ICTworks by Inveneo

AllAfrica is reporting that Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim has restated the commitment of the Federal Government to establish a Ministry of ICT while receiving the Executives of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS).

Senator Anyim disclosed that an experienced hand in the ICT industry would head the ministry to give it the required leadership, and assured members of the Nigeria Computer Society that government would partner with them in the areas of research and development of the ICT sector.

Earlier, president of NCS and Chairman of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Tizhe who led the delegation congratulated the SGF on his appointment and urged him to use his good office in facilitating the speedy take-off of the proposed ministry of ICT, and commended the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for the decision to establish the Ministry.

I guess that settles it - we are in the ICT sector, not IT sector.

Ajibola Abayomi has made a great list of the 11 issues that shaped Nigeria's ICT industry in 2010, published in the Daily Independent:

1. Poor State of Telecom Infrastructure and Call for Ban on Generators

Following the poor state of telecom infrastructure and the over dependency on generating sets by government and Nigerians, the President of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Titi Omo-Ettu called on members of the national assembly to pass a bill for the ban of all manners of generating sets used by public servants in their official houses without exception to anybody.

Omo-Ettu who challenged the national assembly members on the continued poor state of electricity supply across the country, said if drastic action was not taken, Nigerians would continue to rely on generators and nothing would be done to improve power generation in the country.

He threw the challenge at national assembly members while delivering a paper as the guest lecturer at the 11th Distinguished Electrical and Electronics Annual Lecture (DEEEAL), organised by the Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NIEEE) in Lagos at the weekend. The ban, according to him, should be extended to the Presidency and all public servants at all levels of government.

2. Airtel re-launches brand identity

Airtel, in November this year, re-launched its brand identity, changing from the old Zain to Airtel across all 16 African operations and to cover 200 million customers across Africa and Asia ,

Announcing the name change in Abuja , Chairman and Group CEO of Airtel, Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal said the new brand would reinforce the operator's commitment to extend its mobile networks and bridge the digital divide, where customers would feel the new brand and enjoy superior quality of service, reliability, innovation and affordability wherever they live, work or travel to.

With the unveiling of the new brand identity Airtel becomes the master brand for all the group's 19 operations in Asia and Africa covering over 200 million customers. In Africa , Airtel replaces the Zain brand and comes with the promise of delivering high quality customer benefits through the power of global Airtel brand. All future new products and services will follow the Airtel brand structure, just as the ZAP mobile money service will be re-branded Airtel Money with immediate effect, Bharti Mittal said.

The change in brand identity came after Bharti Airtel of India acquired Zain in June this year at the sum of $10.7 billion.

The name change, which took place simultaneously across Africa, brings to six, the number of times Zain Nigeria have changed brand identity since 2001 when it started operations in Nigeria, as the first network to rollout GSM services in the country.

3. NCS orders INEC to address computer professionalism

Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the umbrella body of Information Technology (IT) professionals has frowned at the non-compliance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in adhering to computer professionalism in matters relating to the conduct of 2011 general elections.

NCS whose mandate is to promote the advancement of Computer Science, Information Technology and Systems and their deployment in schools and government, gave INEC one week ultimatum to redress what it described as identified lapses in the award of contracts for the supply of Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines and for the training of personnel that will operate the computer machines.

President of NCS, Prof Charles Uwadia explained that NCS, as part of its mandate, collaborated with INEC and other government agencies in promoting and canvassing IT-driven solutions.

4. Controversy over NCC's N6.1 b SIM card registration

It was a running battle between the House of Representatives and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), over the commission's attempt in getting approval from the law makers, to enable it embark on subscriber SIM card registration.

After months of disagreement, members of the House of Representatives who had hitherto rejected the bill, assented to it and approved of it.

Owing to the importance of a central data management system for all telecom subscribers, vis-à-vis the inability of security agents in using technology to put an end to the continuous extortion of money by kidnappers who demand ransom from families of kidnapped victims, NCC came up with a budget of N6.1 billion that would be internally generated, to carry out SIM card registration in the country. Empowered by the National Telecom Act 2003 to carryout SIM card registration, NCC felt it was necessary to do so, since telecom operators were not willing to pull resources for the completion of the exercise within 6 months as earlier directed by NCC.

The commission had in March this year, given telecom operators, ultimatum to commence SIM card registration exercise, and to complete the process within six months, but the operators, though have commenced registration on their various networks, told the NCC it was only possible for them to complete the registration exercise in 3 years and 6 months.

5. 65% internet users fall victims of cerbercrime - Study

A study released from security software maker, Norton has revealed the staggering prevalence of cybercrime stating that 65% of Internet users are victims of cybercrime.

The latest study by the firm showed hat two-thirds (65 percent) of Internet users globally have fallen victim to cybercrimes, including online credit-card fraud, identity theft and computer viruses.

The first phase of the study examines the emotional effects of cybercrime revealing that 58% victimsí strongest reactions are anger, those with annoyance 51% and users having a feeling of been cheated ranked 40%.

Norton research showed that many blame themselves for being attacked. Only three percent donít think it will happen to them, and nearly 80% do not expect cybercriminals to be brought to justice. The result is a sense of helplessness and a reluctance to take action.

6. NIGCOMSAT 1 replacement insurance hits $46 b

The replacement insurance on Nigeria Communication Satellite 1 (NIGCOMSAT 1) has been valued at $46 billion.

This was disclosed in an interview with Daily Independent in Lagos by the managing director of Nigeria NIGCOMSAT), Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai during an exclusive interview in Lagos .

Speaking on criticism against government over the non-functioning of satellite installed during the regime of ex-president Oluseguun Obasanjo, Ahmed-Rufai argued that the failure of SAT 1 was not peculiar to Nigeria or the fault of the Chinese firm that put the satellite in orbit, but was due to an international crisis.

The NigComSat-1 was launched on May 13 2007 and was sub-Saharan Africa ís first communications satellite. NigComSat-1 provided a backbone for both upstream and downstream telecommunication services.

7. Internet Group seeks merger of NCC, NBC

The President of Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Lanre Ajayi has advocated merger of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Nigeria Broadcasting Service (NBC) in the interest of the telecom sector.

Speaking at the 2010 WiMAX Forum organized by the Telecoms Answers Associates and NCC in Lagos, Ajayi said the two bodies have crucial roles to play to make the anticipated broadband penetration into the nationís telecom market function effectively.

He said the control of different telecom spectrums that are germane to network operation in the hands of different regulators in Nigeria is not the best for the economy.

We should have one body if we are expecting any positive impact from broadband internet connectivity soon. At the moment, there are crises in the sector as there are controversies over award of spectrums. A case is even before the court involving the NCC, while there other spectrum in the custody of NBC is not functioning as expected.

8. NITEL, workers on collision course over court order on N51b arrears

Staff of the troubled Nigeria Telecommunications (NITEL) Limited, are now in disarray as they sing discordant tunes over the payment of their outstanding 31 months salary. Daily Independent gathered that the workers are set for showdown with each.

A source from the NITEL office hinted that the workers may commence different protest against themselves this week at the Abuja headquarters of the establishment.

Angry 78 NITEL staff exempted from the payment schedule of the N51 billion salary arrears ordered by the Federal Government, led by one Mr Iheme Nathaniel had two weeks ago secured a court stopping the process.

9. Mobile health applications to serve 500m people by 2015

Smartphone applications will enable the mHealth industry to successfully reach out to 500m of a total 1.4bn smartphone users in 2015 the new Global Mobile Health Market Report 2010-2015 by research2guidance has revealed.

Although the potential benefits of mHealth solutions have been widely discussed for over a decade, the market never emerged from the trial phase.

Ralf-Gordon Jahns, Head of Research at research2guidance, points out ìour findings indicate that the long-expected mobile revolution in healthcare is set to happen. Both healthcare providers and consumers are embracing smartphones as a means to improving healthcare.

10. Internet connection for every home in Nigeria non negotiable -CEO

For the purpose of economic advancement, Internet connection for every home in Nigeria is non negotiable, the Chief Executive Officer of Crown Interactive, a telecom service provider, Wumi Oghoetuoma has declared.

The English trained entrepreneur made the comment at his office in Lagos during an interview with Daily Independent.

According to him, with the latest trend in the technology world, Nigeria cannot afford to fold its arms, as lesser endowed countries continue to leverage on technology to create wealth.

We should have internet connection for every home, this is only way we can encourage Small Medium Scale participation in the economy. The irony of the development is that internet connection has not been reduced to the level of low income earners enough, which is why our company have come to liberate the market.

11. EFCC recovers N26.4b from cyber criminals

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared that it has intercepted 12, 000 scam mails and recovered over £110 million (N26.4bn) from cyber criminals in the last three years.

The declaration was made at the just conluded West African Cybercrime Summit in Abuja, a Principal Staff Officer in the EFCC, Barrister Bala Sanga, said the agency with its foreign collaborators had also stopped over 3,870 scam mails emanating from Nigeria and out of it in the last eight months.

Sanga said that cybercriminals are leaving the shore of the country to its West African neighbours as a result of the determined fight the anti-graft agency is giving them.

He said the EFCC has secured over 300 convictions of cybercriminals since its inception, adding that more would be convicted after the cybercrime law is passed by the countryís law makers.

The Kenya ICT Board recently relaunched the doITinKenya website as a directory and marketplace for the ICT industry in Kenya.

The doITinKenya website aims to market Kenya as an IT destination and provide information on the ICT industry in Kenya to potential investors. They are currently collecting company profile information for the website via a short survey (4 questions only) on Kenyan companies.

Add your company in the online directory today to be marketed to potential clients and investors.

The information technology field is very male dominated. In fact, it can often feel like an all-boys club, where women are not always welcome. This disappoints me greatly for two main reasons:

Women should be half the group

1. On a general level, as women are half the users, and therefore should be part of the developers and designers of technology tools.
2. On a personal level, as the father of a daughter, I want her to see technology as a career path, equal to any other

So I am filled with mixed emotions when I see pictures like this one, where women are greatly under-represented in technology groups. I am glad that there are actually women in the photo, but I wish there were more than just two.

That's why I am so excited to hear about AkiraChix - a community of women using technology as a platform to empower each other in Kenya:

They are having their first meeting this Saturday - if you're a woman in the ICT field, do your best to attend. And if you can't, here's an amazing book to read: African Women and ICTs explores the ways in which women in Africa utilize ICTs to facilitate their empowerment.

How to get more women in ICT

One question that is sure to come up is how to get more women interested and involved with information and communication technologies, as a profession. Recently, I asked that very same question to leading women in Silicon Valley. Their unanimous answer? Parents, mentors, and positive reinforcement from society matter most for girls to enjoy ICT.

In fact, here is Kristin Peterson, CEO of Inveneo, talking about her role models, mentors, and professional development that led her to be a successful woman in ICT:

So congrats to AkiraChix for setting an example for other women to follow - may your community grow and succeed so daughters everywhere (like iPad addicted ones I know) can grow up to be ICT leaders.

With the passing of Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, its time to reflect on his legacy with the most populous country in Africa. Online Africa has started the conversation with their post Nigerian President Yar’Adua’s direct contributions to ICT.

They list several achievements, but the only notable one, I feel, is the launched the first ever Pan-African Communication Satellite NigComsat-1. The rest are policy promises. Yet, I feel that both Online Africa and I are missing the more subtle impacts of his leadership.

What are the ICT industry contributions made by Yar’Adua for Nigeria?

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