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Nigeria Needs Broadband Connectivity – Van Schalkwyk
Jacques Van Schalkwyk, general manager Sub-Saharan Africa at Intel Corp has emphasized the need for government to pay attention to broadband connectivity by making sure that the right regulatory environment is put in place with the right spectrums and bandwidths being allocated. He said also that the right policies should be made around education.
Schalkwyk, observed the hunger and high desire for the adoption of new technologies in Nigeria and said Intel as a matter of fact is ready to collaborate a lot more with both the private and public sector in a bid to jointly tackle some of the big issues than what had been seen in the past. Looking at it from the usage models perspective, Schalkwyk said “you will observe that this is also evolving. For instance, media delivery over the Internet is becoming a reality.”
“Nigeria is increasingly becoming a more focused usable society as well for people to communicate with relatives abroad or business people to exchange ideas. But there are some challenges like credit systems being in state of instability. However, there is somewhere to go. In general, I think the feedback I am getting is that the latest technologies are being implemented; there is really the intent for that change to happen. And people are striving step by step forward to drive change”, Schalkwyk disclosed
Speaking on competition, he said mobile is going very fast and that mobile technology market will continue to grow. The overall growth even in a fairly tight environment and the available market according to him is becoming impressive and promising. He said this year was a particularly tough year everywhere in the world but, there have been good signs of recovery, even in Nigeria believing that the growth and transformation are as a result of the adoption of technology all over the world.
Van Schalkwyk explained Intel’s involvement in corporate social responsibility and said there is a component of corporate social responsibility in Intel as it is essentially a company that is concerned about the well-being of the communities where it operates. At the same time, he said if you look at the activities they are involved in, you notice they are drivers for ICT adoption and growth. “At the end of the day, ICT adoption means more PCs being sought. So I think it is creating the man and also doing the right thing. It is good business because it has to do with human development.” he said.
Keeping afloat in the era of economic recession, Schalkwyk foresees demand especially in the consumer market coming back worldwide saying there are two drivers of this new development. First, according to him are the new users coming to the Internet, and that is what we mean by connecting the next one billion people; people who never owned laptops before, who are buying new laptops into their homes.
Another component, he said obviously is a very fresh market. There are a number of reasons for people to do that which are hinged on usage models, the process in demand behind those usage models. Just look at the digital camera for instance; every year new cameras come with higher mega pixels. Video conferencing is becoming a reality. People are skyping. We shall continue to see new people come into the Internet. We shall continue to see new usage models evolving for that niche technology. Intel will continue to invest in future technologies.
How do you react to Intel’s domination of the market?
We certainly do not see ourself intensely dominating but we do compete rather fairly. And as we drive new technologies, we want to be leaders, help in developing communities and continue to sponsor programmes that will encourage and promote technology adoption.
How committed is government in all of these partnerships?
Like every other place in the world, government has so much money to spend at any given time. Everybody would want to have a government that is rich enough. With my experience in Nigeria working with the government, it is not deliberate for the government to delay in the adoption of technology. One area I think we have to look at and which needs attention and acceleration, is broadband connectivity. We should make sure that the right regulatory environment is put in place and that the right spectrums and bandwidths are allocated. We should make sure too that the right policies are made around education. Those are some of the challenges that cannot be tackled overnight.
How successful is the Computer for All Nigerians initiative (CANi)?
CANi is successful and continues to run; I can’t be specific about the volumes behind it. The programme is up and running. But I don’t think that should be an indicator of the slowdown within technology adoption because we see a share of our business which was traditionally a government thing shifting; and of course the revenue shifting towards the consumer. At the end of the day, the CANi products will end up in the hands of the consumer.
At the time CANi was launched, there were no PC retail shops in the country but all that has changed now as you can now see retail shops selling PCs. This you couldn’t see about four years ago. It has now become a consumer market. And if that is the end result then, CANi has done a good job.
Intel is always upgrading its products, why is this so?
Technology has increased in performance and the price over the years has actually dropped. Certainly, new technologies have benefited the consumer. The reason why we are still in business is because we bring out new technologies. Companies who do not innovate, who do not maintain leadership, how can they expect competition, which is the core of business? And there is a specific need for that evolution. There is an absolute need to continuously innovate.
African law enforcement agencies arrested 651 suspects and recovered over $4.3 million in a joint operation targeting investment fraud, mobile money scams, and fake loan applications.
As INTERPOL revealed on Wednesday, Operation Red Card 2.0 identified 1,247 victims between December 8 and January 30 while targeting cybercrime operations linked to over $45 million in financial losses.
Authorities across 16 countries also seized 2,341 devices and took down 1,442 malicious websites, domains, and servers during this joint action coordinated by the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC).
In Nigeria, police officers dismantled an investment fraud ring that was recruiting young people to run phishing, identity theft, and fake investment schemes, taking down over 1,000 fraudulent social media accounts in the process.
They also arrested six members of a Nigerian cybercrime gang that used stolen employee credentials to breach a major telecom provider.
Kenyan investigators also apprehended 27 suspects while investigating fraud networks that used social media and messaging platforms to lure victims into fake investment schemes.
In Côte d’Ivoire, 58 suspects were arrested as part of a crackdown on predatory mobile loan apps that targeted victims with hidden fees and abusive debt-collection practices.
“These organized cybercriminal syndicates inflict devastating financial and psychological harm on individuals, businesses and entire communities with their false promises,” said Neal Jetton, the head of INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Directorate.
“Operation Red Card highlights the importance of collaboration when combatting transnational cybercrime. I encourage all victims of cybercrime to reach out to law enforcement for help.”
One year ago, African law enforcement arrested another 306 suspects in the first stage of this INTERPOL-led operation targeting cross-border cybercriminal networks.
This is the latest INTERPOL operation targeting African cybercrime, with thousands of arrests and multiple multimillion-dollar operations disrupted or dismantled in recent years, following Operation Serengeti and Operation Africa Cyber Surge.
Lagos State Government has commenced the implementation of a 5% Withholding Tax (WHT) deduction on gaming winnings, in line with applicable Nigerian tax laws and regulatory directives governing the gaming industry.
The deduction applies to net winnings from licensed gaming platforms operating within Lagos State and is deducted at the point of payout. All licensed gaming operators in Lagos have been directed to comply immediately with the framework.
Under the new arrangement, 5% of qualifying gaming winnings will be automatically deducted before payment is made to players and remitted to the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) as the statutory tax authority.
According to the State Government, the measure forms part of Lagos’ broader drive to strengthen tax compliance, transparency, and accountability in the rapidly expanding gaming sector.
Players are required to provide their National Identification Number (NIN) in compliance with KYC (know your customer) rules, while all deductions and remittances will be handled by licensed operators in line with regulatory requirements.
Players will receive their winnings net of the statutory deduction, with proper records maintained for transparency. The WHT deducted also serves as a tax credit to the player.
All licensed gaming operators in Lagos State have now been formally directed to commence the deductions with immediate effect.
Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday adjourned the $150 million dollars suit filed by Chianugo Peter, a Nigerian, against Google LLC and GoDaddy.com LLC over shutdown of his YouTubeAudio.com domain name until April 22 for hearing.
The case, which was before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, could not proceed due to the absence of the judge in today’s proceedings.
Although Emmanuel Ekpenyong, Peter’s lawyer, and Mark Mordi, who is counsel to Google LLC, were in court, Justice Egwuatu was said to be in another official assignment.
The matter was consequently fixed for April 22 for hearing.
Peter had filed the suit over allegations bordering on the shutdown of his YouTubeAudio.com domain name after eight years of promotional and marketing efforts in breach of the contract.
Peter, through his lawyer, named GoDaddy.Com LLC and Google LLC as the 1st and 2nd defendants in the suit filed on April 14, 2023 and marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/238/2023.
In his earlier originating summons filed by Ekpenyong of the law firm of Fred-Young & Evans LP, the Nigerian sought a $150 million in compensation from Google LLC and GoDaddy.com LLC for the alleged cyberspace contract breach.
The plaintiff alleged that the defendants shut down his domain and business name: YouTubeAudio.com and transferred the rights over the name to Google LLC, an American multinational technology company.
Google LLC, in its initial statement of defence dated Nov. 9, 2023, and filed Nov. 10, 2023, by its lawyer, Mr Mordi, SAN, of the law firm of Aluko & Oyebode, urged the court to dismiss Peter’s suit as being unmeritorious and lacking in merits.
Justice Egwuatu had, in April 2024, gave Chianugo Peter the go-ahead to amend his originating processes after his lawyer moved the application for same and it was not opposed by the defence counsel.
In his amended statement of claim dated April 29, 2024, Peter sought ten reliefs.
He sought a declaration that GoDaddy.com was wrong to shut down the YouTubeAudio.com domain name on Dec. 7, 2022 and that Google was wrong to remove “YTAudio” with its website youtubeaudio.com from its Google PlayStore on Dec. 25, 2023 without adequate compensation to him.
He said this is notwithstanding that YouTubeAudio.com domain and business name is different and distinct from YouTube trademarks.
Chianugo Peter wants the court to declare that he is entitled to compensation from the defendants for the loss of the YouTubeAudio.com brand and goodwill which has accrued on the brand and domain name for eight years of promotional and marketing works from July 2, 2015 to Dec. 7, 2022.
He sought an order directing the defendants to pay the sum of $50 million to him for promotional and marketing works on the YouTube Audio business name and YouTube Audio.com domain name for eight years from July 2, 2015 to Dec. 7, 2022.
He sought a $100 million in damages for loss of anticipated profits associated with the brand equity and goodwill of YouTube Audio and YouTube Audio.com domain name.
Peter also sought from the defendants, the sum of 50 million naira to enable him to carry out fresh registrations of its new name and secure an alternative domain name to host its application to attract users.
The Nigerian sought an order directing the defendants to pay the sum of 10 million naira to him for prosecution of the suit.
Alternatively, Peter prayed the court for an order for GoDaddy.com to reinstate and hoist the YouTubeAudio.com domain name which was shut down on Dec. 7, 2022 and for Goggle to also reinstate YouTubeAudio.com on its Google PlayStore platform which was unilaterally removed on Dec. 25, 2023.
Chianugo Peter submitted that he acquired rights over YouTubeAudio.com domain name from Go Daddy.com LLC who conducted a search before confirming that he could make use of the name.
The plaintiff averred that he promoted the domain and business name from 2014 to 2022 and even wrote to Google to introduce YouTubeAudio’s services and to partner with it in 2014 and 2021 but received no response from it on both occasions.
He said in February 2021, he applied for and YouTubeAudio.com was registered on Google Adsense platform for displaying advertisement on the website.
Besides, Peter said in August 2021, the domain and business name was registered on Google Playstore.
According to him, the plaintiff consistently paid GoDaddy.com LLC for registration and use of the domain name from 2015 to 2022.
But Google LLC, in its amended statement of defence and counterclaim dated and filed May 31, 2024, averred that its registration of the YOUTUBE trademarks at the Trademarks Registry gives it the exclusive night to the use of the said trademarks.
It submitted that it has incurred expenses in the sum of 24,040 64 dollars in dealing with Peter’s “deliberate infringement of the counterclaimant’s YOUTUBE trademarks.”
The company, therefore, sought a declaration that Peter’s registration and use of the YouTubeAudio business name with BN 2395035 at the CAC is an infringement of its YOUTUBE registered trademarks.
It prayed the court for an order directing Peter to pay the company the total sum of $24,040.64 being the expenses incurred in dealing with his infringement of the YOUTUBE registered trademarks.
It equally sought an order directing the plaintiff to pay the company the cost of defending the suit.
In his amended reply to Google’s amended statement of defence dated 12th July 2024, Peter responded that it is not in doubt that Google LLC owns YouTube trademarks, however, YouTubeAudio is distinct and different from YouTube trademarks.
Chianugo Peter submitted that Google LLC, being a foremost search engine in the world, knew that he had earlier written to it, that he was making use of the YouTubeAudio domain name for the past eight years without any objection or caveat by either GoDaddy.com or Google.
“Hence, Google LLC is estopped from claiming any right over the YouTubeAudio domain name,” he said.
GoDaddy.com LLC had neither filed any process nor represented in court.
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