Chris Uwaje is Information and Communication Technology (ICT) impresario. He is a renowned expert in the fields of engineering solutions, research, software design and development respectively.

Uwaje was recently appointed regional director for D-Link International in charge of West Africa including Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

He spoke about his new appointment and D-Link

New Face of D-Link

 Thank you. The new face of D-Link translates to enhancing the critical Information Infrastructure and encouraging Corporate Businesses and Governments all over the world – especially those in West Africa – to understand that the future and survivability of their nations and corporate businesses grossly depend on the health and security of her IT infrastructure. D-Link is world class technology Brand of International repute for functionality and quality. I am therefore, very happy to be invited on board to restructure and add value to its West African (Nigerian) Market Channel. In summary the New face of D-Link amounts to enhanced quality reassurance and commitment to our numerous end-Users and Customers. The message is that D-Link will deliver unparallel innovative quality products, solutions and value-added technical support services to the People and Government of Nigeria and West Africa in general.

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Lessons as D-Link Regional Director for West Africa
 A great deal. First is that D-Link Corporation is a reliable and efficient corporate entity with ability to create, design and manufacture top quality Networking Brand with International recognition and acceptance. D-Link has indeed become the centre of gravity of the global Networking Technology Domain. Today, D-link is the No.1 in global Wireless Technology Solutions and service delivery. With over 6000 Engineers World-wide and 4 State-of-the-Art Research and Development (R&D) Laboratories located in USA, China, India and Taipei, D-link products such as Routers, Switches, Network Firewall, IP Surveillance Security Cameras, to mention but a few – have enhanced the end-to-end solutions and service delivery at the Small Office, Home office and Enterprise levels. The mission of the new face of D-Link is codified in the will to change the future of Networking through creativity and resounding innovation wrapped in cost-effectiveness and simplicity of use.
Some people think that D-Link is just a small company manufacturing only switches?
That is not correct. Founded in 1986, D-Link is a global leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of advanced networking, broadband, digital, voice and data communications solutions. Following our company motto, "Building Networks for People", D-Link continually meets the global networking and connectivity quality standards and needs of digital home consumers, small office professionals, small- to medium-sized businesses, and enterprise environments.
D-Link’s core competency is in Ethernet connectivity. In fact, we are the global leader in providing network connectivity solutions to small and medium-sized business. From the beginning, D-Link engineers have researched, designed and manufactured innovative, standards-based networking solutions. We sell our state-of-the-art hardware at the best prices. Price may be the deciding factor for many new customers, but D-Link innovation, reliability and service keeps them loyal year after year.
A major contributor to our success is our established and expanding network of global distribution and delivery channels that brings products to more than 100 countries every day. We do more than meet the growing demand for computer networking and communications solutions – we fuel it. Our development of global distribution channels in more than 100 countries has resulted in double-digit growth every year for 20 years. D-Link surpassed the $1 billion revenue milestone in 2005, driven by record sales in every geographic region of the world.
Global Presence: D-Link’s international headquarters are located in Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China. More than 120 global offices serve North America, Asia, Europe and Africa including the North American headquarters in Fountain Valley, California. D-Link maintains strategic operations in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Russia, Israel, the Middle East, South Africa, West Africa – with Nigeria as a Hub,  Chile, Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, China, India and other countries on five continents.

Innovative Leader: Our engineers have been key contributors to the development of the rapidly expanding home and business networking environment we take for granted today. D-Link has been awarded patents and copyrights on a variety of technology platforms – including Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) computer chips, hardware technology designs, software applications and other intellectual properties. D-Link product solutions are high-performance and feature-rich by design. As a key contributor to the Digital Home Working Group (DHWG), D-Link embraces industry standards as criterion for the development of new and innovative connectivity and communications solutions for home and business. D-Link products are certified by the FCC, the Wi-Fi Alliance and CableLabs.
D-Link Corporation manufactures over 600 ICT quality products. The fact and truth is that D-Link is a world class Networking product manufacturing and solutions company with a difference. The core difference is that D-Link is focused on creative areas embedded in working together with customers, to understand their needs and moving forward to deliver absolute customer satisfaction to them. At D-Link, we create, innovate and build the future with our customers’ demand in-view covering the lower, medium and enterprise levels.

Secret behind the New Face of D-Link
The fact behind the secret is that D-Link has finalised arrangements to set-up a Technical Support Centre in Lagos, Nigeria – the first in West Africa, At D-link, we have learnt and belief that “the Internet now represents the future of Mankind, and Networking Technology is the bridge to that future. Indeed, D-Link is globally recognized as not only the IT bridge but also the centre of gravity of world-wide Networking Products, solutions and services. The new face of D-Link therefore goes beyond ’Building Network for People’ to “Preparing the future Information Society Networking total environment for mankind”.  It promises to be creatively captivating and rewarding to everyone.” It will be awesome.
The Future and Cyber Security Issues
The state of a Nation’s critical Information Infrastructure will determine her security status. Cyber Security and Cybercrime issues will become the dominant subject of IT activities and challenges of our time. The danger is that many unprepared countries such as Nigeria will be venerable to the emerging impact – unless specific policies and established and critical actions are timely implemented. The role of D-Link is to ensure that those Tsunamic impacts do not lead to the complete breakdown of the survivability framework of government and the corporate business. The main damage is going to come from the Networking environment – incorporating information routing and delivery, storage, secured data access and interchange. D-link will plan, design, deliver and support safe-computing with unmatched solutions at all levels of e-Government, Education and Hospitality sectors.
  Priorities
As global leaders in the Networking-Wireless Domain, D-Link priority is to look at challenging Networking disruptions and move rapidly to deliver quality solutions to them. This is one of our key strategies of sustaining our leadership in the Networking environment. The vision is positioning D-Link as the Preferred Market Leader (PML) in building and delivering Network solutions and support services for the West African People. With particular reference to Nigeria, my mission amongst others is: To Transform the Nigerian IT-Network Solutions and services into the reliable Hub to serve and service the needs of the entire West African Sub-Region. D-link will build Networks and Solutions for the West-African People – through sustained delivery of original quality and cost effective Technology Solutions and Services.
Our objective is to add value to National Development Projects, Research and Development programs, Deep Market Penetration, Mass Market appeal – winning top class customers and product support services in Nigeria and West African Sub-Region. To Make Nigeria the 1st Address and  Central Clearing House for D-Link Networking Products, Solutions and services in West Africa. Attain the Following Long-Term Goals:  Product Research and Development Center; Production Assembly Point for SKD and CKD components; Warehouse Facility for Shipping to West African Countries. Channel Development Priorities: Priority Level one is to development of the Nigerian /West Africa Market. Priority Level two is to make people of West Africa ‘Think D-Link’ by embedding D-Link solutions and services images into their mind-set. Our Strategy Focus aims to deliver the following goals: Dominance of the Nigerian Wireless LAN and ICT Security surveillance market, Winning Strategies in the Mass market Arena. Building a reputable profile for Managed Switches; Building Commensurate Infrastructure and Manpower Capacity; Engaging the Project Solution Models; Achievement of well over $50Million (USD) Target by 2010. Ultimately, D-Link West Africa will be solutions focused and contribute significantly to upgrading D-Link world-wide into a US$5billion business.