The Nation Newspaper

Tag: technology

  • W.TEC exposes 34 teenage girls to technology

    Thirty-four teenage girls left the ninth W.TEC Girls Technology Camp penultimate week feeling confident about applying technology to solve various problems.

    The girls, drawn from both public and private secondary schools in Lagos and other states, learnt to program, build mobile Apps, animate, create games, and take and edit photos using software applications like Scratch, MIT App Inventor, Alice and others.

    They also learnt about business plan development, online branding, and self defense, and went on excursion to Swift Technologies, which provided broadband internet access for the duration of the two-week camp at Laureates College, Mafoluku.

    On graduation day penultimate Saturday, the girls happily showcased what they had learnt to their parents and guests.  Those whose work was outstanding were rewarded with group and individual prizes for their effort.

    The duo of Hafsoh Badirudeen and Mistura Sanni gladly showed off their Mobile Quiz App to this reporter which they developed using the MIT App Inventor in collaboration with three others, Ekundayo Oluwaseyi, Chidinma Nwosu, and Mariam Awotubo.

    The quiz game posts Current Affairs questions, which the player must answer correctly to progress on the game.  Their app won the Mobile App Development award.

    Hafsoh and Mistura said they compiled the questions from their school curriculum.

    Emmanuella Okongwu of Orile Girls Grammar School was the first runner up in the individual Mobile App Development category for her application called Talking Tom, which pronounces words typed into it; while Esther Odunsi of Girls’ Senior Academy, Lagos, won the main prize for her painting App.  Chidinma Ogbuagu was recognised for developing a photograph-editing app; while Mercy Eze won the award for Scratch Programming for her brick break game, which was lauded for moving in all directions.

    Character Prizes went to Sayo Ogunbekun (Miss Purposeful); Chisom Cephas (Miss Capable); Mercy Eze (Miss Blossom); Amidat Amusa (Miss Humour); Miss Juliet Agbate (Miss Congeniality); Adeyemi Omotade (Miss Courageous); Ayobami Ogunfemi (Miss Leadership); and Atinuke Chinemerem-Isreal (Miss Prim & Proper).

    Atinuke also won the overall Miss W.TEC prize for being an all-rounder in all aspects of camp life.

    W.TEC Programme Manager, Ms Modupe Darabidan, said about 90 per cent of the girls enjoyed scholarships from various sources to attend the camp which cost N50,000 per participant.

    “We picked 10 of the girls from our W.TEC After School Academy; the FGGC Sagamu Alumni Association sponsored three girls; four girls were sponsored by the Ovie Brume Foundation; while the Braveheart Initiative from Delta State sent us one of the girls.  Laureates College also sponsored four girls. These were apart from some parents who called to tell us they wanted their wards at the camp but could not afford it and we took them.  Last year, 90 per cent paid for the camp but the reverse was the case this year,” she said.

    Mrs Oreoluwa Lesi, Executive Director, W.TEC, said the aim of the programme is to bridge the gender gap in the use of technology.  She said the camp was borne out of research that fewer women use technology and earn money from it than men.

    “What we are trying to do is to introduce technology to them in a fun and entertaining way.  I was doing my Masters and I found that research showed that there is a big gender gap between men and women.  We started with a one-week camp and that was not enough so we increased it to two weeks.  Two weeks is enough to give the girls an introduction but it is only scratching the surface.  As they go, they need to have access to computers and mobile devices so they can continue to develop.

    “We started the W.TEC Academy two years ago because we know the two-week camp is not enough.  We run weekly technology camps in 10 public schools.  They learn all that is taught in the camp for one academic year.  Sixty percent of the girls said they were influenced to study technology-related courses.  For those not planning to study technology courses, they are now informed on how to use technology,” she said.

  • ‘ Farmers need technology to improve agriculture’

    Use  of machinery has become more important in agriculture as labour costs continue to rise, National Sales Manager, Dizengoff Nigeria, Mr Kunle Dabiri has said.

    Dabiri said Dizengoff Nigeria has made  vegetable and crop production easier with the use of modern and affordable farm equipment, kits and improved varieties of seeds and seedlings.

    Dabiri spoke during a field demonstration exercise conducted for corporate and individual farmers on the usage of tractors; drip irrigation systems and greenhouses for fruits and vegetable production in Ibadan, recently.

    Greenhouse kits, he said, could be used to produce exotic tomatoes all-year round even in the bacteria-infested areas of the Southwest Nigeria.

    Dizengoff also demonstrated to farmers  how tractors are used for ploughing, harrowing and ridging; explaining that mechanisation of crop production was the only sustainable way to increasing production, productivity, more profit and a means of reducing poverty among farmers.

    Demonstrating the use of mini-drip irrigation kits to the participants, Supervisory Agronomist, Mr Friday Ali, said the kits were in different capacities and sizes, ranging from half a plot to one hectare of land.

    The drip irrigation system, he added, could be used to produce annual crops, vegetables, and short-cycled crops in the dry season, ensuring more profit.

    Tomatoes, cucumber, watermelon, maize, potatoes, groundnuts, different vegetables and a host of other crops could be planted between November and May with the use of mini drip irrigation kits.

    He also emphasised the use of soluble fertiliser that could be used in boosting production. The soluble fertiliser, he said, is applied through the drip irrigation system and it goes directly to the root of the plant, in a method known as fertigation, thereby avoiding back-breaking application methods and high labour cost associated with granulated type of fertiliser. This type of fertiliser is used with knapsack-sprayers too, he said, adding that the cost of fertiliser is reduced by over 60 per cent with the use of soluble type.

    The source of water for the drip irrigation kits could be wells, boreholes or streams, Dizengoff said, and that the kits are easily assembled and dismantled even by laymen.

    In the southern part of the country where bacterial wilt is rampant and responsible for poor performance of tomatoes, greenhouses and their accompanying improved seeds are ways of ensuring sustainable tomato production.

    Dizengoff said sporadic scarcity of all types of tomatoes and pepper could be eradicated with the massive use of greenhouses, urging the corporate bodies, the government, farmers’ groups and individuals to explore opportunities in the application of modern kits for profitable business in vegetable production.

    Commercial Manager, Tractor & Implements, Mr Damisa Enahoro, said the demonstration was to tell Nigerians that farming is no longer as stressful as it was, saying youth unemployment could be drastically reduced in the country if simple and affordable technologies were deployed to food production.

    Enahoro urged farmers to group and pool resources together, buy tractors, greenhouses, and other modern agricultural tools and experience a turnaround in their productivity and financial power.

    On finding a market for exotic vegetables from greenhouses as a concern expressed by farmers, Dabiri said hotels, eateries, boarding schools and well-to-do Nigerians prefer exotic fruits and vegetables, hence ensuring a sustainable market.

  • Osinbajo urges Nigerians on technology

    Osinbajo urges Nigerians on technology

    ‘Nigeria needs diversification, not restructuring’

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the weekend urged Nigerians to embrace technology as a vital key to development.

    He was delivering the second Foundation Lecture of the Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State: The Future is Here Earlier Than We Thought.

    The Vice President noted that understanding the way technology works and thinking out of the box is the way to go.

    He said greatness and development can only be achieved through critical thinking and innovative ideas.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said: “Whatever you choose to do, be technology savvy and understand its best uses in your chosen discipline.”

    Osinbajo listed major and global advancements attained through technology and innovative ideas.

    Noting that people can no longer be, for instance, an economist, accountant, graduate of International Relations, Mass Communication or Performing Arts, he said they must “create a network of peers where participants interact and share in the value creation. Multi-skilling is crucial today’’.

    “You must learn to be a versatile operator not a mono-skilled graduate…everyone has a right to be rich, age is not a barrier.”

    He noted that the old way of doing things are gone with the advances of technology.

    Recognising the central role innovation and technology play in the national economic growth plan, he said the Federal Government provided extensively for technology and innovation in the budget.

    “This year, we are establishing technology hubs across the country. Two super hubs in Abuja and  Lagos and six regional hubs in the six geopolitical zones. In partnership with several technology companies, the hubs will be fully resourced with infrastructure and capacity building,”he said.

    He said the Federal Government will also train a pool of 100,000 software developers, hardware service professionals, animators, graphic artists, building services professionals, artisans and others.

    The government, he said, further launched a special presidential initiative on technology and start-ups and that 50 of the most innovative technology start-ups would soon be invited to the Presidential Villa to meet with major technology and innovation companies as well as to collaborate with the Federal Government.

    During the question-and-answer session, Osinbajo said: ”We are not earning enough from oil and taxes anymore, the nation is blessed, every state can feed itself and also export if we engage in agriculture,”

    On restructuring, he said calling for restructuring of the country simply because the Federal Government controls a bigger portion of resources may not be helpful or make a difference.

    He said: “Even if states are given half of the resources of the Federal Government, the situation will not change, the only change is to diversify the economy.”

    While in Ilara-Mokin, the Vice President visited Oba A. A. Adefehinti, the Alara of Ilara-Mokin.

    He inaugurated a Divisional Police Station in the town.

     

  • StanChart eyes new technology for Nigeria, other markets

    Standard Chartered Bank (StanChart) is bringing its newest mobile and online banking platform to one million clients across eight African markets as it plans to launch fingerprint recognition technology in Nigeria, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe in the first half of this year.

    The new technology, the lender said, would give customers a more secure and convenient way to log-in to their accounts, pointing out that the new banking platform, is the most extensive digital rollout of its kind in Africa by an international bank. Supported by the bank’s global-standard technology, clients will enjoy a consistent online experience across laptops, tablets or mobile phones, and the convenience of banking from the location of their choice.

    The bank’s Chief Executive Officer for Nigeria and West Africa, Mrs. Bola Adesola, said: “We are reiterating our commitment to our clients to provide the best in-class services and solutions for their banking needs. Nigeria is an integral market for Standard Chartered Bank and with such innovative banking technologies, we are positioning ourselves as the bank of choice for existing and potential clients in this new era of digital banking.”

    With Africa’s mobile penetration estimated to be around 67 per cent, the launch brings Standard Chartered Mobile, Standard Chartered’s mobile banking application to Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe for the first time. In Nigeria and Ghana, mobile banking clients will move to the bank’s standard global platform. Through Standard Chartered Mobile, clients can check balances, transfer money and pay bills securely, all through their smartphones.

    “We’re bringing the best in mobile banking to Africa–consumers across the continent are increasingly affluent and tech-savvy and they want convenient access to their bank, wherever they happen to be,”  said Karen Fawcett, Standard Chartered’s CEO for Retail Banking.

    “Africa is important to Standard Chartered and this launch is another demonstration of that.

    “We are committed to making banking easier, faster and safer for our more than 1 million retail clients across Africa,” commented Jaydeep Gupta, Standard Chartered’s regional head of Retail Banking for Africa and the Middle East.

    “This multi-country roll-out is in line with our promise to bring world-class products and functionality to Africa, consistent with the trends and progress we are making in our international markets in Asia and the Middle East. By early next year, we expect at least, 35 per cent of all clients transactions to be done through online channels; significantly advancing the transformation of banking in Africa.”

  • ‘Pipeline security needs collaboration, technology’

    ‘Pipeline security needs collaboration, technology’

    The Group Managing Director of Oilserv Limited and Frazimex Limited, a pipeline and facilities repairs firm, Emeka Okwuosa, met with Nigerian reporters at the just-concluded offshore technology conference in Houston, Texas, United States. He spoke on how to prevent pipeline vandalism, survive in a low oil price regime and why product pipes in Nigeria lack integrity, among other issues. EMEKA UGWUANYI was there.

    The East-West pipeline is expected to be the solution to domestic gas challenges. Your company is one of those that won the pipeline contract. What is the status of the contract given the dwindling crude price and the government’s financial challenges?

    The East-West pipeline project also called OB3 pipeline is ongoing and we are looking at the project’s completion in 2017. The scheduled completion date is July 2017. The project has faced quite a few challenges like you will expect of any project. Projects come with plans, based on scope and as you progress with the project, you may have changes in scope depending on what you intend to achieve. We also have challenges that come with community management and security issues. We also have several other challenges, but at the end of all, we are always having reduced and recalibration of the schedule. Currently, we are looking at July 2017. In terms of how it is being affected by the current situation in oil and gas industry, it may not really affect it. This is a gas pipeline, and I know there is a plan by the government to make gas distribution come in top gear.Therefore, this means that the project has been programmed overtime and the funding is also being kept by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Federal Government. So, clearly the funding is on stream and I believe by next year, we should have that pipeline fully functional to be able to increase the capacity of gas supply for domestic uses.

    What is the volume or capacity of the pipeline?

    At peak supply, we are looking at a maximum of two billion standard cubic feet of gas per day (bscf/d). Whether that capacity will be achieved or not depends on whether there will be enough gas to feed it.

    With renewed attack and vandalism of pipelines, and your 2017 completion target, what measures have you put in place to secure the new pipeline?

    Pipelines are built based on what is called ‘engineering codes,’ and these codes determine the way you scope the project, and the way you  scope the specifications of the project, and once that is done by the clients, our job is to build to those specifications. There are many ways to secure a pipeline, but the most important way to secure a pipeline is the engagement of stakeholders including the government, the community and all manner of people that have direct impact on the pipeline. There are various forms of technology like the defined optic system, but that’s not being installed in the pipeline because it wasn’t part of the original scope. But what we have to know is that anybody that is tampering with a gas pipeline is a clear saboteur because you don’t tamper with gas pipeline to steal the gas. So, the incidence of gas pipeline vandalism is typical because it is an act of sabotage.

    How do you think the government can permanently address pipeline vandalism?

    Government has to set up a system to guide  the pipeline because it is a national asset. It is a very strategic national asset because anywhere in the world, you guide your pipelines by using technology, engaging the communities around there, or putting up a proper security including military security, but you have to guide your pipelines.

    In other words, you support government’s idea to set up a separate security that will guide the pipelines and the use of drones?

    I won’t say I support it because I don’t have the details, but what I’m saying in general is that you need to do a combination of general methods and technology. You can’t restrict it to just putting police around it, because if you have a 500-km pipeline, are you going to  get soldiers or police around it? This is not feasible. It requires, again, the people around it because they are the first and primary line of defence for the pipeline. Somebody has to know that something is going to happen and report it somewhere. Drone is also part of the solution. But it has to be an integrated solution. If you put drones, they can work but what it means is that when you have detected any attempt by the drones to vandalise pipeline, you have to quickly intervene. So, you need to have an integrated system because drone cannot intervene for you.

    What do you now consider as the best method to stop pipeline vandalism?

    It depends on the pipeline, the area and the community the pipeline passes through. It depends on many things, but like I said it is a combination of all sorts of security measures and it is only when you take a specific pipeline that you can address such issues clearly and be able to put a formula for it. It is not easy to say this is the way forward. It is a combination of being able to work together with the communities, and the individuals around the areas of that pipeline. Being able also to build the pipeline following codes in a way that it will be more difficult for anybody to get in there, which means you bury the pipelines deep which is what we do.

    The other one is being able to deploy technology, which is either you put a detection system along the line or you put drones to monitor. Finally, you have to put an intervention system. An intervention system means when you have detected vandalism, what are you going to do? You need human beings to go there and take action, which means it has to be purposeful, it has to be well organised and finally you must have a legal system ready so that when you catch somebody, you prosecute that person. If after arrests  nothing happens, that encourages negative actions, but going forward. It is quite a complex scenario but it can be solved.

    In this petroleum industry downturn, how do you cope with exploration and production activities?

    Exploration and production are part of the whole package. We started with construction, expanded it into full Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC). Oilserve is the first indigenous company to go into full EPC. With that, we consolidated our activities and we have been able to build capacity. We moved on into gas development, exploration and production. The whole idea is to have a balanced portfolio and be able to de-risk the business. Now oil price is low, but people will have to understand that oil price has never remained low or high. It is a cycle that has been going on for decades and for those, who deeply understand the oil industry, you have to be able to read the cycle and know when to gauge. Oil price is low, but the reality is that this is the best time to invest because you can price low. The main challenge is that you may not find the money to invest. We have gone into exploration and production to be able to gauge. Right now, exploration is more difficult because it is difficult to go out and drill and spend money on exploration with low oil price. You can still do it if you can get the services with reduced income, which is what is going on today. You can get into production asset where you optimise production, reduce your costs and be able to produce at a rate below $30 per barrel, and manage until the price goes up.

    The profit end of the sector seems to have shifted to downstream, do you intend to invest in refining of white products?

    I mentioned that we have moved into other business areas in order to de-risk our business. Do not forget that Oilserve started activities in 1995, so we have come a long way. This year will make it 21 years and you can understand that we have matured. Five years is enough for you not only to strategise, but try the strategy and be able to fine-tune it. We have done this and where we are today is that we have actually integrated and adapted to the situation. As we speak, we are undergoing a massive strategy session to reposition ourselves to be able to work and determine, which area to pay more attention to in medium term.  We also have long term strategy  there. But in long term, you have to twist from time to time to meet up with the short term and medium term results. It is a matter of planning, understanding the industry and not being a company that comes into the industry and do just trading.

    So, if you look at refining and refinery that is a different business. We do not intend to get into that. The only way we can get into the refining and refinery business would be to basically do modular refinery in other to utilise the production we may have going forward, if we do not want to evacuate the crude, but rather turn it into products and be able to use the products within the country. All these things are not required within the present predicament. But right now, we have not decided to go into refining. We must create the right value with the right strategy to go into it.

    Most operators you serve are being owed by the NNPC, how are you coping with the situation and what strategy should the industry adopt to get out of this situation?

    Everybody is affected definitely. We have an industry-wide downturn. There is low activity, low price regime, so it is affecting everybody. It is also creating a challenge for the government to be able to cope with the issues of funding, knowing that oil in particular is the major ingredient of our economy. Oil still constitutes more than 60 per cent of our foreign exchange earnings as a country. You can realise that lots of things we use in Nigeria are purchased from overseas.

    So, to fund these, you need to ensure you get enough money from the sale of crude to meet them. If you opt out from the side you know, you create a gap there, and it becomes more difficult for the government to fund its Joint Venture commitments. Don’t forget that some of these commitments are dated five to eight years ago. It is actually a problem.

    But I strongly believe the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu. He has stated severally that government is working on resolving these commitments. They are looking at alternative means of funding. They are also looking at being able to draw some funds from the Middle East, China and from other sources. The government is in a better position to decide that but I believe they know what the problem is and that they are dealing with it. But as far as it affects members of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) members and Oilserve, it is a serious problem. We all know that it is not going to be there forever because if you look at the price regime of crude oil, it appears like it has bottomed, you have upside going forward. It requires planning and decisions to get it to the $100 per barrel cap. What is important is that the oil producers that need our services are still in business. So far as they are in business, they will need our services. It is just a matter of time.

    What is the objective of your activities outside Nigeria?

    The objective is again what I called de-risking. You have to balance your portfolio, both in terms of different services and areas of operations as well as geographical spread.

    Many of your colleagues have expressed frustrations with respect to accessing Nigerian Content Fund (NCF), what really is the situation of the fund?

    The NCF is a major issue because some of us in PETAN, who fought so hard with other stakeholders to be able to set up the NCDMB based on local content act, feel some of the aims are not being achieved as of now. It may be too early to judge, but we need to make sure that some of the policy directions are looked into and correct them. We are slowly building up the fund, which of course is being taken from us. When I say us, I’m looking at service providers, and the producers. The purpose of that fund is very clear. It is for capacity building. But how the fund is being deployed today is not clear to any of us. We need to come together and look at the fund and make sure it is being deployed properly in order to build capacity. Capacity is not for one person, it is for the nation.

    What are the indigenous players doing to correct the anomaly?

    It is still at the early stage because, don’t forget, this law has been in place for just six years, so in terms of practice, we are still coming to deal with it and we are taking up as an organisation to address it with the NCDMB. And where that does not yield the result, we will take it up. As NCDMB reports to somebody and there is a system, we have to make sure that clearly, NCDMB manages the situation in a way that will address the original reason for which it was set up.

    But have some members of PETAN accessed this fund?

    Yes, but it is like you have $1million fund and somebody accesses one cent, that’s not access as far as I’m concerned. Not more than one or two companies have accessed the fund at a very low level, extreme low level, and that kind of fund doesn’t do a project for companies like Oilserve, so we can’t even go for it because it doesn’t make any sense to us.

    Some of the pipelines have been laid for decades now, what is your assessment of their integrity?

    It depends on the pipelines. Don’t forget when we talk of pipelines, we have crude oil pipeline, products pipeline, gas pipelines. These are owned by different entities. For crude oil pipeline, mostly owned by the international oil companies (IOCs) and the indigenous producers, the codes are very clear. We know the codes, we know the standards and they are obliged to keep to the rules. So they do the maintenance to assure integrity. Besides, you have to build it according to the codes. You also have to do the routine maintenance to keep the pipeline going and make sure you have the corrosion protection system working very well to slow down or stop corrosion from happening. That way, pipeline can last for several years. The crude oil producers more or less keep to these codes. You get to gas pipelines, they are owned by different entities. Gas pipelines are mostly owned by Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) and other entities. They are also well maintained.

  • ‘We’ll drive revenues with technology’

    First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has said its business priority in this financial year would be to raise revenues by deploying high level technology to meet its customers’ needs.

    Its Assistant Vice President and Group Head, Information Technology, Emeka Eboegbune said the lender promises to use technology to enhance its operations across diverse business segments.

    He explained that the 33 year-old financial institution which is playing in the sector’s retail space, would going forward, reduce cost to income ratio, while focusing on taking its customer promises of being helpful, reliable and customer focused to a new industry benchmark.

    While responding to a media inquiry in Lagos, Eboegbune said the technology landscape in the banking sector is tending towards providing convenient products and services to customers on mobile devices while utilising cloud technologies for more reliable services.

    He explained that a key game changer for banks is the ability to utilise social media to reach a growing and diverse online population, the banked and unbanked.

    He described some of the technology challenges faced by financial institutions in Nigeria to include lack of availability of reliable network infrastructure across the country, security of the banks’ infrastructure as well as reliable power supply.

    He said: “Our present focus is the upgrade we have achieved in our core banking and other business applications to the latest available versions to meet and exceed customer demands and expectations, including a CRM (customer relationship management) system.”

    The bank has also unveiled a refreshed corporate identity, followed by the launch of its “world of opportunities” thematic campaign.

    It highlighted the values of FCMB as a bank that helps to identify, connect and harness opportunities unique to each individual, social class and other segments of the society.

    He said the lender adopted a technology strategy that is aimed at consolidating FCMB’s focus as a technology driven-bank where banking services are very easy to use, seamless and accessible to all segments of the society.

    “For our customers, we want banking to be so simple and fun to do. Our investments are channeled in this direction,” he stated.

    As to what new and innovative services and products the market should be expecting from FCMB, he said the bank is channeling its energy towards simplified banking services and products.

    Reports have identified FCMB as offering, among a few other banks, the best of social and alternate channels banking services, with some mobile apps for services that are second to none.

    He said FCMB is one of the few banks in Nigeria today practising instant Visa card issuance and the financial institution has also been issuing its Verve and Mastercard products for a while with instant account opening via various channels, mobile, web etc.

  • Technology boosting cassava production

    Technology boosting cassava production

    To respond to rising food and nutrition needs, some apps, online portals and cell phone-based programmes have been developed to help small-scale farmers enhance their skills and yields, DANIEL ESSIET reports. 

    Pelumi  Aribisala  is one of the young technology savvy  farmers in Oyo State. He plants vitamin A cassava and other staple crops.  Sometimes, after harvest, he counts his bundle and takes out his cell phone. He calls a number to find out the latest prices of cassava and maize.  From the answer he gets, Aribisala knows how much he will earn from his bags of cassava and maize. Subsequently, he can  decide whether to sell them near the farm or the town where he can make more money.

    Aribisala is one of the hundreds of farmers across the country trying to take advantage of technology to boost food production. A growing number of them have entered the agribusiness sector, looking to use technology to gain new commercial opportunities. Information communications technology (ICT) has made agric attractive to the youth.

    Drawn to the sector early, Aribisala is among the young cassava growers living modern lifestyles from farming, thanks to technology  which helps them to use data  to do business and increase incomes.

    Access to technology enables  him and others  to enjoy higher profits when food prices rise  and  to manage their farms in a sustainable manner.

    In the past, he sourced his stems from close sources. These days, with technology, he can buy stems from a farmer in Ondo, especially if he is looking for Vitamin A cassava stem which is sought-after because of its nutritional benefits. This is possible courtesy of an e-market portal and farmers’ exchange platform provided by Harvest Plus. These enable him to find where farmers are offering quality stems across the country.  Now, not only does he know which farmer  has quality Vitamin A cassava  stems to sell,  he is able to find out areas where cassava commands higher prices.

    The platform also provides cassava farmers with an efficient and secure way to store and share information, locate, and contact suppliers and customers online. All these data can be accessed by the farmer via phone.   One of the first users of the platform were the project’s partners located across the cassava producing areas of the country. The partners help farmers to plant vitamin A cassava on their farms.

    Being introduced to these technologies, they use the interactive tools to map out and communicate with farmers they work with. Operational information relevant to the successful development of the cassava supply chain, such as seed varieties used and production data are recorded and mapped onto the platform.

    The platform also provides cassava farmers with an efficient and secure way to store and share information, locate, and contact suppliers and customers online. All these data can be accessed by the farmer via phone.   The  first users of the platform were Harvest plus’  partners located across the cassava producing areas of the country. Basically, the partners help farmers to plant vitamin A cassava on their farms.

    Being introduced to these technologies, they use the interactive tools online to post market information and  communicate with farmers  in other  areas.  Operational information relevant to the successful development of the cassava supply chain, such as seed varieties used and production data are recorded and mapped onto the platform.   One of the users  is the  Programme  Director, Development Dynamics, Dr Jude Ohanele  who  works with groups of  cassava farmers in Imo  State .

    At the start of every season, he carries out demonstration for them. He visits groups and individuals, providing seeds when plots have been correctly prepared, and offer advice and further training on different aspects of the technology and cassava cultivation.

    On the platforms,  literate farmers can log into their accounts and enter planting data for the crop, and several succession plantings. Expected and actual planting and harvesting dates and expected and actual crop yields are recorded. Planting databases for each members’ farm provide a detailed and easily retrieved record to plan from in the next growing season. Though direct user approach is encouraged,  he ensures illiterate farmers have their details correctly recorded.   On the average, the platform offers a place to share information needed to plant throughout its seasonal cycle, and a space to include the farmers in the development and wider spread of the technology. Providing tangible evidence of production success is a mobilisation point for interested farmers and for those who want to learn more, about bio fortified cassava farms.  He and many other partners are at the front line of using the platform to link farmers and suppliers.

    E-market and the farmers exchange are two of many services Harvest Plus have developed on the back of ICT, entry into Nigeria’s agriculture.  Following this, an increasing number of young Nigerians have taken up themselves to help small-scale farmers increase their skills and yields through using its  platforms.

    On the development, the  Country Manager, Harvest Plus Nigeria, Dr Paul Ilona, said  agriculture was  not  growing because of lack of  access to information. This  is a major gap in the market. By providing clear, relevant, and usable data that can be tailored to farmers’ needs, he said the platform has plugged the information gap, helping the sector deliver on its potential.

    According to him, farmers need data services that promote or leverage the products they sell. A cassava stem producing company, for example, he explained, might find on the platform an opportunity to sell to a farmer having stems shortage. At the end, a profitable transaction is strucked, the farmer gets his higher-yielding cassava stems while the company makes its money.

    Right now, stem multiplication has opened opportunities for employment, income generation and improved livelihoods for cassava farmers. Consequently, some enterprising small-scale farmers have engaged themselves in the business of cassava stem multiplication and marketing, providing employment and income to several of their community members.

    By  powering the portal, he said the group  has created a profitable market for farmers in the business.

    One of the ways to do so is to attract more  farmers into the cassava  value chain through online registration. Through the platforms, he said the farmers are able to connect buyers in any part of the country.

    Besides farmers, researchers and donors are able to aggregate information from the analysis of data on cassava consumption from the market from the platforms.

    Ilona noted that the organisation is ready to work alongside others within the sector to support easier and more frequent interchange of farm data. The particular focus has been on information that supports cassava agriculture industries.

    According to him, it was imperative for farmers to take advantage of the technological tools and services that could help them address their problems and perk up their profits.

    Driving these initiatives, he said, is the micronutrient deficiency that continues to undermine public health and prosperity.

    To address the problem, HarvestPlus and its partners have used conventional crop breeding techniques to develop staple food products that are rich in Vitamin A, iron, and zinc. The process, known as biofortification, targets the nutritional needs of women and young children and offers several positive health outcomes, including improved immunity and resistance to diseases.

    To help this effort, he said his organisation is working with public partners to provide innovative farmer shops, as well as agro-stewardship training for those distributing biofortified  cassava products.

    Research shows that the e-market provides valuable data to farmers and the platform also connects farmers with suppliers.  The best evidence for the efficacy of the portal was farmer’s general willingness to use the platform. Before the introduction of the platform farmers learned about prices from buyers and middlemen.  Qualitative data from the platform helps farmers in the early stages of planning their crops. Later in the process when farmers want to sell their crops they use the platform because it quickly provides information.  A major advantage of the platform is the timeliness of the information that it provides. Cassava farmers are confident they could find a place to sell their harvest.

    For farmers, there has been a need to create more efficient supply chains for small and medium-size producers in order to feed growing private demand for cassava.

    With an efficient value chain, farmers identify opportunities and constraints within existing markets, allowing them to invest strategically to stimulate the market and increase incomes in remote and vulnerable areas.

    One way they achieve this is through a data driven platform to support agribusiness development.  This is because it creates new opportunities for income-generation, foster well-informed, profitable investments in this growing market and facilitates collaborations between investors, agribusinesses, farmers and suppliers.

    So far, improved visibility and consolidation of reliable information provided by the platform has helped to raise awareness of unexploited opportunities in the sector, driving investment by reducing cost and risk. In line with this, new technologies have emerged that are  helping farmers to manage their farms in a sustainable way.

  • Technology critical to SMEs growth, says PrognoStore

    Technology critical to SMEs growth, says PrognoStore

    The MD/CEO, PrognoStore, Mr. Adegbolabo Olabode, has identified the absence of finance and requisite technology as drawbacks to the growth and development of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

    Speaking in Lagos, he said he spent several years working closely with and listening to small business owners, and one of the key things they wanted was one technology tool that would help them run their businesses efficiently.

    According to him, the result of the research and interaction with SMEs led to the building of a three-in-one called solution PrognoStore which he said is Point of Sale (PoS) software built for the growth and efficiency of SMEs.

    “I was a co-founder of a practice firm operating in United Kingdom and Nigeria and we listened to hundreds of clients questions over and over again. It was discovered that the absence of technology is one of the greatest obstacles to the development of SMEs.

    “The SME subsector, if well harnessed could be the growth engine of the economy, especially when you look at the job creation aspect,” he said, adding that the vision of PrognoStore is to make sure small business owners run business more efficiently anywhere without necessarily being physically present at the store or business location.

    According to him, the application delivers in-depth analytics (know more about your products) that ensures users have the insights needed to grow the business, adding that it is a complete PoS system that runs on iPad and web browser and captures all transactions.

    He said user would be able to view instantly when sales have been made, who made them, what was sold without stepping into the store. With its inventory feature, it allows users to know what has been sold, take stock, and know best sellers.

    He said: “Analytics supports growth of SMEs. PrognoStore supports your growth by providing a clear insight into what is happening in your business. Get real time insight into your tills, your takings for the day, your inventory and even compare how well your stores are selling. We’ve worked with many business owners over the years to know flexibility is important. So for instance, you can choose how much access you want your sales assistant should have – for example, you can give them ability  to run reports or not, add a new user or not, edit customer information or not.”

     

  • Powering road transport with technology

    Powering road transport with technology

    Road transport is going online — courtesy of God is Good Motors (GIGM), which has just opened  its information communication technology (ICT) office in Lagos, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO  

    DOING things differently with the aim  of pleasing the customers is his major pre-occupation.

    God is Good Motors (GIGM) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chidi Ajaere took over his father’s company seven years ago. But he transformed it into a world-class  firm with the power of technology.

    With over 700 buses in the firm’s fleet, Ajaere understood the difficulties in monitoring the drivers and the condition of the buses on the roads. It is for this that he  deployed technology.

    At the firm’s new terminal in Jibowu, Lagos, which has state-of-the-art facilities, Ajaere said customers could make booking and seat reservations easier online with the firm’s new apps.

    Ajaere, who is also the Chairman of the God is Good (GIG) Group, said the unveiling of the new GIGM.com logo is about re-positioning the company to have a worldwide appeal.

    Because of the advent of smart technology, the world has become a global village, and the GIGM.com brand is leveraging on that by investing in technology to make its operations easier for travellers.

    Though he admitted that the business is challenging, with innovations, one could swim it over.

    He said: “Basically, as I had mentioned earlier, I have a relentless desire to make sure that things can be better, especially in a country like Nigeria, I feel like there are too many opportunities and one of the best ways to take advantage of the opportunities is to make things better and make it better for your customers if you are in business; or if you are in government, to make it better for your people.

    “What informed this basically is because we wanted to make our services better for our customers and because we are a road transport company,one of the challenges that face our sector is safety. So, using technology to improve and drive safety is one of our passions and also providing the best services for our customers. As I said earlier, we are not there yet. This, for us, is a process for continual improvement.”

    According to him, “one of the things we employed is technology. At GIGM, we have an Intelligence Command Unit (ICU) department, which has been able to design an in-house software that manages the speed limit of all our vehicles. From the ICU, we have Beat Spring computers that can pinpoint and monitor the location of each of our vehicles and also monitor their speed limit, so we are able to caution them as they drive because we have found out that the biggest contributor to road accidents in Nigeria asides bad roads is over speeding. So, if we are to reduce the speed limits of our captains, the next step is to train them.

    Ajaere said the firm has invested a lot in technology and in training, especially in drivers, and in the terminals to make them conducive for our customers.

    ‘’When I came into the road transport industry, 90 per cent of terminals were under the bridge, so we thought to make it more modern and better for our customers. Service, people, technology, safety are what we are after.”

    Getting software for transportation business, he said, wasn’t easy; rather, “we basically had to go source for the best intellectual mind in the I.T. industry in Nigeria and we employed them to build our in-house software’’.

    “Like anywhere in the world, most technologies are usually open to hackers, but I think we have a safe-proof mechanism to ensure that it would be almost impossible for hackers to hack our system.”

    Customers, he said, need not join the queue to buy tickets instead do it online or use the self-service machine that even offer 10 per cent reduction in fee.

    He continued: “When the Internet is no longer working, we have a manual mechanism that helps our processes and aside that, we always have backup for our internet. There are even more technology that we would like to offer to Nigeria, but the Nigerian internet system is not as advanced as the kind of services we want to provide for them.

    ‘’We have backups in all our terminals and our head office to ensure that when one fails, the other one works. And then even when both of them fail, there is also a manual mechanism for us to activate in the downtime so that we are able to provide efficient services.

    “Besides this, we constantly ensure that we are doing regular maintenance for our buses and that is really important so that the vehicles don’t break down on the way. We have comfortable seats. Most of our vehicles have DVD systems so that our customers are entertained in the vehicle as they go on their journey.”

  • Lagos trains cattle rearers on zero grazing technology

    Lagos trains cattle rearers on zero grazing technology

    To arrest herdsmen and farmers rift, the Lagos State government on Saturday held a training on zero grazing technology for cattle rearers.

    At the workshop held at the state secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs Mr Muslim Folami said its objective was to foster peaceful co-existence between livestock and crop farmers and encourage food production.

    He said: “We want to establish and sustain cordial relationship among the cattle rearers and the crop farmers, as well as, ensure that food security status of the state is improved in peaceful and rancour free communities.

    “You will recall that in recent times, there have been incessant conflicts among the cattle herdsmen and the famers due to the encroachment on farms by the cattle. The vagaries of weather have led to shortage of pastures and grasses to the herds, especially in the northern parts of the country, which may be one of the reasons for the southward movement of the herdsmen in the country – Lagos State inclusive.

    “This is supported by increase in number of reported cases of indiscriminate grazing by the herdsmen in the state in recent time. Indiscriminate grazing means cattle are being fed on free range which usually leads to the destruction of crops which usually leads to farmers-pastoralists conflicts. Thus, farmers-pastoralists conflicts are becoming rampant in many parts of the country with attendant loss of lives and properties.”