Telecom
Coderina, Unilag Ink MoU to Empower Undergraduates with Entrepreneurship Skills
University of Lagos has partnered with Coderina; one of Africa’s top EdTech not-for-profit organizations that leverage technology as an enabler for social, economic, and gender inclusion.
Coderina lowers the barriers to entry for Africa’s youth to acquire skills and prepare them adequately for the future of work and entrepreneurship.
This partnership model promises to be successful in many areas than robotics, AI, ML Programs such as COUCH (Coderina University Challenge) will help students hone their creativity and entrepreneurial skills.
At the same time, the Coderina Project Fair will also ensure that students and researchers approach their university dissertations and research work to provide solutions to social and economic problems.
Workforce readiness and skills mismatch are issues of great national and societal importance. These need to be tackled headlong. Through this partnership, Coderina plan to democratize access to practical, experiential skills while also helping students gain competencies and lifelong skills
In signing the MOU, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, reaffirmed his confidence in this relationship as what can build enduring skills in our young adult in preparation for the future of work.
He also extolled the quality of work that Coderina is doing in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, introducing coding and robotics to all 104 Federal Unity Colleges.
The VC stated that “Addressing Africa’s skills gap in the age of technology would require bold steps to be taken in the area of capacity building”
Ogundipe stressed further quoting the World Economic Forum, “The root of unemployment is not only a lack of jobs; a key underlying issue is also the inadequately educated workforce. And this challenge is likely to be amplified in the coming years due to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterized by fast-paced technological progress combined with other socio-economic and demographic changes, which will further transform labor markets.” Hence the time to start to address skills shortages is now.”
Speaking at the event, Dr. Chika Yinka-Banjo, lead/coordinator of the University of Lagos AI & Robotics Lab (AiRoL), enthused at the prospect and potential of the collaboration.
She stated that the benefits of the relationship are already far-reaching. Coderina has donated some robotics kits to the lab, provided training, and has already prepared young learners for the FIRST Lego League Championship, a World Robotics Challenge, and now put together a UNILAG team for FIRST Tech Challenge. This partner will not only benefit the University, but it will also help create an outreach program for youth in the neighboring underserved communities.”
On his part, Dr Sunday Adebisi, Director of the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre (ESDC), welcomed the University of Lagos’s relationship with CODERINA through the AI-Robotic Lab and ESDC as a development that will enable the students build rare and competitive skills of the future for decent jobs.
He said given that this generation will have to change careers more than ten times in their lifetime, as a result of many jobs that will go into extinction and other ones that will be birth, there is no better time than now that this quality relationship that supports students to build AI skills should be consummated.
The director said: “I am optimistic that our students with the present training arrangement will become globally competitive in employability opportunities, job creation, and entrepreneurship development.”
According to the Founder of Coderina, Mr. Ajayi, “This partnership brings a unique dimension to academia-third sector collaboration where both organizations mutually benefit through research, knowledge-sharing and practical execution on research findings in the field of robotics, drones technology, AI, entrepreneurship, solve practical problems and unlock vast potential for impact at scale.”
Telecom
AMN Activates Starlink Cellular Backhaul Connectivity in Nigeria
Africa Mobile Networks Group (AMN) has said that its first of its base stations in Nigeria to connect to SpaceX’s Starlink constellation is now live and using the LEO satellite network for backhaul connectivity.
It’s the first AMN base station to connect to Starlink since AMN and SpaceX signed a commercial deal in July 2023 to use Starlink for remote base station backhaul connectivity across Africa.
AMN said in a statement that Starlink’s low-latency connectivity enables its multi-carrier RANs to sustainably provide 2G, 3G and 4G services in remote, rural areas of Nigeria. AMN also said it also paves the way for the launch of 5G services, which AMN plans to do before the end of this year.
AMN, which builds, owns, operates and maintains mobile network infrastructure for African mobile network operators, currently operates 1,600 base stations across Nigeria.
The company said it will continue to install new sites throughout 2024 in Nigeria, as well as Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Madagascar, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin and Rwanda. AMN also has operations in Bissau, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sudan, and Zambia.
Starlink has been commercially available to consumers and enterprise customers since January 2023. Last week, according to a report from Nairametrics, Starlink slashed the price of its internet router by 45%, although its monthly subscription rate remains unchanged. No reason was given, but the report suggests the move may be related to the naira’s recent appreciation against the US dollar and other foreign currencies.
According to figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Starlink had over 11,200 subscribers in the country as of the third quarter of 2023 – which also makes it one of the top ISPs in Nigeria, the report said.
Telecom
Nigeria’s Telecoms Sector Threatened by Economic Challenges – Ikemesit Effiong
Ikemesit Effiong, Chairman of the Technology Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law, has raised concerns about the sustainability of Nigeria’s telecoms sector amid ongoing economic challenges.
In an insightful article titled “The Imperative of Upholding Nigeria’s Telecoms Lifeline,” Ikemesit delves into the sector, emphasizing its pivotal role as both an economic engine and societal enabler. With approximately 15,000 direct employees and a significant 16% contribution to Nigeria’s GDP, the sector’s health is crucial for the nation’s well-being.
Ikemesit highlights various obstacles facing the telecoms industry, including frequent fibre optic cable cuts due to road construction and vandalism, multiple taxations, and challenges in acquiring rights-of-way. These issues, compounded by exploitative rent-seeking practices, have persisted despite efforts to resolve them.
“Central to the sustenance of any industry is a conducive economic environment that allows for sustainable growth and innovation,” writes Ikemesit. However, regulatory constraints that limit tariff adjustments hinder the sector’s ability to adapt to market dynamics unlike other industries.
Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicates a rise in inflation to 33.20% in March 2024, up from 31.7% in February 2024. This poses significant challenges for businesses striving to manage staff welfare and make necessary investments amid economic strains.
The inflationary pressures have led to price increases across various sectors, including agriculture, beverages, and services. Companies such as Nigerian Breweries Plc and Netflix have adjusted prices multiple times this year to cope with rising costs.
Recently, the quality of service has become a significant concern for subscribers across the country. Available data indicate that this issue may persist for the foreseeable future. The 70% broadband penetration target set by Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, was severely impacted in 2023, experiencing a decline of 14.2% from a peak of 48.28% in March to 41.87% in November.
With operators reporting financial losses in 2023 and a challenging outlook for 2024, it is evident that funding will pose a significant challenge for the necessary investments needed to transform the sector.
Describing the challenges of the sector in 2023, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said, “ALTON’s members currently pay at least 49 different taxes and levies. Additionally, our members continue to bear the brunt of multiple taxation and coerced compliance with tax and levy demands that have no legal basis by sub-nationals. This threatens investment, sustainability, and industry growth.
“Instances include – exorbitant Right of Way fees, increases under the Finance Act 2023 (such as an upward review of Tertiary Education Trust Fund Tax from 2.5% to 3%, imposition of Value Added Tax on cell towers (Base Stations), imposition of import levy on goods, removal of capital allowance on telecommunications goods and services under Section 32 of the amended Companies Income Tax Act), amongst others.”
In the past 10 years, telcos have maintained the same charges for calls and data, despite inflation rising from 8.05% in 2014 to 33.20% in 2024, and the dollar increasing from 185 naira in 2014 to about 1,000 naira in 2024.
Considering that this sector supports Nigeria’s 221.7 million active voice subscriptions and 160.2 million data subscriptions, with immense consequential economic and social value, leaving it to resolve its challenges independently or risk collapse poses significant threats to Nigeria’s socio-economic stability. Stakeholders in the sector are urging the government to either invest in the sector as needed or adopt a cost-reflective tariff to facilitate necessary investments.
Telecom
6 Ways Gemini can support your job Search in the Nigerian job Market
The Nigerian job market is a competitive jungle, rich with potential and brimming with energy. From bustling tech hubs to burgeoning green energy sectors, there’s an incredible opportunity out there waiting for you. But navigating this dynamic landscape can feel overwhelming. How do you cut through the noise, showcase your unique strengths, and land your dream job?
That’s where Gemini, Google’s collaborative AI-powered tool, comes in as your ultimate career companion, guiding you every step of the way. Imagine having a seasoned career coach, research assistant, and skills advisor right at your fingertips!
Here are 5 ways Gemini can be your ultimate career ally:
Crafting a Standout Resume
Your resume is your first impression, and Gemini ensures it’s a dazzling one. Need help translating your customer service experience into impressive problem-solving skills? Gemini can rephrase it for you! Wondering how to highlight your leadership experience powerfully? Ask Gemini to suggest strong action verbs that showcase your skills. Before submitting your resume, ensure it’s error-free by asking, “Can you review my resume for grammatical errors and suggest ways to improve clarity?”. You can even ask Gemini to help draft a compelling cover letter based on a job description!
Interview Confidence Boost
Interviews can be nerve-wracking, but Gemini helps you walk in feeling prepared and confident. Get a quick rundown of a company’s latest projects and overall mission by asking, “Summarise [Company Name]’s latest developments and approach to employee well-being.” Not sure how to answer those tricky behavioural interview questions? Gemini can guide you with practice questions like, “Give examples of common behavioural interview questions for a marketing position in South Africa.” To impress your interviewers, have insightful questions ready: “Help me formulate questions to ask about the company’s future direction.”
Keeping Skills Sharp
In today’s fast-evolving job market, continuous learning is key! Let Gemini help you stay ahead of the curve. Identify those in-demand skills that employers are looking for by asking, “What are the top 3 tech skills companies in Kenya are seeking in software developers?” If you’re looking to switch fields, Gemini can help you find accessible learning resources: “Find free online courses in data analysis for beginners interested in a career transition into finance.” Even if you’re a visual learner, Gemini’s got you covered. Simply ask, “Recommend YouTube channels that teach the fundamentals of graphic design software.”
Networking Made Effortless
Building a strong professional network unlocks incredible opportunities. Gemini simplifies the process by helping you optimise your online presence and target relevant events. Craft an impactful LinkedIn bio that attracts the right recruiters with a request like, “Help me write a compelling LinkedIn bio that showcases my skills and experience in project management.” Seeking out opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals? Ask Gemini, “What tips will you give for connecting with the vibrant Artificial Intelligence community at tech conferences?”. Even if you’re unsure how to approach networking, Gemini offers support with queries like, “How can I make a good first impression when reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn?”
Remote Work Made Simple
Remote work is revolutionising the African job market, offering incredible flexibility and the potential to work with global companies. If you’re eager to explore remote roles that match your skills and aspirations, Gemini can help streamline your search. Start by asking, “Show me reputable websites specialising in remote job listings for African candidates.” Want to know more about a company’s remote culture before applying? Ask Gemini, “How can I get a feel for a company’s remote culture?” To ace those remote interviews, get tips with a query like, “Help me prepare for a remote interview – what are some essential points to remember?”
Embrace the Journey with Gemini by Your Side
Let Gemini be your secret weapon – equipping you with the insights, skills, and confidence to stand out from the crowd and achieve your career aspirations. So, fire up gemini.google.com and discover the power of Gemini!
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