On behalf of the National Executive Council Members and the entire members of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), I want to express ATCON’s profound congratulations to these two persons, namely Mr. Quasim Odunmbaku and Mr. Rotimi Akapo who had worked together to produce a book that is completely dedicated to Nigerian Telecommunications Law and Regulation.
We at ATCON are happy to identify with these duo because these efforts which have manifested in the publication of book that captures the developments that the industry has recorded vis-a-vis law and regulation in Nigeria.
With the birth of this book, the industry should expect the following :
(a) Increase in the flow of foreign direct investment – This book will give the potential foreign investors the opportunity to understand the laws that guide the industry and how the industry is regulated in terms of investment.
(b) it would also serve as a yardstick for measuring the development of the industry
(c) finally, it would give those that are just entering the industry a head-start because they are going to benefit immensely from the industry’s experiences that has been put together in a book format.
Once, we congratulate both of you and also enjoin not to rest on your oars as the industry looks to read the second edition of this book in the next 5 to 10 years because of the nature of our industry which is highly dynamic.
Digital content creators called to participate in fully online DLA#5
The fifth edition of Digital Lab Africa (DLA), the first mentorship and incubation program for African creatives in innovative and digital content, has launched its next call for applications. DLA is calling on artists, producers, designers, collectives, students or entrepreneurs from both creative and cultural industries, including from across Sub-Saharan Africa to apply.
DLA aims to incubate emerging talent by offering them a springboard to jump-start and accelerate their projects with the support and expertise of the DLA ecosystem. Led and managed by Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, and supported by the AFD (Agence Française de Développement).
The Pan-African accelerator focuses on 5 key categories: Immersive Experience, Video Games, Music, Animation and Digital Art. The programme initiated five years ago by the French Institute in South Africa (IFAS) counts SACEM, TRACE, TV5 Monde Afrique, the French Embassy in Nigeria, amongst others, as partners. Applications for the animation and immersive experience (XR) categories are now open and close on 4 April, while applications for video, digital art, and music categories can be submitted between 17 May and 11 July.
In 2020, DLA received more than 500 applications from over 32 countries. For its fifth edition, Digital Lab Africa is switching to a fully online format. The incubation and mentorship programs followed by the DLA#5 laureates will include online activities, online mentorship, and participation to online industry events.
Chief Executive of the Tshimologong Precinct, Lesley Donna Williams, says the DLA applications reflect the vitality and uniqueness of the African continent in the field of digital cultures and new technologies. “Each year the level innovation in terms of form, storytelling, content and technologies gets better. We expect DLA#5 to once again exceed our expectations and look forward to receiving quality applications.”
Youth Hanson, the wife of Johnson Hanson recently celebrated her birthday in Uyo, in like with the Covid 19 protocols, the amiable lady decided to make it a private/family affair and yet the ICT ecosystem in Uyo felt the shock waves. In Richter’s scale.
You can’t talk about information Technology Ecosystem in Niger Delta without mentioning Hanson Johnson, you can’t talk about Startup ecosystem and software development without mentioning Hanson and his wife, more especially, you just can’t talk about capacity building in women in Akwa Ibom State and also building the required skills for the 4th industrial evolution without mentioning the amiable beautiful wife of Hanson , known as Youth Hanson .
“Over the years, I have come to appreciate my wife for the support, encouragement and Bringing innovation to the ICT capacity building in the state especially amongst women. She is more than a wife to me, she is an angel, a pillar of support and above all my confidante. I am happy to have found such a lady and I celebrate her on this birthday”, Johnson Hanson, the husband eulogized.
With tons of praised and we’ll wishing pouring in from almost everywhere especially to those that she has touched their lives. Youth can be said to be a demonstration of virtuous woman.
Daniel Iyangetoh said “Happy Birthday Mrs Farmer Youth Hanson Johnson. May God bless your new age with everything that’s good.”
The team at Start Innovation Hub added ” Happy Birthday, Ma’am.
“We are appreciative of all your sacrifices and the good works you are doing for Start Innovation Hub women and your consistent push to see more women in the tech sphere. “
“Thank you for being amazing and we wish you greater joy as you mark another year today. Happy Birthday Youth Hanson Johnson.From all of us at Start Innovation Hub”
Beloved Mrs Youth Hanson Johnson
“For your contributions, sacrifices and every other thing you’ve done to generate growth at Start Innovation Hub, I say thank you ❣️”
As you mark your 2021 birthday, mark it in grand style and this year shall be your best birth year ever.Happy birthday, ma’am.Blessing Ekans loves you as usual ❣️
Over the years, Youth Hanson initiated the first software coding for kids in Uyo and she also ensured that gender gap in software development and IT capacity building in the state. She has gotten recognitions from various places and her input has been noticed over the years.
A dogged commitment to change execution is how businesses will survive in 2021, according to Grant Phillips CEO of fintech specialist, e4. He says the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked industry-wide havoc, the headwinds of which will continue to blow for years to come, leaving businesses in an almost permanent state of evolution and change.
“Despite the negative impact of Covid-19 we have seen several unique responses to the extraordinary challenge it created. This has led to many new opportunities and with it, ingenuity and creativity across several sectors. Macro-economic responses like interest rate management, changes in consumer buying behaviour, reduced local and global mobility, and a worldwide shift to low/no touch engagement all have very different, but marked impacts on many industries globally,” says Phillips.
The realisation that the usual ways of operating are no longer fit for purpose has created a wealth of new opportunities and channels for diversification and differentiation according to Phillips: “For business to embrace these opportunities, a number of fundamental shifts in mindset and focus need to take place immediately.”
While digital transformation and organisational resilience have been touted for a number of years, 2020 and Covid-19 made it evident that without a focused commitment to change execution, the view for 2021 and beyond will be bleak. Phillips says seeking out strategic partnerships and proprietary investment in new ways of engaging are critical to sustaining market relevance and long-term sustainability.
“Broader collaboration between traditional service providers and innovation experts is yielding faster, more relevant change in much shorter sprints. These partnerships are enabling traditional players to focus on their core capabilities while co-piloting a genuine UX focused evolution that only a few months ago felt too big, too expensive and way out of the real sweet spot,” says Phillips.
Necessity has ultimately become the mother of all re-invention according to Phillips. The shift has forced several businesses to realise that while digital transformation is a necessity, it needs to address improved UX and the change management associated with this approach.
“We are seeing demand for less friction in internal processes and systems due to the more virtual existence we are becoming familiar with now. This has led to low or no touch as non-negotiables for many interaction points. The client-driven agenda and an organisation’s ability to meet that expectation is going to be paramount as companies look to expose all the other great innovative investment outputs to their chosen, often new, client base.”
But Phillips says that digital adoption, an urgency around fit for purpose innovation and persistence is not necessarily enough. The ability to succeed rests on always focusing on what is meaningful to clients, while also ensuring that the business has a disciplined organisational culture: “This implies a culture comfortable with change and is always ready to pivot as we don’t live in predictable times anymore. Becoming accustomed to change and addressing its needs head-on will win the day.”
On the occasion of this year’s International Women’s Day, President Muhammadu Buhari felicitates most warmly with Nigerian women, describing them as the bedrock of society.
Noting that the theme of the 2021 celebration: Choose To Challenge, is quite apt, the President rejoices with the womenfolk and restates his administration’s commitment to addressing the multifarious challenges confronting them at various levels of the society.
With seven female ministers, and two of them heading strategic Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning; and Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, in addition to scores more in charge of key parastatals and agencies, as well as serving as presidential aides, President Buhari applauds their contributions to the successes recorded by the administration.
“I am proud of our women who have shown by dint of hard work and capacity that they can perform creditably if given the opportunity at home and on the global stage,” he says.
The President pledges further support towards female gender inclusiveness in all sectors of national life, stressing that women are key to a happy and stable family, society and nation.
With females forming about half of the country’s population, President Buhari avers that any “government which neglects such a crucial component of its demographic asset, stands the risk of stunted growth and likely failure.”
He condemns all forms of gender-based discriminations, abuse, harassment and violence targeted especially at the female folk at work places, schools, community and national levels.
President Buhari wishes all Nigerian women joyous and memorable 2021 International Women’s Day celebration.
The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, are set for this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the West African Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA). While Pantami will deliver the opening address at the AGM scheduled to take place from March 10-11, 2021 in Abuja, Danbatta will give the keynote at the conference.
The event provides opportunity for telecoms regulators in West Africa to take important decisions, including the adoption of activities report, programmes, budget for the Executive Secretariat, as well as the renewal of the organisation’s governing bodies.
Nigeria is fielding Mr. Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, as a candidate for the position of Executive Officer in WATRA. In the last 17 years, Aboki has worked in the Information Communication sector and he has the lofty agenda to work with member state regulators and other stakeholders to make WATRA play a more strategic role in shaping the regulation of telecoms sector in the sub- region.
Established in November 2004 with headquarters in Abuja, WATRA has become an important regional organisation within the African and global telecommunications ecosystem, with current membership consisting of independent National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) across 16 countries including Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire. Others include, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
As a regional telecoms organisation, WATRA is a consultative and collaborative body of Telecommunications Regulators in the West African sub-region to aid and advance development of telecommunications in the sub region and ultimately in Africa. The Assembly also collaborates and cooperates with other regional and international organisations towards the attainment of its mission to ensure the rapid development of telecommunications in the sub region.
The association also promotes the establishment of modern legal and regulatory structures for telecommunications and seeks the development of harmonisation of regulations for telecommunications service delivery and pricing in all countries in the sub-region.
WATRA is poised to work towards the attainment of a uniform telecommunications service standard in the sub-region and the adoption of a uniform technical quality standard for telecommunication applications and equipment employed in the sub-region. It also initiates, encourages and supports human resource and capacity building efforts aimed at redressing the shortage of indigenous skills, competencies and capabilities in emerging information and communications technologies in the sub region.
WATRA comprises of three institutions namely: The Conference of Regulator, The Executive Committee and The Secretariat. The Secretariat is the Administrative organ of WATRA while The Conference of Regulators is the supreme decision-making body and the main authority of WATRA.
The Conference of Regulators meets, at least, once a year in a General Assembly to define the general policy framework, set the objectives including approving the budget and receiving the report of the auditor.
Speaking at a pre-conference meeting, the EVC NCC, Danbatta expressed optimism that this year’s annual general meeting will live up to expectations as Nigeria looks forward to clinching the top job at the regional body.
We are an eCommerce platform based in Ibadan, Oyo state. We basically connect farmers with quality kits and products. What we do is basically connect farmers to good agricultural inputs. We deliver nationwide. We started in 2016 and we are about 4 years now. We can be said to be an eCommerce platform that is agricultural oriented where farmers can get tools, inputs and other agricultural inputs. Our core aim is to make agriculture convenient. We are a very valuable, sustainable, and profitable organization that provides premium value to customers via the contribution of a talented workforce who enjoy providing quality service to customers. We work with a set of very important core values that guide every action we take. We pay close attention to Prioritization, Excellence, Speed and Integrity
Majority of farmers are said not to be vast in IT, how do you go about this as an eCommerce platform?
What people think about eCommerce is that it makes buying and selling seamless and easier for people and they are right. We know that this (Ecommerce) has to do with access to internet. One thing that eCommerce does is that it makes it easy for suppliers and buyers to meet but in agriculture it is a different ball game, we are talking about life products like day old chicks etc. Access to quality inputs is one of the biggest challenges that a farmer faces in Nigerian and Africa. We are here to bridge that gap. Today, a lot of farmers have access to internet and we have broadband deployment that is spread out so we are leveraging on these communication infrastructures such as widespread availability of internet and broadband technology. Though apart from internet access we developed a hybrid system that makes it easy for farmers to buy even without internet. We have dedicated shopping assistants that farmers are able to call. We have solved these problems is difficulty of accessing inputs.
How secured is Afrimash platform?
We are very secured and eCommerce have come of age in Nigeria. We have partnership with firms like Paystack that ensure top-notch security and some other organisation. There is adequate security for every transaction that goes on in our platform. We have top-notch encryption in the platform. This security is layered and we always improve on security of our platform. We have not had issues with security.
How has the market accepted this?
Well, when we started over the years, a lot of pessimist said that farmers are not online, but trust me, we have come to realise that this is wrong. With high repeat customers and a lot of our customers come through referral. We have a lot of referrals and they always send others to come back because we mase shopping easier for them and we ensure that we have quality products that we deliver to these farmers. So, the market or the farmers have come to accept us over the years for what we stand for which is quality and effectiveness.
We also provide training and advisory services and we encourage farmers to come for these training. We have other levels of supports such as introducing farmers to consultants and we ensure that we have a lot of professionals that interface with the farmer.
How do you handle logistic challenges?
Well as an eCommerce platform, logistics have always been a huge challenge in Nigeria and in Africa. Though, we have partnered with a lot of logistic firms and this has made it convenient for farmers. In agriculture logistic is a bigger challenge but we have circumvented this challenge. We have learnt that we can’t do it on our ow so we partnered and outsourced the logistic arm of our business. We just want our farmers to be happy.
Support system has always been a teething problem for eCommerce in Nigeria. How do you handle it?
Yeah, we are particular about support, in agriculture support is important because we are dealing with tools and livestock. Before a farmer buys from us, he speaks to shopping assistant and these shopping assistants advise farmers before they even buy, that is the first step. We also provide training and advisory services and we encourage farmers to come for these training. We have other levels of supports such as introducing farmers to consultants and we ensure that we have a lot of professionals that interface with the farmer. These professional work like the extension workers and they help to boost the farmers’ productivity. We do not play with advisory services this is from before they buy and after they buy.
Advisory and consultancy can be said to be your value-added service. How do you engage these farmers?
You know that agriculture is highly specialised space, take for instance you buy a layer or chick, we advise the farmers the immunisation schedule etc. Equipment that have manuals, we ensure that we walk through the farmer and make him understand what the invoice says and manufacturers requirement. We also advise farmers on access to premium markets.
What kind of partnership are you looking at with the government, are you open to that?
We are very open to partnership especially with the government and we are of the opinion and we are focused to making agriculture convenient. We want to use technology to achieve this, in the next 20 years there might be high demand for food in the world and every partnership that we can go into that will make agriculture convenient is welcomed. We are very open to partnership with government organisations, states, training institutions, financiers and development organisations. We want to partner with them in providing quality services to these farmers in order to deepen food security in the country.
Agriculture equipment are very expensive, how can small scale farmer get these inputs
We looked at this from many perspectives. We are a platform that makes suppliers to reach out to farmers. Years ago, we were selling incubators of four thousand, five thousand capacity but the market wasn’t ready for this, the market was demanding of incubators between ninety chicks to two hundred. We have to reach out to the manufactures of these incubators and make them understand this is the market demand and in such a way, we have made farmers buy within their capacity. We also have partnership with microfinance banks. If farmers can access funds from government and pay back over a period of time. We also work with cooperative where financier partners can work with the cooperatives and these are the areas, we cushion the paucity of funds from the farmers.
Why is Afrimash different from other eCommerce platform?
We are building an eCommerce platform that is designed and customized for farmers. We have a focus on farmers and we are mission and vision driven, this separates us. We are also an online market place that provide guarantee for people that buy from us. We have a robust buyer protection policy. We are not like other eCommerce platform that just dumps products on customers. If you buy from us you can be sure that you are buying from trusted source.
How has Covid 19 affected your company and what are we to expect from you next year?
It has been an unusual year; we have to take drastic measures. We are lucky we have a passionate team that align with the vision of the company. We had to work remotely, the Covid 19 disrupted office work, though we adopted but the supply chain was affected. The suppliers couldn’t open up shops due to lockdown but we tried to find a way around this. Though, Covid 19 brought digital acceleration and we experienced increase in numbers of people that want to shop and sell online. There was tremendous increase in these areas and we responded to this also. We are looking at 2021 in a positive light, we have over 20,000 farmers presently, next year we want to make sure that we provide a lot more items for farmers. Our second focus is that we are seeking for partnership that would make agriculture convenient, farmers need financing and these are the partnership we are seeking out for, we know these farmers and we hope that partners will key into this. we believe that our service delivery would be top-notch.
If you are to advise government on food security, what will you tell government?
Well, I would take it from two aspect, Nigerian agricultural space is dominated by smallholders’ farmers about eighty percent unlike in developed nation which is opposite. If the government want to increase the food production, government must channel support programmes to these people. An average farmer needs four things such as training, funding, access to market and extension services and government has to provide these. The other leg of it is that, having been in this input supply, input suppliers need funding, we have manufacturers in Nigeria and they need funding for input suppliers to enable them mass produce at a very cheaper rate.
It has been an unusual year; we have to take drastic measures. We are lucky we have a passionate team that align with the vision of the company. We had to work remotely, the Covid 19 disrupted office work, though we adopted but the supply chain was affected. The suppliers couldn’t open up shops due to lockdown but we tried to find a way around this.
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja charged the newly appointed service chiefs to speed up their actions in freeing the country from the current state of insecurity.
Speaking at a ceremony to decorate the new service chiefs with their ranks at the State House Abuja, the President said:
“During our four-hour security meeting, on Tuesday, I had taken the responsibility as Commander-in-Chief for you to go out into the field and secure the country.
“You have got a few weeks to do that because by the rainy season, we expect people to develop confidence and go back to the land, so that we don’t get into trouble by being away from the field and therefore unable to produce enough food for the nation.”
He told the service chiefs to see their appointment, clearance and decoration as a vote of confidence on them.
“For those (of you) that have been confirmed by this ceremony, the decoration, in front of your spouses, is a further confidence loudly expressed on you on behalf of the nation, to respond to the insecurity the country is in, and the nation looks up to you for rapid relief.”
He assured them of his firm support as they deliver on their responsibilities.
“I have accepted responsibility for your actions in the field; it’s up to you to identify your competent officers irrespective of seniority and paper qualification and deploy them to make sure that we secure this country.
“We all look forward to you to perform and I as the Commander-in- Chief, I am backing you hundred per cent, and I expect you to effectively deploy your officers and men to secure the country,” the President said.
Responding on behalf of the other service chiefs, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor assured the President that they will not fail in their responsibilities as the mandate is clear.
“Nigeria will have peace again. Based on the mandate, we will address all issues, working with all other security organisations,” he said.
Others decorated are Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo as Chief of Naval Staff and Air Marshal Isiaka Amao as Chief of Air Staff.
Merck Foundation (Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany together with 18 African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Education, Communication, and gender, mark International Women’s Day through their “More Than a Mother” campaign that aims to empower infertile and childless women through access to information, education, health and change of mind-set; and through “Educating Linda” program which aims to empower girls through education.
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck More Than a Mother explained, “We at Merck Foundation celebrate Women’s Day every day by empowering women and girls through education, information, health, and change of mindset as part of “More than a Mother” campaign. I strongly believe that now is the time to stand for the rights of women and empower them. Happy International Women’s Day to all the women in the world and to the men who support and empower women”.
Merck Foundation empowers African childless women, Visit of Rasha Kelej with African First Ladies – bit.ly/3rty2Oz
“Superwoman” song; Concept creation and executive production by Dr. Rasha Kelej and Merck Foundation production, to empower women across Africa, sang by Cwezi and Adina, two Ghanian singers – bit.ly/3cg281E
With “More Than a Mother”, we have initiated a cultural shift to break infertility at all levels by raising awareness and supporting girls’ education
“Happy Women’s Day to my lovely sisters and First Ladies of Africa. It is an honor for Merck Foundation to partner with First Ladies of more than 18 countries to lead and execute the initiatives in their respective countries as Merck More Than a Mother Ambassadors. With “More Than a Mother”, we have initiated a cultural shift to break infertility at all levels by raising awareness and supporting girls’ education. It’s all about giving every woman the respect and the help she deserves to live a fulfilling life, with or without a child” added Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej.
In many cultures in Africa, childless women still suffer discrimination, stigma, and ostracism. The inability to have a child or to become pregnant can result in women being greatly isolated, disinherited, or assaulted. This often results in divorce or physical and psychological violence.
Merck Foundation has provided specialty training to more than 180 local fertility specialists and embryologists, and more than 150 sexual and reproductive care specialists from 35 countries, with the aim to advance women’s health and fertility care capacity in Africa and developing countries. Merck Foundation has also trained over 1500 media representatives from 20 countries, to raise community awareness, creating a culture shift, and breaking the stigma around infertility and infertile & childless women.
Merck Foundation has also built advocacy in partnership with African First Ladies through their social media with more than 3M followers, launched Media, Fashion, and Film awards; created 20 local songs; children storybooks; and supported many childless women in starting their own small businesses through “Empowering Berna” program.
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej further added, “I strongly believe that raising strong girls means empowering them for their future as strong women. Through our Educating Linda program, we support young African girls who are unprivileged but brilliant to continue their education, so as to enable them to fulfill their dreams and to reach their full potential”.
Studies show that, in areas where there is high poverty and decades of conflict, girls face enormous challenges that limit their ability to get the education they deserve. It has been also seen that many girls drop out of school due to a lack of basic necessities such as fees and uniforms. Merck Foundation is supporting the education of some of the high-performing girls by providing scholarships and grants that can cover school fees, school uniforms, and other essentials including notebooks, pens, and mathematical instruments. Educating Linda program has contributed to the future of 100’s of girls, from countries such as: Ghana, Burundi, Malawi, Niger, and Liberia. Merck Foundation will continue to support young girls from the continent.
“Empowering women and girls is the spirit of everything we do at Merck Foundation, and is a part of our DNA!” concluded Dr. Rasha Kelej.
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB.org) today signed a $400,000 grant agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria to strengthen securities market regulation and broaden market instruments.
The funds will go towards strengthening the risk-based supervision framework, regulation of derivatives and green bonds, and build capacity for green finance. The grant will be sourced from the Capital Markets Development Trust Fund, a multi-donor fund administered by the Bank.
“This collaboration further underscores our mutual goal to grow our markets and create viable avenues for sustainable economic development for Nigeria and the region,” said Lamido Yuguda, Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission at the virtual signing ceremony.
This collaboration further underscores our mutual goal to grow our markets and create viable avenues for sustainable economic development for Nigeria and the region
The grant is aligned with the priorities of the Bank’s Country Strategy for Nigeria, which envisages measures to stimulate capital market development to unlock financial resources for productive sector investments, infrastructure development and private sector growth.
Lamin Barrow, Senior Director of the Bank’s Nigeria Country Department, noted the urgency of the implementation of the project.
“At a time when countries are striving to build back better from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, improvement of the enabling regulatory and supervision framework will boost domestic resource mobilisation efforts and leverage private sector contributions to achieve a greener, more environmentally sustainable and inclusive post-pandemic recovery,” Barrow said.
Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, thanked the African Development Bank Group and the Securities and Exchange Commission “for this historic event and partnership, to build in-house capacity at SEC, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, issuers and investors in the sustainable finance space, which will help to meet climate finance commitments in Nigeria.”
The project will support the implementation of the SEC’s Nigeria Capital Market Master Plan 2015-2025 and its vision to position Nigeria’s capital market as a competitive and attractive destination for portfolio investments.
