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Organizers of the forthcoming West African Convergence Conference (WACC 2017), Knowhow Media and Market Intelligence International Limited (KMMIIL) has announced an over-subscription of delegates for the conference holding on Wednesday, November 29th at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.
WACC 2017 is the 9th edition of the West Africa’s only forum on technology convergence and the impact on industries, people and environment.
WACC since inception has enjoyed a very rich participation from industry stakeholders and policy makers.This year’s edition will be drawing participation from thought leaders and decision makers across industry verticals to underscore the convergence of industries within the broad spectrum of technology and its application across sectors.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has recently cleared the ICT Security and Systems Infrastructure Upgrade project of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)/Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) through its commitment as the government’s clearinghouse for all IT procurement and services in the public sector.

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/27/nitda-clears-efccnfius-ict-security-systems-infrastructure-upgrade/

Compelling Mozilla-backed research, carried out by Research ICT Africa, finds that significant barriers to internet access remains in four African countries – Rwanda, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. The research aims to understand, from a comparative perspective, how the citizens use the internet when data is subsidised and when it is not.
Knowing that affordability is one of the primary barriers to Internet access and particular optimal use, the main objective of the focus groups was to obtain qualitative information that reflects the perceptions of female and male Internet users, new users, and non-Internet users from urban and rural locations about how people use the Internet.

continue reading; http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/27/mozilla-backed-research-reveals-barriers-internet-access-nigeria-african-countries/

The Founder of Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc, Austin Okere has attributed the country’s low broadband penetration to greed by state officials and lack of patriotism. Okere who made this known during a recent chat with IT Edge News in Lagos, noted that there are numerous broadband opportunities in Nigeria, but none is tangible to citizens because government citizen-centric aggressive broadband policy and an unwholesome greed for money rather than development –all of which tended to stunt private broadband initiatives and also scare aware potential investors in the sub-sector.

continue reading; http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/27/austin-okere-cwgs-founder-attributes-nigerias-low-broadband-penetration-greed-lack-patriotism/

A new report by the Internet Society has highlighted how Africa can benefit more from the Internet economy. But the report stresses that secure, trusted internet constitute vital ingredients for the internet to impact on the continent of over a billion people.
Many African countries have made significant progress towards creating an Internet sector, with broad reforms that focus on increasing broadband availability. There have been further successes within countries in developing online platforms, fostering growth of local companies and increasing the incentive to go online– says the report launched by the global non-profit dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution and use of the internet.

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/24/africas-economy-needs-secure-trusted-internet-grow/

The Director General of the Nigerian Automotive Development and Design Council, Jelani Aliyu is to herald theme on convergence and future of the Nigerian auto industry at the 9th West Africa Convergence Conference (WACC 2017) holding in Lagos, November 29th at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers. WACC begins at 8am. Registration is free at www.waconvergenceconference.net.
Jelani will be leading conversation at the session on “Convergence, Automobile Innovation & the Future of Cars”.

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/24/jelani-aliyu-naddc-boss-herald-theme-convergence-future-nigerian-auto-industry-wacc-2017/

Director-General/CEO of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) and the country’s chief IT officer, is billed to lead the conversation on Infrastructural Challenges, Disruptors and Regulation at this year’s sspeaking at the 9th edition of the West Africa Convergence Conference (WACC 2017) with a positional presentation on “Disruptive Technologies and Limits/Challenges of Regulations.’

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/24/nitda-boss-pantami-engage-stakeholders-disruptive-technologies-regulations-wacc-2017/

As part of efforts to protect the over $80bn telecoms investment and ensure improvement in the quality of telecommunication services across the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to protect the Nation’s critical telecommunication infrastructure
http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/23/ncc-nscdc-sign-mou-protect-nigerias-80bn-telecoms-infrastructures/

The 9th edition of the West Africa Convergence Conference (WACC 2017) is boasting of a stakeholders’ gathering to provide an insightful peep into the new deals of convergence – the opportunities and challenges across industry verticals and how Nigeria could leverage on all these.

Continue Reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/23/pantami-kazaure-alale-others-offer-regulatory-public-service-insights-convergence-wacc-2017/

Facebook has announced a new nationwide initiative in Nigeria to further cement its commitment and investment in the country, and across the continent. In Nigeria, it will be opening its first innovation hub in partnership with the country’s premier community hub, CC-Hub.
Continue Reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/23/facebook-open-first-innovation-hub-nigeria/

Netcom Africa, Zeta Web and a number of technology solution providers are on the Technology Convergence Leaders hit list for WACC 2017. WACC 2017 is recognizing individuals and corporate entities deemed to be leaders in the promotion of technology diffusion and convergence. The recognition ceremony is the sign-off menu on the WACC 2017 event.

http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/22/netcom-africa-zeta-web-technology-convergence-leaders-hit-list/

The Nigerian government has saved three billion naira on a single cleared IT Project of a federal agency through the intervention of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), government’s clearinghouse for all IT procurement and services in the public sector.

Continue Reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/21/nitda-saves-government-n3b-procurement/

Despite being Africa’s largest telecom market with more than 140 million mobile subscribers and the continent’s largest economy, Nigeria  has been ranked 15th in information communication technology (ICT) development in Africa by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). In its most recent 2017 ICT Development Index (IDI), the ITU places Nigeria far Ghana, Gabon and Senegal in the adoption rate of ICT on the continent.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/21/itu-ranks-nigeria-15th-ict-development-africa/

The Chairman, House Committee on ICT at the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo is to deliver the keynote speech at the 9th West Africa Convergence Conference (WACC) holding in Lagos November 29th at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, even as tech giants, IBM and Cisco signed in for the session plenary on ‘Convergence and the Future of Work.’  On the plenary list is also human management outsource (HMO) company, Integrated Corporate Services Limited. WACC begins at 8AM.

Registration is at www.waconvergenceconference.net.

The economic opportunities of innovative information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as Internet of Things, cloud computing, AI for smart sustainable cities were highlighted at the 15th edition of the ITU World Telecoms/ICT Indicators Symposium
Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/17/itu-forum-highlights-economic-opportunities-emerging-technologies/

The Minister of Communications, Honourable Adebayo Shittu, yesterday said the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has impeccably deployed social media networks for public communication and urged all stakeholders to emulate the Commission to expand the frontiers of public sector communication, good governance and national development.

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/17/shittu-stakeholders-commend-ncc-use-social-media-networks/

The 20th anniversary of Africa’s largest tech-focused event may have come and gone, but beyond the record-breaking number of visitors, exhibitors and speakers and new launches and cutting-edge products this year, the outcomes make for a lasting impression. AfricaCom was once focused solely on the telecommunications market, but now that conversation has successfully shifted to embrace all things technology driven – the backbone of our everyday and increasingly, future lives. While many of the discussions at AfricaCom 2017 centred around connectivity – from the cost of data to the deployment of satellite as a viable means of connecting the continent, Africa has more pressing problems – that of digital inclusion, and just what this means and how this digital-democracy can actually materialise.

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/17/africacom-2017-driving-digital-democracy-africa/

In the coming year, the world will see more legitimate software being poisoned by groups targeting wider victim profiles and geographies, with the added advantage that such attacks are extremely hard to spot and mitigate, according to Kaspersky Lab’s Targeted Threat Predictions for 2018. Other hard-to-block attacks, such as those involving high-end mobile malware are also set to rise as attackers resort to new tricks to breach increasingly well protected targets

Continue Reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/16/kaspersky-lab-alerts-global-software-poisoning-2018-threat-predictions/

Tech giant, Google is dedicating its famous doodle to late Nigerian prolific writer and novelist, Chinua Achebe in celebration of his 87th posthumous birthday today, 16th of November.
http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/16/google-honors-late-nigerian-prolific-writer-chinua-achebe-doodle/

Digital innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa is being driven by the explosion in mobile phone usage, enabling African consumers to leapfrog existing business models and technologies, says the 2017 Ecobank Research’s Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities

Continue Reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/16/fintech-innovation-rise-africa-says-ecobank-group-research/

Jelani at the 2017 Symposium of the Automobile & Allied Services Group organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), noted that with the advent of driverless, solar or electric powered cars, Nigeria can’t be left behind. He said that NADDC has started to look at electrified vehicle policy as a way of supporting and creating an enabling environment for the development of electric vehicles in the country.

http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/16/naddc-boss-jelani-aliyu-reiterates-commitment-grow-nigerian-automotive-industry/

NADDC boss, Jelani Aliyu, reiterates commitment to grow Nigerian automotive industry. Jelani at the 2017 Symposium of the Automobile & Allied Services Group organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), noted that with the advent of driverless, solar or electric powered cars, Nigeria can’t be left behind. He said that NADDC has started to look at electrified vehicle policy as a way of supporting and creating an enabling environment for the development of electric vehicles in the country.
http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/16/naddc-boss-jelani-aliyu-reiterates-commitment-grow-nigerian-automotive-industry/

The Nigerian military has dispelled rumors making the rounds on the internet about the de-commissioning of female cadets into the service, even as the government is making efforts to clampdown on perpetrators of fake news in the country

http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/16/beware-social-media-military-says-news-de-commissioning-female-cadets-fake/

Worried that the N-Power scheme is falling behind the time-target for Npower Volunteers to be supplied with their gadgets, the Presidency has ordered for the immediate decentralisation of the scheme’s software installation process to quicken the pace at which beneficiaries can collect their devices.
The N-Power scheme is part of the federal government’s Social Investment Programme, under which it plans to hire 350,000 unemployed graduates.

CONTINUE READING: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/14/presidency-weighs-slow-deployment-n-power-gadgets-volunteers/

Nigeria’s Space Journey – Understanding its Past, Reshaping its Future is a fascinating yet sobering, 400 page, record of Nigeria’s historical relationship with modern Science and Technology, as manifested in activities related to outer-space. The book is also an account of the authors activities in the “Court” of Obasanjo.
The book evoked mixed feelings for me, as it recounts several missteps, missed opportunities and inexplicably bad decisions that Nigeria has taken from Independence to date. However, we must focus on:
What did Nigeria and its decision-makers do right, and
What could we have done better.
This is a better way forward so that we can avoid getting bogged down in blame games instead of, concentrating on learning our lessons and moving forward.

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/12/nigerias-space-journey-understanding-past-reshaping-future/

Stakeholders at the just ended three-day eNigeria have called for a more aggressive approach in implementing the local content development policy even as they want rapid infrastructural deployment and capacity building to enhance the country ability to be part of the Knowledge Economy. While commending the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for its more frontal approach at implementing the local content policy, conference attendees said government through its ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) needs to ensure compliance to the policy to help increase both patronage and capacity of indigenous ICT firms.

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/12/stakeholders-enigeria-want-forcefulness-implementing-local-content-policy/

Stakeholders at the just ended three-day eNigeria have called for a more aggressive approach in implementing the local content development policy even as they want rapid infrastructural deployment and capacity building to enhance the country ability to be part of the Knowledge Economy. While commending the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for its more frontal approach at implementing the local content policy, conference attendees said government through its ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) needs to ensure compliance to the policy to help increase both patronage and capacity of indigenous ICT firms.

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/12/stakeholders-enigeria-want-forcefulness-implementing-local-content-policy/

ITU and the World Health Organization (WHO) have signed a cooperation agreement to launch a joint partnership to scale up the use of digital technologies to strengthen the delivery of public health care services in Africa.
The “Digital Health for Africa” partnership will assist countries in Africa to promote the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the health sector. It will also equip health care workers with digital skills and build the required digital infrastructure, including integrated systems and platforms for providing and scaling up digital health services in a consistent and efficient manner.

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/10/itu-join-forces-advance-africas-public-health-sector-digital-technology/

Nigeria is making a saving of about N24.7 billion monthly with the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and enforcement of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) process to eliminate fraudulent accounts and ensure a proper payments into government coffer. President Muhammadu Buhari announced this in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the 2017 e-Nigeria Conference, organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/08/nigeria-saving-n24-7-billion-tsa-ippisbvn-monthly-says-buhari-enigeria/

Information Communication Technology (ICT) stakeholders have called for the speedy integration of e-health solutions in the country’s health sector as a way of saving the millions of naira being expended on medical tourism yearly. The stakeholders, who made the call at the ongoing eNigeria holding at the International Conference Centre in Abuja noted that, if Nigeria don’t embrace technology in some key sectors such as health, the dividends of technology may erode us as a country which will eventually lead to capital flight of health services.

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/08/enigeria-stakeholders-want-speedy-integration-e-health-solutions-health-sector/

umia Nigeria (www.) announces its biggest black friday sales event ever – the 2017 Jumia Black Friday Festival (http://APO.af/fYKSAr), featuring 1 million deals, a lottery giveaway that includes a brand new car and roundtrip airline tickets to Europe over the course of 31 days.
The much anticipated event will run from Monday, November 13th until December 13th. To ensure that Jumia brings its customers the best deals and widest assortment, the e-commerce giant has partnered with top brands including Intel, Pampers, Infinix, Phillips, Fero, HP, MTN, Coscharis and Air France-KLM.

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/07/jumia-woos-sales-80-discount-black-friday/

Lagos based tech solutions and Managed Network Services (MNS) provider, Netcom Africa Limited, has solidified its footprint in Nigeria’s tech market with the deployment of top notch MNS solutions across industry verticals helping Nigeria’s increasing top notch business players to concentrate on their core business missions.
MNS allows companies to concentrate on their core businesses while it takes care of their critical ICT infrastructure.

continue reading:http://itedgenews.ng/2017/11/04/companies-prefer-netcoms-managed-network-services/