The management of TechLife Media & Communications Limited is billed to host IDEA DINNER for Chief Executive Officers that will foster dialogue around challenges in telecommunications, IT and indeed the digital economy.

In a statement in Lagos, Ugochi Emmanuel, Project Coordinator said Engr Gbenga Adebayo, President of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) will present key note speaker during the IDEA DINNER, which is expected to have 10 CEOs in one room.

“The IDEA DINNER with the CEOs is designed to provide a platform for esteemed CEOs to engage in thoughtful and constructive discussions, sharing experiences, strategies, and innovative ideas that can drive progress and prosperity within the telecommunications and ICT sector,” the statement reads.

While promising that the IDEA DINNER will have in attendance a diverse group of CEOs from the interdependent players of the telecom and ICT ecosystem, whose line of business is driving Nigeria’s digital economy, the statement noted the Idea Dinner will also serves as an excellent opportunity for networking, knowledge exchange, and building lasting connections with like-minded industry pioneers.

The “Idea Dinner with CEOs” is a hallmark event orchestrated by TechLife Media and Communications. This exclusive gathering which will take place at The colossus, Plot 45, Sheraton Opebi Link Road, Ikeja- Lagos on th 8^th December 2023 at 5pm,  convenes influential CEOs, thought leaders, and visionaries from various industries, particularly focusing on the tech sector. The primary objective of this event is to facilitate in-depth discussions on emerging trends, disruptive technologies, business strategies, and societal impact.

In recent years, the focus on employee experience in the workplace has surged. By 2022, recognition of its significance peaked. In 2023, leading companies are transforming the role of experience into real action – and creating workspaces that employees enjoy says Tango Matoti, Head of Workplace Strategy and Design at Tétris Design and Build South Africa.  “How businesses arrange and organise themselves for people is also a question of how they become more resilient, more innovative – and build an agile future.”  Backed by research from JLL in its Worker Preference Barometer June 2022 and Future of Work Survey, Tétris shares six key workplace trends making an impact in the Western Cape.

1. Hospitality enters the workplace

Workplace experience has become the ultimate competitive edge for engaging people and attracting talent especially as offices compete with the comforts of home. Matoti says it’s not just the design of the space itself, but comfort and alternate work spaces that are changing to make the commute worthwhile. “It’s no use demanding people return to the office only to work in isolation pods. Companies need a much stronger social strategy that draws people to a work environment that’s not only functional, but enjoyable and fulfilling. This can be done by incorporating hospitality elements, like a barista at reception, entertainment spaces and libraries, as well as amenities like gyms and parenting rooms to help develop a culture of engagement and innovation.”

“For Cape Town-based law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, we built a striking bar and entertainment area to create an elegant, comfortable environment that fosters connections by combining soft couches, occasional chairs, rugs and artwork for an inviting lounge-like area.  According to JLL’s global research, 43% of organisations will accelerate in health and wellbeing amenities and 35% plan to invest more in spaces to recharge, like outdoor spaces and roof gardens.”

1. Flex and familiar furniture

As flexible working takes hold, office furniture follows suit as 73% of organisations plan to open and collaborate all office spaces, with no dedicated desk spaces.

Rising workplace flexibility is spurring the move to modular furniture that adapts to group sizes. Movable dividers like shelves and acoustic curtains craft versatile zones for collaboration or relaxation. Sound-insulating features, from furniture pods to ceiling treatments, address noise in hybrid workspaces. “As employees blend home and office life, expect flexible office interiors that support employees the choice to work where they feel most effective. Recognising the pivotal role that a dynamic work and break environment plays in employee performance, a leading Business Process Outsourcing office in Sandton joined forces with Tetris to incorporate engaging break spaces and multifunctional furniture to enrich their professional setting,” Matoti notes.

1. Designing for locale

Workplace design now extends beyond just the office. Most businesses recognise employee desires for offices to positively influence society, leading to designs deeply connected to their locale. “This is particularly true for Cape Town and the Western Cape, which now attracts prominent design ambassadors from key design countries around the world as an example of how holistic design considers accessibility, cost, functionality and authenticity,” says Matoti.

Incorporating local art, cultural nuances, and materials becomes the bedrock of distinct environments. “Favouring local producers not only supports communities but also resonates with employee values. In celebration and tribute to Ecolab Loster Ink’s chosen office location, with its expansive city views, detailed shop-fitted shelving provides a homely context that mirrors an eclectic and vibrant neighbourhood. The Tétris design team also sourced accessories from local second-hand stores while textured wallpaper in the office reflects the harbour and Table Mountain.”

Office location choices now focus on accessibility, amenities, and employee wellbeing. “Emphasising greenery, safety, and community, workplaces that echo their local essence foster a sense of belonging, boosting productivity and engagement,” she adds.

1. Sustainability

Matoti says there’s a growing mindfulness of sustainability, not designing spaces for single use and utilising the circular economy, which includes repurposing buildings, furniture, and materials. “We’re seeing companies become more willing to be inventive, and this approach is certainly evident in the Western Cape where the province continues to respond well to water scarcity and broader electricity constraints.”

“For the manufacturing, R&D laboratories and offices for Roche in the Western Cape, a central staircase overlooking the central staff area and outside deck carefully considers sustainable materials in tandem with the environment and unique business requirements. In addition, plants, natural light, height-adjustable desks, and ergonomic chairs fill the open plan desking around the edge of each floor. At the same time, meeting rooms are positioned in the centre of the space as considered design decisions that answer sustainability goals and employee wellbeing,” she explains.

1. Smart design

JLL’s research found that 43% of businesses plan to accelerate investment in leveraging data and analytics for real-time decision-making. Matoti expects the rising use of data analytics and technologies for tracking social interactions to provide deeper insights into workplace performance and behaviour. “As data becomes embedded in daily workplace operations, real-time insights will inform decision-making, from HR policies and employee engagement to office design and organisational structure. Workplace apps will be integral for employees and managers to interact with the office and its data streams.”

She says intelligent design isn’t just about tech. “For a leading law firm in Cape Town, making decisions about integrating non-digital artefacts, like its law library, are crucial components of creating experiences of company culture that can’t be replicated online. These artefacts aren’t mere remnants of the past; they serve as vital cultural touchpoints and often deserve a designated place in the modern office landscape.”

1. Audio-visual and Artificial Intelligence

55% of organisations plan to have immersive technologies and virtual reality by 2025. With video conferencing vital for hybrid workplaces, new tech enhances sound and visual quality for more engaging meetings. “Flexible workspaces for increased collaboration and teamwork were a necessity for Roche in the Western Cape. It was important that the workspace communicated the Roche culture while allowing people to feel a sense of community. This was achieved by combining digital boardroom technology and smart booking systems with Google Jam boards and other elements to enhance meetings and fuel creativity and productivity,” says Matoti.

In the future, Matoti says innovative tools will improve collaboration beyond formal settings. “AI video tools are likely to enable hybrid meetings in open or social spaces and allow remote employees the chance to participate in pre- and post-meeting interactions, which are often more valuable than the meeting itself. By bridging the gap between in-office and remote team members, such advancements foster a unified culture in hybrid settings.”

The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu is set to detail the Agency’s plans and strategies for rural electrification in Nigeria using homegrown technologies.

The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, though officially opened today, 30th November 2023, also known as Conference of the Parties (COP28), holding at the Expo City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) will see Mr. Halilu on December 3rd, 2023, to deliver opening remarks and also participate at a panel session titled ‘Advancing Sustainable Rural Electrification through Homegrown Technologies’

The COP28 also referred to as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) will hold from November 30 to December 12, 2023, and is intended for governments to agree on policies to limit global temperature rises and adapt to impacts associated with climate change.

The event will be graced by Presidents and Heads of State, government officials, business leaders, investors, development partners, civil society organizations, academics and media.

Halilu, NASENI’s EVC/CEO during the panel session, to be moderated by Al Amin Idris, CEO of Interface Africa, will speak alongside Gunther Beger, Managing Director of the Directorate for SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation, UNIDO; Gov Mohammed Umar Bago, Governor of Niger State, Nigeria; and Miklós Veszprémi, Climate & Sustainability Expert Consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

The NASENI boss is expected to discuss the roles which NASENI currently is playing, back home, to promote development and adoption of homegrown technologies for rural electrification in Nigeria as well as other initiatives undertaken to advance sustainable rural electrification in the country.

Mr. Halilu since assumption of office in September 2023 has made sustainable rural electrification via renewable energies one of his key priorities, having embarked on partnership commitments with government agencies and companies such as Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) to ensure rural communities are provided with affordable renewable energy solutions and also homes. This is being accomplished through provision of fund toward research and development, facilitating technology transfer, and support for commercialization of innovative solutions.

In September, NASENI and REA agreed to work together to deploy NASENI solar resources and other renewable energy technologies to increase electricity supply to Nigeria’s rural areas. Also in November, the Family Homes Funds Limited signed an MoU with the Agency to promote modern and sustainable building designs for affordable housing across Nigeria. According to NASENI’s EVC during the MoU signing event with FHFL, he said “the Agency will contribute toward reducing the cost of building materials so that Nigerians can build, own homes and to deploy affordable solar energy solutions”

Family Homes Funds Ltd is a limited liability company owned by the federal government of Nigeria and represented by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said his ministry is working assiduously to unveil a blueprint for the rollout of the Digital Switch Over across the country.

The Minister stated this in Abuja on Monday while declaring open the Management Conference and Retreat of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

“I also want to use this opportunity to restate federal government commitment to the Digital Switch Over (Project), as the Ministry of Information and National Orientation is working assiduously for a DSO blueprint that will not fail; that will roll out across urban and rural Nigeria. The NTA, as a key stakeholder in the DSO project, is expected to play a prominent role,” he said.
Idris therefore challenged the NTA to reflect on the dynamic landscape of the media industry, especially with the advent of new technologies and changing viewer preferences that pose challenges and opportunities.

“Our commitment to excellence and adaptability is paramount. The NTA must continue to evolve, embracing innovation while upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity.
“This retreat is coming at a time when there is a growing number of options for the viewing public to source information from, more especially against the backdrop of the dominant role of social media and the preponderance of false and misleading information therein; therefore, the significance of an event of this nature cannot be overemphasized,” he said.

He noted that the signal upgrade of the NTÀ from standard definition to high definition is having an appreciable impact on the viewing experience of members of the public, adding that this has to be replicated in all NTA Stations across the country to achieve the desired objective.

Against the backdrop of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Tinubu administration, which he described as Nigeria’s most ambitious socio-economic growth plan ever, it therefore, Idris said, “behooves the NTA to continue to enlighten Nigerians on the successes being recorded on all fronts and to ensure that Nigerians understand and appreciate the policy direction of the Tinubu administration in news and programming.

The Minister charged the NTA to strive to rediscover its golden era when its content, especially notable soap operas and drama series, not only defined the TV entertainment space in the country but was always a reason for viewers to rush back home in the evening.

Rabiu Ibrahim