Author: ITPulse

  Mr. Austin Okere, Founder/Vice Chairman of CWG Plc, has accepted to chair the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) third quarter forum, structured to look at banking, ICT and FinTech, which is presently livewire of the Nigerian economy. “Thank you for the invitation to chair this event. I am honoured and pleased to accept. I trust I shall be receiving more information in due course,”  Okere said in a personally signed terse email dated August 14, 2017, and addressed to NITRA. The Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), an umbrella body for journalists reporting information and communications technology in…

  Once it was true that your mobile phone’s IMEI number could help police trace it in case it was stolen. The unique number is no longer a comfort. Crooks now have devices that can change the IMEI numbers, and to the concern of police, such tools are easily available in the grey market. IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a unique 15-digit number associated with every phone and believed, till now, to be tamper-proof. An Old Delhi engineer, who preferred not to be named for obvious reasons, told TOI that the myth about IMEI’s invulnerability can be dispelled…

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) under the leadership of Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, last week gained  international recognition for its numerous ICT sector reform initiatives. A statement signed by Mrs Hadiza Umar, Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations, said the Agency bagged the Nigerian News’ ‘Outstanding Public Institution of the Year 2017’ award in faraway London, United Kingdom. The statement noted that the award was given in recognition of the Agency’s impactful ICT reforms on the citizenry, educational development, nation building strategies, innovation in the global ICT market, and maintenance of due process and accountability…

  “War: first, one hopes to win; then one expects the enemy to lose; then one is satisfied that he too is suffering; in the end, one is surprised that everyone has lost.” Karl Kraus, Die Fackel, October 19, 1917. Merriam Webster defines war as a state of hostility, conflict or antagonism. It is a struggle or competition between opposing forces or for a particular end. Indeed, war, the conflicts of human interest and activities, is so pervasive today that it is fought in almost every sphere of human engagement. Yes, in politics, business, religion and other arena of human…

  StarTimes, a popular Chinese pay TV company in Nigeria, has come under weighty allegations of systemic racism and anti-labour practices by its Nigerian employees and ex-staff. Nigeria CommunicationsWeek investigations confirmed that five Nigerian senior management staff and numerous junior executives have recently resigned from the company also known as NTA-Star TV Network following widespread discontent between the Chinese handlers who occupy the topmost seats and many Nigerian senior staff. The ex-staff accused the top echelon, mainly of Chinese nationals, of deep-seated racial discrimination, management highhandedness and widespread discontent. But, Mr. Henry Eyo, director of Human Resources at the Company…

  By Martin Ekpeke The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is on the verge of inking a partnership deal with the Minister of Federal Capital territory, Hon. Mohammed Musa Bello on the concept of smart city. The deal, when finally sealed will see Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city has robust telecommunications and ICT infrastructure that will ultimately lead to better security, better environment and control, including transportation infrastructure, which could be integrated to provide smart solutions for the city residents. The idea was disclosed when the telecommunications regulator’s Executive Vice Chairman, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, yesterday, led a team of the Commission…

  In emerging markets, increasing smartphone adoption and growing internet penetration is fueling the expansion of e-commerce. E-commerce has become a significant tool in unlocking job creation and innovation for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. Further, the World Bank’s Global Findex database shows that in key mobile money markets, e-commerce is being used by low-income and rural people. However, in these markets, over 70 percent of e-commerce payments involve cash-on-delivery payment processes, which are expensive, inefficient and time-consuming for both merchants and buyers. As a source of funds integrated in the phone, mobile money presents a compelling…

  By Martin Ekpeke Programos Foundation, Nigeria’s coordinating civil society organization of the United Nations based World Summit Awards which selects and promotes local digital innovation with high impact on improving society has released results of winners for this year’s edition. According to a statement released during the weekend by Amos Emmanuel, President, Programos Foundation and the WSA Eminent National expert for Nigeria, the results were based on nominees and products with respect to World Summit Award Nigeria 2017  national database, which closed on the 15th of August 2017. The award is categorized into the following: Learning &  Education, Culture…

  By Martin Ekpeke Irvine Partners, a hitherto South Africa based and one of the leading Public relations and integrated marketing agencies on the African continent, has expanded its  footprints to Nigeria. The company said in a statement that its entry into Nigeria is as a result of the strategic importance of the country market, reputed to be one of Africa’s dynamic country. “Nigeria is a dynamic and important market and our clients need us there,” says CEO Rachel Irvine. She believes the physical presence in the country means the company is able to directly service its international clients in…

  According to s recent Fortune Magazine survey, 42 percent of Startups say that they did not evaluate the market needs for their various products, solutions and services before launching into the market. Unfortunately, this keeps recurring and adversely affects the acceptance as well as the profitability of such products in the market. It is interesting to note that, the failure rate of about 95% of Startups within 5 years of commencement of business because of this and other extraneous factors. I recently had a chat with Bolaji Finnih, CEO, TechPreneur Africa, who is passionate about building growth bond companies…