Telecom
NCS to Celebrate 40th Anniversary at NITMA 2018
The Nigeria Computer Society has set machineries in motion to mark its 40th year anniversary that will hold during the 2018 National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA) in Lagos.
The Body was formed in 1978 based on the vision and aspirations of the initial members and was initially called Computer Association of Nigeria (CAN). The name was soon changed to COAN.
It was later changed to Nigeria Computer Society with the ammonisation of 2005 involving ISPON, COAN, ITAN and ISPAN.
Prof Adesola Aderounmu, President, Nigeria Computer Society during a press conference to announce the celebration said that the society has been growing and waxing stronger day by day and year by year with a lot of landmark and memorable achievements.
“Since it was launched in 1978, NCS has laid a very solid foundation for the country to have the level of ICT awareness, use, applications and achievements we are witnessing today in all sectors of Nigerian economy and society.
He said that several policies and laws (ACTs) provided by the Federal Government for the development and growth of ICT in Nigeria were made possible by the undaunted advocacy effort of Nigeria Computer Society.
“These include: Computer Professional Registration Council (CPN) Act 49 of 1993; the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) is the apex regulatory body for IT practice in Nigeria.
“It was established by Act 49 of 1993, promulgated on June 10 and gazetted on August 9, of that year to regulate, supervise and control the practice of the profession. This is a landmark achievement of founders of Nigeria Computer Society and the National Information Technology Policy 2002.
“Others are Tele-Communications Act2003; National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Act 2007; Nigeria Computer Society played a crucial role in the formation of NITDU (National IT Development Unit), the fore-runner of NITDA and National Software Policy 2011”.
Nigeria Computer Society: Executive Secretary, Iyiola Ayoola; member of NEC, Dr. Bukola Onasoga; Chairman, Events, Trades and Publicity, Femi Williams; President, Professor Adesola Aderounmu; Chairman, Conferences Committee, Jide Awe and Vice Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Kunle Oladipupo, during a press conference to announce activities for NCS@40 and NITMA 2018 held at NCS secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja on Friday.
Prof. Aderounmu also mentioned the National Information and Communications Policy 2012 (Harmonized); the Ministry of Communication Technology Ministry created by the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2011 as part of gains NCS advocacies.
“NIRA. NCS’s proposal that a neutral private sector-led organization be set up to take control of the administration of .ng was adopted.
“The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) with Board of Trustees as well as Executive members elected from different stakeholder organisations was then established to administer .ng to the satisfaction of all interested parties”.
He said that over the past 40 years, NCS has been the primary agent behind the amazing and rapid increase in IT deployment in Nigeria.
“With regard to achieving sustainable development through IT, NCS has been the advocacy champion behind local content development, Cashless and Fintech, IT in Government, IT for National Security, use of IT for productivity in all spheres of life, IT Education and so many other critical that are changing Nigerian society dramatically.
He further announced that as part of activities to celebration the 40th anniversary special recognition awards will be accorded to Past Presidents of NCS and CPN, Past Provosts of NCS, Past Registrar and Executive Secretary of CPN and NCS.
The first registered member (MRN 00001) and the fortieth registered member (MRN 00040) and Corporate organizations for their various roles in upholding the flag of NCS at various times during the 40th years journey
According to him,“In line with the advocacy efforts of NCS to achieve sustainable development in Nigeria through Information Technology, NCS promotes excellence and significant impact. I urge you to join NCS to celebrate the champions who are using technology to change society for good”, he said.
Annually the Nigeria Computer Society recognizes, celebrates and rewards outstanding excellence and exceptional contributions in the Information Technology field through the unique national platform NITMA provides.
“Our focus as a society is progress for the sector in particular and for the nation as a whole. As the acknowledged professional authority facilitating the development of an inclusive, globally competitive, prosperous and knowledge-based Nigeria, NCS is committed to recognizing and rewarding outstanding hard work and excellence in accelerating IT development.
“In choosing the awards, the key areas and issues affecting growth in the sector and society are addressed. For all awards, key criteria include IT specialisations, NCS standards and global best practices”.
He revealed that Honorary Fellowship will be conferred on the Vice Pressident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede for their dedication and exemplary service to IT growth and development in Nigeria.
“The IT Personality Year Award also known as the NCS President’s award will acknowledge and celebrate individuals that have excelled in our tech sector during the year.
“In 2018, nominees for this most prestigious award are: Mr. Adebayo Atekoja – MD/CEO Power soft Integrated Solutions Limited, Adedoyin Odunfa – MD/CEO Digital Jewels Limited,Mr. Charles Emembolu – CEO Crestsage Limited, Mr. Peter Arogundade – Managing Director Sidmach Technologies and Mr. Tunde Badejo – MD/CEO Soft Alliance and Resources Limited, he added.
Nigeria will criminalize the destruction of broadband fiber cables following repeated complaints by MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and other telecommunications companies that they are losing billions of naira, according to people familiar with the matter.
Federal ministry of works, which supervises federal road constructors, is finalizing the regulation that will be signed as an executive order by President Bola Tinubu, said the people, asking not to be identified as they weren’t authorized to comment.
While there are presently laws against vandalism, the authorities are aiming to regulate construction firms more closely.
The order will enforce stiff penalties on offenders, said the people, declining to provide more details or say when it will be signed.
“Telecom assets are critical backbone that supports the economy across sectors,” said Temitope Ajayi, a senior presidential aide, who noted that the Association of Telecommunications Companies (ATCON) has been demanding the classification for years.
New rules will provide “further assurance that the Nigerian government will protect their investments against vandals and criminal elements.”
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) estimates that the sector will make up more than a fifth of the country’s gross domestic product by the end of 2027, up from 13.5% in the third quarter of last year.
The move will help alleviate pressure on the telecoms sector, which is facing increased operating costs and sales pressures from a sharp depreciation in the currency and a threefold increase in energy prices.
Repairs and revenue losses from damaged cables is estimated to have cost the sector almost 27 billion naira ($23 million) last year alone, documents seen by Bloomberg show.
MTN Nigeria, the biggest wireless operator in Africa’s most-populous nation, and Airtel Africa Plc bore the brunt of the costs, the documents show.
MTN suffered more than 6,000 cuts on its fiber cable last year, the documents show. On Feb. 28, a cut on its network in three different locations by a road construction firm, an oil serving company and someone burning rubbish in a manhole meant customers faced more than five hours of data and voice outages.
The operator relocated 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles) of vulnerable fiber cables between 2022 and 2023, at a cost of more than 11 billion naira – enough to build 870 kilometers of new fiber lines to areas without coverage.
A presidential order on the matter would be welcomed, said Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria.
“When it comes to communication infrastructure, they are destroyed at will, so we are eagerly awaiting the president’s order,” he said. “It would be a great boost to the industry, and it will also encourage investment.”
Telegram, the messaging giant founded by Pavel Durov and headquartered in Dubai, anticipates hitting a remarkable milestone of one billion active monthly users within the next year.
Durov’s departure from Russia in 2014, prompted by governmental pressures to stifle opposition communities on his VK social media platform, underscores Telegram’s commitment to neutrality despite geopolitical challenges.
With 900 million active users currently, Telegram stands as a beacon of free speech in the digital realm, particularly influential in former Soviet Union republics and pivotal during conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine standoff.
Durov’s staunch advocacy for freedom of expression and opposition to censorship by tech giants like Apple and Google reinforces Telegram’s status as a neutral platform.
Opting for the UAE as its base, Durov cites its neutrality and openness as conducive to Telegram’s ethos, serving both opposition groups and governments alike while maintaining impartiality.
In Durov’s vision, the pursuit of freedom eclipses material gain, shaping Telegram’s trajectory as a bastion of digital liberation.
To further strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have announced a collaboration on National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to enhance and create synergy between digital identity, payment ecosystem, and secure & seemless data exchange capabilities for Nigeria.
During the meeting between the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, and Director General of NIMC, Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, with some management staff of both organisations, they discussed various initiatives, which include building DPI stacks for a secured and seamless data exchange and forming partnerships to transform the national identity system.
This collaboration also aims to harness the potential of the innovative ecosystem and emphasise the use of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to drive digital transformation in Nigeria.
To ensure a smooth implementation, a 12-man committee was set up. This committee will play a crucial role in kickstarting and harmonising the initiatives. It is expected to deliver a comprehensive implementation report within the next 4 weeks
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