Telecom
2020 World Teachers Day: Skool Media Advocates for Teachers Empowerment
In its renewed efforts towards seeking the advancement of teaching profession in Nigeria, Skool Media Nigeria Limited, an innovative educational technology company has called on all education stakeholders in the country to join forces in empowering Nigerian teachers.
Sola Oluwadare, head, Corporate Communications, Skool Media Nigeria Limited, in a statement released on Friday, said the clarion call has become germane as teachers all over the world celebrate “World Teachers Day”.
According to him, “It is necessary to celebrate our teachers this day being the agents of change for the next generation.
“However, all stakeholders must come together to team up with the government to build a teaching industry that we will all be proud of; and Skool Media will continue to play a noble role in this regard”.
He also thanked the Federal Ministry of Education for its recent approval of the Teachers Digital Literacy Programme (TDLP) which is targeted towards equipping teachers with adequate digital skills to develop instructional contents that will make learning more interesting to students.
He explained that Skool Media has commenced training of teachers in the Federal Unity Colleges (FUC) following the approval of TDLP by the Federal government.
Oluwadare noted that the training is being done in phases across the six geopolitical zones in Information Communication Technology (ICT) as it affects educational management.
“This is being done to support teachers to become tech savvy and ICT compliant so that they can have a wider exposure into inspiring and teaching globally competitive learners,” he added.
Moses Imayi, chief Executive Officer of Skool Media, said, it is necessary for teachers to leverage the potential of multimedia and online resources to motivate their students to learn better; and to effectively enhance the delivery of instructional content to improve teaching-learning outcomes.
“Skool Media believes that there is need for school curricular to be fully galvanized to prepare Nigerian students for the 21st century workplace demand for hands-on Information Communication and Technology (ICT) applications and diverse vocational and technical skills.
“The Nigerian child must be prepared to take up the challenges of modern workplace by developing relevant technology skills capable of making them equal in tasks to their colleagues in the developed countries.
“This cannot be achieved without building teachers who are digitally skilled for the task.
“At Skool Media, we will continue to collaborate with the education stakeholders in Nigeria to bridge these gaps.
“Our Teachers Digital Literacy Centres in most Federal Unity Colleges will continue to serve as avenues to acquire necessary skills for Nigerian teachers to be equipped to be able compete with their counterparts globally”. Imayi added
Telecom
NIGCOMSAT Plans Dedicated Satellite for Military Operations
Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) has revealed plans to launch a satellite into orbit, co-designed and dedicated to the Nigerian Army to enhance the military’s capabilities and boost operations.
Mrs Jane Egerton, managing director/chief executive officer, NIGCOMSAT disclosed this during a visit to Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, chief of army staff.
Mrs Egerton said the decision was taken considering the severity of the service being rendered by the Nigerian Army to the nation in the fight against emerging threats.
The NIGCOMSAT boss acknowledged the long standing relations with the Army and its zeal in tackling security challenges in the country.
She noted that the partnership between the two bodies is expected to have far-reaching implications for the country’s military operations and national security and leverage satellite technology to drive economic growth and development.
In his remarks, the COAS stressed the need to partner with the NIGCOMSAT to enhance communication capabilities and improve military operations.
Lagbaja said the partnership was crucial to providing reliable and secure communication services and enabling the Nigerian Army to access a wide range of satellite-based services, including telecommunications, navigation, and surveillance, which will significantly improve its operational efficiency and effectiveness.
The army chief lauded the vital role of NIGCOMSAT, which serves as a formidable foundation for NA operations, especially in the North-East and North-West regions.
He reiterated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to Executive Order 5 of President Bola Tinubu compelling departments and agencies to patronise made-in-Nigeria goods.
He described NIGCOMSAT products as top-notch and affirmed his desire to expand the frontier of cooperation and partnership that exists between NIGCOMSAT and the Nigerian Army.
Nigerian Army chief also pledged to support the communication company in the launch of its new satellite into space to improve NA operations.
Telecom
Elon Musk’s SpaceX Doubles Price for Starlink Global Roaming Plan
SpaceX’s Starlink has announced a significant price increase for its global roaming plan, which provides satellite internet service worldwide.
This plan has been used by subscribers to access Starlink in countries where the service is not officially available, such as Ghana.
Last week, subscribers to the “Mobile – Global” plan received emails from SpaceX informing them of the price increase.
Previously, United States users paid $200 per month for the service, but this will now double to $400 per month.
The new rate takes effect on August 16 for existing customers, while new customers will face the increased price immediately.
In addition to the US, the price hike affects other countries. An Australian user reported an increase from 300 Australian dollars to 670, while a customer in Zambia noted a similar rise.
SpaceX has been addressing the use of the global roaming plan in African countries where Starlink is not yet officially available.
Last month, the company emailed subscribers in Africa to clarify that the “Mobile – Regional” plans are intended for temporary travel, not permanent use.
This prompted concerns from NGOs, who urged SpaceX to maintain Starlink access in Sudan amid internet blackouts caused by civil conflict.
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Despite the increase in the global plan, the “Mobile – Regional” roaming plan remains at $150 per month.
SpaceX has also raised prices on other plans.
Some US residential subscribers have seen their monthly fee increase from $90 to $120, which the company attributes to changing capacity limits in their areas.
In Ghana, the administrative processes for licensing Starlink are underway.
Starlink, owned by SpaceX, operates a network of low-Earth orbit satellites providing high-speed broadband internet.
The standard residential internet service costs $120 per month for unlimited data, with a one-time equipment fee ranging from $599 to $2,500.
Currently, Starlink is available in seven African countries: Mozambique, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Nigeria.
However, a growing black market has enabled users to bypass local restrictions.
Reports have surfaced that SpaceX is cracking down on unauthorized access to Starlink in countries where it is not approved by regulators.
Customers in Sudan, Zimbabwe, and South Africa have received notifications that their access will be terminated by the end of the month.
Telecom
Airtel Wins Big at Maiden ICAN-NGX Awards
Airtel Africa, telecommunications provider in Africa with its stock trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX), emerged as a major winner at the inaugural edition of the ICAN-NGX Awards, carting away the Most Outstanding in Financial Reporting and the overall gold across all categories, amidst other nominations.
These honors were announced at a special ceremony held last Friday, at the NGX headquarters in Lagos.
Organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in collaboration with NGX Regulation Limited (NGX RegCo), the awards recognized excellence in corporate reporting among the top 30 most capitalized companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange for the 2022 financial reporting year.
Airtel Africa stood out among other nominees in the areas of Financial Reporting, Corporate Governance, and Sustainability Reporting.
In the highly competitive Financial Reporting Category, Airtel Africa was recognized as Most Outstanding, edging out industry giants such as Dangote Cement Plc, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Seplat Energy Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, and Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc.
Speaking on the awards, Group Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Carl Cruz, expressed gratitude for the awards while restating the organization’s enduring commitment to promoting transparency and accountability for the benefit of all stakeholders.
“At Airtel, we strive to set the benchmark for excellence in financial reporting and corporate reporting, and these awards validate our efforts in this regard. We have been deliberate in maintaining a painstaking dedication to transparency for the sake of our shareholders, which is also how we keep our promises to our shareholders,” he said.
Airtel Africa also received the Gold Award in the Corporate Reporting Category. This award, according to Mr. Cruz, underscored Airtel’s culture of fair business practices.
“Today’s recognition reminds us to keep upholding the fundamental principles of integrity, accountability, and ethical conduct across all facets of its operations,” he noted.
In his remarks at the award ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer, NGX Regulation Limited, Mr. Olufemi Shobanjo, stressed the significance of the award, highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability in building a more productive market environment.
“It is noteworthy that integrity is an important drive in ensuring a successful business. In this vein, the Corporate Reporting Award underscores our collective commitment to fostering a capital market that operates on principles of transparency, integrity, and excellence,” he said.
While sharing this positive sentiment regarding the awards, Innocent Okwuosa, the 59th President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), expressed optimism about the future of corporate reporting in the country.
“As sustainability evolves and with Nigeria adopting IFRS S1 and S2 of International Sustainability Standard Board (ISSB),” he said, “it is expected that the corporate reporting in Nigeria will get better and better.”
Airtel Africa remains committed to promoting accountability, transparency, and sustainability in its operations.
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