it promises to further improve the scope of the legal profession, breaking down barriers to legal information and promoting a more accessible and comprehensible legal system.

  • Tech skills crunch threatens business growth

    Tech skills crunch threatens business growth

    Efforts by business organisations in Nigeria and other African countries to adopt powerful technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the cloud are being undermined by a pervasive lack of tech skills, and organisations need a rethink of their approach to skills to correct the situation, experts have said.

     Chairman, Zinox Technologies Group, Leo Stan Ekeh and Human Resources Director, SAP Africa, Genevieve Koolen, stressed the need to create the enabling environment for youths to get the requisite skills that would propel the continent to the next level.

    Ekeh, who spoke at a virtual meeting with some reporters at the weekend, advised the Federal Government to establish tech hubs in the universities so that the kids would be able to experience technology to quash their thirst and curiosity while Koolen said interest in AI continues to grow in demand.

    Ekeh said AI will take over jobs ordinarily performed by human beings underscoring the need to skill up and reskill appropriately. He sought support for the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu, arguing that pains will naturally precede gains during any radical reform. He hoped the economic direction would be clearer between the next six and eight months.

    Read Also: ‘Artificial intelligence will usher in new fiscal opportunities’

    He said: “Technology is crucial to every economy. It will reduce security challenges by creating massive jobs for the youthful population of the country.

     “We are dancing towards a realistic economy now. People are planning and prioritising their needs; everybody both the rich and poor, is facing the pains. And it is going to be brutal in the next six months. But it will get better. Have faith in the economy.” 

     Koolen said: “Interest in technologies such as artificial intelligence is at an all-time high as organisations throughout the African continent seek to unlock the efficiency and innovation gains offered by such technologies. However, in many cases an acute and ongoing shortage of critical tech skills is undermining organisations’ efforts at adopting new technologies, preventing them from building new capabilities or effectively driving innovation.”

     Research published by SAP earlier this year found that four in five African organisations were affected negatively by a lack of tech skills. Three-quarters of organisations also cited additional pressure on existing teams due to a lack of available tech skills, with 41 per cent reporting employees were either leaving or planning to leave due to the pressures caused by understaffing.

     “Business leaders and their HR teams are under pressure to ensure the organisation has access to a ready supply of work-ready skills. However, new talent is not being added to the skills pool quickly enough and many organisations simply don’t have the internal processes and initiatives needed to develop new skills internally or upskill or reskill existing employees,” Koolen said.

     In a study by McKinsey, 87per cent of global senior executives said their companies were not adequately prepared to address the skills gap. Koolen said one of the undesired outcomes of a lack of planning around tech skills is the so-called recycling of talent, where organisations rehire from the same pool of qualified candidates instead of developing and retaining new talent.

     “Talent retention is complicated by organisations all vying for a limited number of talented candidates. Instead, organisations should seek to develop and nurture their own talent, drawing on their skills base and upskilling or reskilling employees for new roles and duties,” he said.

     Koolen said companies must be intentional about developing internal skills as there is a gap between companies’ stated intention of developing internal skills, and the measures they put in place to achieve this. SAP’s research found that 75per cent of African organisations plan to fill their tech skills gap through skills development for employees.

     “However, only 28 per cent offer such training opportunities at any time, with a full quarter saying they only offer training and skills development once a year or upon special request. Considering the pace of technological change and the rapid impact of technologies such as AI, organisations should seek to build a culture of continuous and ongoing learning,” he averred.

     In some cases, this may involve greater investment of available HR and IT budgets toward skills development. “Only seven per cent of African organisations currently spend more than 20 per cent of their IT or HR budgets on skills development, leaving significant room for greater investment to address the skills scarcity,” he added.

     There should also be a focus on the employee experience. The ‘Great Resignation’ that followed the lifting of lockdown restrictions in 2020 and 2021 – where employees left their jobs in record numbers – highlighted the lack of engagement many employees felt with their work.

     “Quiet Quitting and other forms of disengagement with work have a direct impact on an organisation’s ability to remain competitive. With some studies suggesting only 21per cent of employees globally are engaged at work, companies have a tremendous task ahead to re-engage their employees,” Koolen said.

     As a result, Employee Experience has emerged as a major priority in companies’ talent attraction and retention strategies. SAP research revealed that 70per cent of African organisations use an Employee Experience or Human Capital Management tool, with a further 25per cent saying they want to use such tools.

     “By connecting their data, people, and processes, companies can improve the business insights they derive from HR and build a total workforce management strategy that closely supports broader company objectives while delivering the employee experiences that improve retention and boosts engagement,” he said.

     Building a culture of inclusion is also important in the scheme of things as diversity and inclusion initiatives have gained ground over the past few decades to become strategic imperatives for any high-performing company.

     McKinsey suggests gender-diverse organisations are 25per cent more likely to outperform their less diverse competitors, while ethnically-diverse organisations are 36per cent more likely to do so.

     “Encouragingly, nearly two-thirds of African organisations that formed part of our research offer fully-developed diversity and inclusion programmes, with a further 31per cent saying they are in the process of developing one,” she said, adding that diversity and inclusion bring benefits to the business that extend beyond skills availability. “Diverse companies have been proven to be more innovative, have better problem solving capabilities, and financially outperform their less diverse peers,” Koolen said.

  • Standard Chartered unveils Women in Tech programme

    STANDARD Chartered Bank (Nigeria) Limited has launched the SC Women in Tech Incubator. The scheme is to support and promote the economic and social development of women in Nigeria through innovation or technology led entrepreneurship. Through this initiative, the bank will be focusing on capacity building for women-owned small enterprises and see this as a great opportunity to support greater diversity in gender representation within technology entrepreneurship for women in the country.

    The Standard Chartered Women in Tech programme will target female-led entrepreneurial teams and provide them with training, mentorship and seed funding. There will be an open call for participation leading to a final selection of up for the top 10 contestants with the most compelling ideas. At the end of the training period, up to five winners will be chosen and each winner will be awarded up to $10,000 to invest in their business.

    The event included an all-women panel discussion led by Olga Arara-Kimani, Regional Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Standard Chartered Bank along with Adenike Adeyemi, Executive Director, FATE Foundation; Bode Abifarin, COO of Flutter Wave Incorporated; Odun Eweniyi, CoFounder, PiggyVest; Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin, Founder, Pearls Africa Youth Foundation; and Oreoluwa Lesi, Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre who moderated the session.

    Read Also: ‘Young people need to harness the power of technology to their advantage’

    The panel discussed about the importance of establishing sustainable businesses that meet specific pertinent socio-economic demands; demystifying technology and making it accessible to more women and youths as part of economic empowerment. The panel also highlighted the need for more collaboration between sectors; proper profiling of businesses for access to funds and specialist support; hands-on training and mentoring.

    Commenting on the launch Dayo Aderugbo, Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Nigeria and West Africa at Standard Chartered Bank said  “We are pleased to launch the SC Women in tech Incubator in Nigeria today. We are optimistic about the impact this programme will have on the socio-economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

    The support the beneficiaries will get will go a long way in ensuring the sustainability of the businesses while creating employment for more women and youths in the country. We are excited about the endless growth opportunities and ripple effect impact this growth will have on the economy. This initiative builds on the Bank’s track record of increasing women’s access to entrepreneurial finance, employability and supporting adolescent girls and women through financing and capacity building.”

    The launch of the programme in Nigeria follows a successful rollout of a similar initiative in USA, Kenya, Pakistan and more recently in UAE by Standard Chartered.  The Bank first launched the programme to support women in technology in 2014 at the City College of New York where it created the Women Entrepreneurs Resource Centre. The US program includes a dedicated workspace, mentorship, coursework and access to an extensive network designed to support entrepreneurs navigating the challenges of starting a business.

  • Banks, tech firms unite for SMEs

    Commercial banks and technology companies are partnering to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) adopt the right technology to boost their operations. FirstBank and Microsoft have struck a deal. Under it, the tech giant will help over 40 million SMEs’ customers of the bank to access Microsoft productivity suite tools at discounted rates to digitalise SMEs’ operations and create more value for customers, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

    Technology and digital skills play an integral role in business success. For Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), integrating technology into their operations is no longer an option. It is a necessity for growth and profitability.

    But SMEs on their own, lack the needed connection and sometimes, capital to secure the right technology that would make their operations seamless. It was the need to connect its customer SMEs to a leading tech-customer that created ongoing  partnership between First Bank of Nigeria Limited and Microsoft.

    The target for both firms is to ensure that over 40 million customers of the bank access supporting technology solutions at discounted rate from the tech-giant.

    That plan, which is already being accessed by many SMEs, was the focus of the Firstbank-Microsoft SME Partnership Launch, which  held in Lagos.

    With this partnership, FirstBank customers can buy Microsoft products at discounted rates in the local currency – the naira. This supports technology adoption, skills and capacity development among SMEs in the country.

    The SMEs will also have access to value-added products, services and offerings. Such as access to premium content, business networks, capacity building initiatives and more. This includes access to Microsoft productivity suite tools at discounted rates.

    FirstBank hopes this will drive the growth of SME’s within the Nigerian context by providing easy access to productivity tools, capacity building and a platform for SME education.

    Both firms are  working together to extend this support to as many SMEs as possible, ensuring not only their success, but the growth and competitiveness of the continent in an increasingly digital world.

    Speaking on the partnership, Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Adesola Adeduntan, said the pact was aimed at creating a more enabling environment for SMEs in the country.

    He said: “This event marks the official unveiling of the FirstBank-Microsoft partnership which will entail access to Microsoft productivity tools, namely, Office, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook, Skype for business, among others, at discounted rates.”

    According to him, the deal will also give participating SMEs the ability to purchase in naira instead of dollar; flexibility in subscription that allows for either monthly or yearly subscription; flexibility in payment method to allow payment with account number or with card; capacity building initiatives involving training on basic accounting practices; financial modeling; budget preparations; business pitches/marketing; and free support on the purchase of MS productivity tools.

    Adeduntan said the lender’s partnerships cut across economic empowerment, arts, sports, education and SMEs. “We trust that our customers will take advantage of this opportunity and avail themselves of whatever products they so desire and pay in naira. Our expectation is that all stakeholders would obtain the best benefits possible from this exciting partnership,” he said.

    He continued: “We are engaging partners with the same vision to grow the real sector of the Nigerian economy by using industry knowledge to build holistic approaches, combine advisory support with conventional banking products and create platforms to build stronger bonds with SMEs. We thrive on partnerships. This is one major reason for our existence these 125 years. We have a track record of developing propositions as well as partnering individuals and institutions to meet our customers’ needs and grow the economies in which we operate.”

    The partnership is also in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele’s commitment to SMEs and his directive to banks to continually support small businesses, which are seen as engine block of the economy.

    FirstBank Deputy Managing Director, Gbenga Shobo, who spoke at the event, said the lender wants to lift SMEs by encouraging them to embrace technology in their operations.

    Shobo, who spoke on the theme:  “The Accelerating impact of Digital Transformation on Business Growth in Nigeria”, said the target was to reach out to about 40 million SMEs and interested individuals.

    The event was attended by SME operators whose businesses have benefitted from the use of technology solutions.

    According to Shobo, the bank is connecting the SMEs with Microsoft to enable the operators improve their operations digitally.

    He said: “The SMEs can buy some of the Microsoft solutions at discounted rates, pay in naira as against dollar, thereby removing the stress of exchange rate which is sometimes a challenge for the SMEs. They now have a portal where they can ask for advice on the products and some extra sales support we can also get Microsoft to give them,” he said.

    He said the SMEs may not have been able to get the Microsoft solutions and products on their own, but for the two being FBN customers have managed to put them together.

    “We feel that SMEs are the major drivers of the economy in Nigeria today, because of the challenges of jobs creation and so most people are setting up businesses,” he said.

    Head Customer Experience and Value Management (CEVM), FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Taiwo Shonekan, said: “This partnership is a landmark step in our quest to leverage the influence of technology in businesses, especially in today’s digital age.”

    Also speaking, Director, Small and Medium Business Middle East and African Headquarter at Microsoft, Arjan Kotte, said the world is going digital, and that SMEs cannot be left behind.

    He said one million new devices will be coming online in 2020 while 60 per cent of computing will be in public cloud in 2025, adding that 25 per cent of workers’ time is wasted by information overload.

    Kotte, who spoke on the theme: Digital Transformation in Small and Medium Enterprises, said the partnership between Microsoft and FirstBank was meant to help the SMEs take their operations higher in terms of technology and use of the company’s product.

    He said the company considered FirstBank’s reach and customer base as critical in reaching more SMEs that would need Microsoft solutions.

    Microsoft 4Afrika’s Regional Director, Amrote Abdella, said integrating technology into operations is no longer an option, but a necessity.

     

    SMEs operators speak on tech deployment

    Some of the customers of the bank said the deployment of technology to their operations has added value to their businesses.

    Head of School, Busy Bees British School, Mrs. Atinuke Aluko, said technology has helped the school to grow tremendously.

    “First and foremost, it helps us with advertising and social  media advertising. Through technology, the education content is much better. We are able to deliver update education content. Before adapting technology, we have had very slow growth.  But in today’s world, parents are more discerning and are looking for more for their children. Without technology, we could not go very far. By next year, we will start teaching coding for those young ones that is where the world is going,” she said.

    Continuing, she said before the advent of technology, the school was not able to do many things. “Now we teach with interactive white boards, we can go online during the school and report the things we want the children to see. Before we leveraged on technology, we could not do all these. We are working on robust school systems software that can do everything. We can carry out accounting activities, school reporting, and other things. I think we have actually done well leveraging technology, and after this, we will go again and see where we can push forward. It has helped us tremendously and I will advocate it for anybody in the school industry,” she said.

    Proprietor, Busy Bees British School, Tokunbo Aluko, said using the cloud has made it much easier to get a lot of inputs from members of staff. “By the time you are sharing accounting documents, you can have different parts of the school, even with our auditors getting all the information together in one place, it has also been helpful. Even when we are doing the reports for the students, you can have teachers inputting all the information at different locations at the same time.”

     

     

  • Job opportunities in tech entrepreneurship

    There’s a huge opportunity for young people in tech entrepreneurship, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    In the increasingly competitive tech field, one of the biggest challenges young people face is figuring out the best place to break in. To Product Design Manager, Hotels.ng, Namnso Ukpanah , venturing into the world of designing presents ample opportunities for tech entrepreneurs and young people looking for employment.

    According to him, design jobs are hot in demand and pay handsomely. Besides, he revealed that there are plenty of areas where the designer’s potential is nowhere close to being fulfilled.

    This is because companies are constantly on the lookout for digital designers who know how a product should feel (UX), as well as how the product should be laid out (UI). Here, the country lacks a pool of great designers to draw from whenever the need arises.

    Ukpanah, a User Experience designer, solves problems using effective and obvious interface designs and also simplifying them to accommodate new users.

    He currently manages the design team at hotels.ng, an indigenous online hotel booking company.

    The industry, according to him,  is blossoming, thereby creating good jobs, bringing more young people into the workforce as well as varying its products and increasing skills and value.

    Right now, startups are looking for user experience architect, experience designer, user researcher, visual designer, information architect, user interface designer, and human factors engineer.

    Getting  a job, however, depends on  having a varied portfolio from  working with a broad range of clients. UX focuses on the deep understanding of users, what they need, what they value, their abilities as well as their limitations as they relate to a given product, website, or technology.

    For starters, expanding job markets, rising salaries, and growing industries is driving them to  software development. But one of the most notable characteristics of opportunities for  developers  is their truly global nature. Princess Jewel Essien, is  a software developer at Andela. She uses a wide range of languages to craft beautiful solutions to current problems.

    Speaking with The Nation after a Flutter Users Meetup in Lagos, Princess Essien said tech jobs are more diverse in their requirements.

    According to her, there are lots of good-paying tech jobs for designers and software developers.

    She said there’s nothing but opportunity ahead for developers with the right skillset.She said young Nigerians need mobile programming skills, UX/UI design, desire to learn new technologies and keep up with trends.

    She said software development world is changing drastically, making more and more new technologies and tools readily available. The challenge, according to her, is building technical skills to excel in the market.

    Founder, Start InnovationHub, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Hanson Johnson said the idea is to scale up programmes to deliver on-demand digital skills to help job seekers enter tech through paid apprenticeships and job placement.

    The hub provides technical training to youths, aimed at increasing their economic opportunities and changing their quality of life. The training involves intensive ICT training; web, graphic, and 3D design; job placement; and coaching to support students during their transition to employment.

    As part of plans to adapt to technological trends, he desires partnerships which  focus on the skills young tech entrepreneurs need to succeed in the digital economy.

    Right now, his hub provides  training and guidance to young tech entrepreneurs and prepare students for the jobs of the future.

    The centre provides young people  a space in which to gather and work on their own tech projects.

    His goal is to significantly improve the tech startup and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) industry so that companies are ready for the digital economy.

    He has worked with students in recent years, and placed them into tech-sector apprenticeships or as direct hires as front-end, back-end, full-stack, or mobile developers.

    He is creating a path into tech that’s far more accessible than the typical route of a four-year degree in computer science.

    He aims at providing young Nigerians with new opportunities to build and launch products, refine pitches, and network in the innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment ecosystem.

    He wants universities to make room for bootcamps, incubators, and accelerators as a supplement to their current educational offerings.

    According to him, the most important factor in IT hiring is skills. He said a candidate must have the technical ability to do the job.   Johnson said companies are looking for candidates who have hands-on experience .

    The overall job landscape in the country is evolving rapidly. For  Chief Executive,  Product Strategy, Grupa, Samuel Ekpe, noted that growth of technology-based sectors is leading to the creation of new job ecosystems, which are becoming good sources of employment.

    Last  year, he  said $600billion was  spent on software development. He said jobs in tech will rise as the rest of the economy. With fintech and e-commerce startups attracting more venture capital last year, he believes tech entrepreneurs have plenty to feel upbeat about.

    For Ekpe, young people  interested in jobs  in software development should  be able to write code; design, prototype; analyse software; work with designers, product managers, and programmers.  This requires skills such as HTML, CSS, SASS, JavaScript, Java, MySQL, Ruby, Python, Responsive Web Design, jQuery, frameworks, PHP, Apache among others.

    He said IT and software skills shortage is one of the fundamental issues facing the developed world. According to him, Grupa is on-demand software development platform.

    Grupa, Ekpe  said, helps individuals and organisations transform ideas into businesses. They  do this by making sure clients get the best software development teams to build their dreams.

    He said the industry needs people to fill positions for software engineers, computer programmers and interactive media developers, information systems analysts and consultants, computer and network operators, web technicians, and others.

  • Canon showcases tech for broadcast, cinema

    Canon showcases tech for broadcast, cinema

    Canon has showcased its latest industry-leading innovations at CABSAT 2018, the leading broadcast, satellite and creative event in the Middle East and Africa region. The leader in imaging solutions also provided visitors with the opportunity to experience its full range of security solutions, Pro Video portfolio and professional imaging products first-hand at dedicated shooting areas and end to end workflow scenarios.

    At the three-day event, Canon unveiled the latest additions to its Pro-Video segment with the launch of its 4K XF Series cameras, XF405 and XF400, which are in addition to the recent launch of the EOS C200, the 4K compact digital cinema camera from the esteemed Cinema EOS range. Under the XA series, XA-11 and XA-15 mark their entry into the region along with the low light network camera with remarkable performance, the ME20F-SHN. The company also presented evolved and seamless workflow solutions, which enable more efficient and cost-effective production for broadcasters and filmmakers.

    Speaking at the event, Managing Director Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA), Roman Troedthandl, said: “Canon’s presence in CABSAT, which is considered to be one of the most important events in broadcast and media technology regionally and globally, is integral to showcasing our commitment towards playing a vital role in the cinema industry. Celebrating the incredible potential of filmmakers in Africa, Canon is set on clearing any hardships they may face enroute, through offering all the necessary technical and technological support they require, and this year we are going even further and extending our participation towards supporting young and aspiring filmmakers.

    “We also understand that there is an increasing integration of 4K into mainstream television dramas, documentaries and movies, and we are committed to continually evolving to meet the fluctuating needs of broadcasters and filmmakers with the latest additions to our innovative Cinema EOS series. As well as consistently strengthening and enhancing our partnerships with Tier 1 partners in markets like Nigeria, Morocco, West Africa and Egypt while hand in hand expanding our presence through an extended network of Tier 2 partners in Egypt, Nigeria and Morocco.”

    Designed to benefit broadcasters and filmmakers alike, the EOS C200 is the first Cinema EOS camera to feature the revolutionary Cinema RAW light format, which provides the same flexibility in colour grading as Cinema RAW in a smaller file size, enabling filmmakers to record internally to a CFast 2.0™ card.

     

     

  • Tech in transportation‘ll promote entrepreneurship, others

    Tech in transportation‘ll promote entrepreneurship, others

    Technology is redefining every facet of human endeavour. From health, agric, education and communication to many others, technology has changed everything. The General Manager, Uber sub-Saharan Africa, Alon Lits, says multi-modal transport powered by technology is the best way to promote entrepreneurship, relieve pressure on infrastructure, and deliver safe and efficient transport that helps people connect with work, business and leisure opportunities. He shares his perspectives with LUCAS AJANAKU.

    How it started

    when Uber was first established in 2009, its mission was to help people everywhere get a ride, safely, quickly and at the push of a button. Eight years later, that mission remains the same and Uber’s innovative, technology-driven business model is still fundamentally changing the way people think about meeting their transport needs.

    For the past four years, Uber has been delivering this same level of transformation across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and with more than 1.8 million active riders using the app, Uber certainly has reason to celebrate its fourth anniversary on the continent this September.

    And it’s not just Uber that has benefited from the stellar uptake of its convenient offering in Africa. The SSA countries in which Uber now has a presence, and the citizens of those countries, are also reaping significant socio-economic rewards thanks to the transformation that the Uber approach has helped to drive.

    Benefits/milestones

    At an economic level, these benefits take many forms. In many cities, the reliability, immediacy, and convenience that Uber offers to city residents and visitors is having the positive impact of helping to reduce congestion. In most urban parts of sub-Saharan Africa, single occupant vehicles remain the biggest contributors to gridlock. But increasing numbers of city residents are recognising that Uber offers a cost effective way of sharing their daily commute with others, thereby reducing the total number of vehicles on the roads, while at the same time cutting down on the costly wear and tear that regular stop-start driving causes.

    Uber usage in South Africa is a prime example of these shifting private transport perceptions. This month, almost 25 000 riders each used Uber more than 10 times a week, which points to the increasing adoption of this tech-driven solution, not just as a leisure transport option, but also for work and business purposes. This demonstrates that Uber is a true alternative to private car ownership.

    Another significant benefit that Uber is delivering in sub-Saharan Africa is enabling and empowering economic opportunities and offering more choice. The steadily growing number of Uber driver-partners in countries across the region is testament to the appeal of the Uber business model. That’s because it creates real opportunities for local entrepreneurs to create and enjoy the flexibility and enhanced earnings potential – for themselves and, ultimately, for individuals that many of them bring into their thriving and growing transport businesses.

    And growing demand for trips across the sub-Saharan Africa region leads to a steadily growing need for drivers. Currently more than 29 000 such driver-partners are taking advantage of the earnings generating opportunities delivered by the Uber app. Importantly, the Uber model allows these individuals to be as flexible as they need to be, which means that they are able to earn what they want, when they want to, either as  full-time entrepreneurs or to supplement other sources of income.

    Uber investigates partnerships with businesses that bring benefits to drivers, such as the multiple vehicle financing programmes that have been made available to drivers across South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria, that reduce barriers to credit and capital. The first partnership of this kind was implemented in South Africa with WesBank, offering existing drivers access to vehicles at preferential rates, with a view to establishing their own passenger transport business. This unique model is based on driver ratings and earning potential, as opposed to the norm of credit checks. The model was successfully expanded across sub-Saharan Africa and is being tested in markets across EMEA.

    Uber also invests heavily into supporting its driver-partners in their businesses through ongoing technological innovation as well as physical presences in the form of support hubs. Apart from the existing Greenlight Hubs across SSA, five more of these state-of-the-art Greenlight Hubs were opened in Dar Es Salaam, Nairobi, Kampala, Kumasi and Lagos this year and, in addition to offering driver-partners technical and app support, they also offer information sessions and tailored workshops to driver-partners, focusing on training and skills development.

    In a region of high unemployment and stagnating economic prospects, Uber’s business partnership approach provides an accessible means for entrepreneurs to not only supplement their own income, but also to become small business owners, thereby helping to improve the lives and futures of individuals, families and communities.

    Importantly, Uber’s approach to shifting perspectives of how people in sub-Saharan Africa move around their cities is one of partnership with all stakeholders. Uber strives at all times to collaborate closely with local regulators to understand the challenges they are grappling with in their cities and then help them to develop workable and accessible solutions that benefit people and economies. It’s with this in mind that Uber has just launched Uber Movement in Johannesburg, a new website to help urban planners, city leaders, third parties and the public better understand the transportation needs of their cities.

    Technology in transport

    This partnership approach has always been at the heart of the business because our global experience has shown us that multi-modal transport powered by technology is the best way to promote entrepreneurship, relieve pressure on infrastructure, and deliver safe and efficient transport that helps people connect with work, business and leisure opportunities.

  • Lagos govt, Bridge Academies partner on tech skills

    The Lagos State government has partnered a group of not-for-profit low-fee schools, Bridge International Academies, on hi-tech education skills.

    The partnership culminated in a conference for promoting the application of tech tools to improve the quality of education.

    The conference was a social sector open house in collaboration with Lagos State Ministry of Education and Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

    Since its establishment in Nigeria in 2015, Bridge International Academies has been championing the use of hi-tech tools to improve quality of education in rural areas.