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Need for Infrastructure that Supports Convergence-Chiakpo

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Endy Chiakpo is the country general manager, IBM Nigeria and West Africa.  He has a 20-year career with IBM in Nigeria and the U.S, spanning hardware and software as systems engineer, senior engineering manager and programme director. He was part of the team that crafted the IBM Linux strategy and the successfully commercialized IBM Blue Gene supercomputer. He has scores of technical publications and holds invention patents. Chiakpo spoke on a range of issues.

Extracting Value from Smarter Infrastructure
We have long known that organizations are living systems – made up of smaller components and systems.  As the world becomes smarter – and more human beings, man-made systems, and natural systems become interconnected, instrumented, and intelligent – we begin to achieve unprecedented freedom to build, assemble, reassemble, loosely couple, and link resources in the organization.  Organizations that are prospering most are those that are dynamic and resilient enough to stay ahead of the change required of them. And it is not just about pervasive connectivity.  For the first time, massively powerful computers can be applied affordably to processing, modeling, forecasting and analysing just about any workload or task.  New approaches to service delivery are taking hold, like cloud computing models – creating a new kind of user experience – particularly in the consumer Web space – in search, social networking, retail and productivity applications.  From the user perspective, cloud computing holds promise for organisations large and small to acquire services without needing to understand the underlying technology.  Utility wires, cars and packaged goods are becoming increasingly “instrumented” with sensors, transistors, or RFID tags.  We are all now “interconnected” no matter where we are, thanks to the Internet.  We are also becoming ever more “intelligent” because of advanced software that communicates with vast supercomputing data centres.
Major Shift Underway
There is rapidly accelerating change unfolding.  There are mergers of hundred year old companies, creation of new industries and the demise of others.  There is also the emergence of new economies, the opening of long isolated markets, the imposition of new government regulations and the relaxation of others and so on.  Today, the PC model of the 1980s and the highly distributed model of the 90’s must be replaced by a new, more integrated paradigm.  This new computing model or paradigm is based on openness, networks, powerful new technology and the integration of digital intelligence into the fabric of everyday work and life. Given our service delivery challenges in Nigeria across education, power, transport and e-government infrastructure, we are best placed to leapfrog old technology to latest technology that is based on common, standardized set of applications.  New technology allows for the running of business processes on consolidated platforms, unleashing potential synergies and operational efficiencies
Change Gap
Recent surveys indicate that 98% of CEOs plan business model changes and 83% expect substantial change.  But the gap between those who expect change and those who believe they can handle it has tripled in the past two years.  For instance, take the utility industry.  Who would not want to better manage demand with available capacity rather than build expensive new power plants?  Or if you actually knew what consumer demand was, automatically reroute power rather than overload the grid and end up with another power outage. So what is holding them back? To do that, they would have to take their IT assets out of their silos.  Utilities have to take their business or “operational” assets – that network of power plants and distribution systems – out of their silos. They could then integrate them into a “smarter grid” which would allow them to manage all those transformers and breakers, and even the smart metres and thermostats in our homes and harvest all that intelligence from their IT systems. In the food industry, consumer pressure and government regulations now mandate that food producers ensure the safety of the food supply across the supply chain.  So what is holding back the food industry?  The way the food companies monitor and control the temperature of their perishable goods is not working.  They do not have an infrastructure in place that connects the farm to the truck to the supermarket shelves. So whether it is food or utilities – while they are totally different industries, they all share something in common.  What is holding them back is what we call a “change gap.”  Their business or “operations” and IT assets are highly fragmented and highly distributed thereby creating an environment that has business and IT operations working in silos.  There is a large gap between our progress digitizing and instrumenting critical applications and processes and the rigidity of the underlying infrastructure. 
Smart Infrastructure for Smart World
What is needed today in this digitally-connected world is an infrastructure that supports the convergence of business and IT needs and assets, creating integrated “smart” assets that will enable organisations to reduce costs, manage risk and improve service while reducing costs. The key requirements that such an infrastructure has to address include the integration of digital and physical infrastructure, the need to manage, store, and analyse a massive amount of data and reduce huge inefficiencies of energy, data centre and server utilization.  The underlying technical capabilities that allow for the development of such a converged, dynamic and smart infrastructure include: Virtualization – breaking out of the barriers of physical devices in a data centre, servers, storage, networks, data and applications giving businesses improved Total Cost of Ownership, resiliency and flexibility; Energy Efficiency – optimizing the energy efficiency of the IT infrastructure to reduce costs, resolve space, power, and cooling constraints; Service Management – integrated visibility, control and automation across all of the business and IT infrastructure components that support differentiated service delivery and accelerated business growth; Asset Management – enhanced asset reliability, availability and uptime that underpin quality delivery of service according to the priorities of the business while also maximising return on lifetime asset investment along with inventory optimisation, labour efficiency, and mitigating the risk of equipment failures that jeopardise the environment and the health and safety of people; Security – adopt a new approach to managing risk and security across organisations, processes, and information as the IT and business infrastructure become more interconnected; Business Resiliency – build in capabilities to rapidly adapt and respond to risks, as well as opportunities, in order to maintain continuous business operations, reduce operational costs, and enable growth in an increasingly connected world; and Information Infrastructure – supported by a resilient infrastructure for securely storing and managing information and mitigating business risks.
These are unique and challenging, yet exciting times.  These times have great possibilities. Smart systems are transforming energy grids, traffic systems and supply chains. They are ensuring the security of financial transactions and the safety of our food supply. They are changing our business models and how we work together.  Rising cost pressures, higher service expectations, new risks and threats and emerging smarter and more adaptive technologies, such as cloud computing, virtualisation, and Web 2.0 are some of the driving forces that are further accelerating the need for this change.  In fact, in this globally integrated economy, a converged and dynamic infrastructure that enables a business access, and extracts value from all types of assets, whether it’s physical, digital, or virtual is becoming the basis of competitive advantage


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60 Hearty Cheers to Chioma Ekeh, Africa’s Leading Unusual Female Tech

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The story has often been told in tech circles of how a relatively unknown Nigerian female student became a sensation of sorts among the international student population back in the early 80s in India owing to the unusual course of study she was undertaking.

60 Hearty Cheers to Chioma Ekeh, Africa’s Leading Unusual Female Tech

Chioma Ekeh

Electing to study Mathematics at Bachelor’s degree level – a course that required not only battling differential equations, calculus, advanced algebra, and so on, but also pitting one’s wits against that of wizened professors – is not a task for the faint-hearted. But that was the path that this unusual lady took at Punjab University, located in the culturally rich and aesthetically pleasing city of Chandigarh, India.

It was a decision that would lead Chioma Ekeh (nee Emelonye) along the path of meeting the love of her life, a certain Leo Stan Ekeh and returning to Nigeria with him to play a leading role in shaping the course of technology distribution in Africa.

Undoubtedly, unusual may also be a word that defines Chioma and Leo Stan Ekeh’s remarkable journey together. A power couple and exemplary partners who have worked together for over 30 years building a successful technology empire is a rarity, one that is not often seen.

That sojourn to India and her subsequent career trajectory laid the groundwork for the impressive reputation Chioma Ekeh has built in the highly competitive technology space. Business associates and representatives of global brands never fail to cite her intellect and brainpower.

Job seekers who cross her path during interviews often recall being asked to solve a simple arithmetic problem. For those who eventually become employees, there is never-ending adulation.

Her husband, Leo Stan Ekeh, describes her as the integral analytics, the backbone behind the brilliant success of the Zinox Group where she has continued to support all the businesses across the board.

Such is the cerebral aptitude of this unusual woman that she is reported to have taken the stage once at a company-wide business review to present a financial report punctuated by humongous accurate numbers, figures and percentages, all from memory and without recourse to any notes, a device or an actual presentation document.

Born on April 25, 1964, the story of the impressive diffusion, accessibility, useability and affordability of cutting-edge technology devices and solutions in Nigeria and indeed, sub-Saharan Africa will be grossly incomplete without a detailed citation on Chioma Ekeh and the leadership role she has played – one she has continued to play as a silent innovator and disruptor–alongside her legendary spouse.

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Certified Accountants (FCCA, UK), Mrs. Chioma Ekeh is the brains behind TD Africa, a regional technology distribution powerhouse headquartered in Nigeria and with branches across Africa and in four other continents.

A company she led from start-up stage, TD Africa with Chioma Ekeh as CEO, pioneered ICT distribution in Sub-Saharan Africa and has remained the industry leader by market share in the region and the biggest provider of credit to resellers.

Founded in 1999, TD Africa is Africa’s leading distributor of technology and lifestyle products, boasting an unmatched and growing network of partnership with global brands like HP, Microsoft, Apple, Starlink, IBM, Dell Technologies, Ring (by Amazon), Cisco, Lenovo, APC by Schneider Electric, Samsung, Bosch, Phillips, Logitech, Vivo, among several others. Under Chioma’s exemplary leadership, the company has achieved numerous milestones, earned a long list of local and international awards/accolades and ensured Nigeria and indeed Africa is reckoned with at the global table of technology conversations and discussion-making.

However, this remarkable story may have turned out differently, had Chioma not returned to Nigeria under the guidance of her husband.

Armed with a formidable Mathematics degree after completing her studies in India, Chioma had the world at her feet and was the toast of leading companies the world over.

Moving to the United Kingdom at the invitation of her husband, Chioma joined the exalted league of Chartered Accountants and thereafter, bagged an MBA at the reputable Heriot Watts University.In 1987, she joined Sterling Deveraux as an Investment Analyst, engaging in researchand analyzing assets, such as stocks, bonds, currenciesand commodities.

Her acumen and exceptional skills were growing in demand and before long, she left Sterling Deveraux, joining the London Borough of Lewisham as an accountant in 1988.

Between 1988 and 1991, Chioma’s sterling work saw her rise swiftly through the ranks at the London Borough of Lewisham, moving from Accountant to Senior Auditor and then to Financial Auditor.

Certainly, Chioma Ekeh had a clear path to becoming CFO and possibly CEO at the London Borough of Lewisham or even going on immediately to taking up other elevated roles at other organizations. But the love of motherland and the call of her husband – Leo Stan Ekeh – to return home to Nigeria with him and build a technology legacy for Nigeria and Africa proved too strong.

Back home, Chioma Ekeh’s initial area of responsibility was with Task Systems Ltd., the first of many companies in the Zinox Group set up by Leo Stan Ekeh.

She took up the position of Financial Controller and spent six achievement-filled years at Task before driving the vision of technology distribution birthed by her husband in launching TD Africa where she became the company’s pioneer CEO.

A quiet, unassuming tech icon, Chioma Ekeh has acquired a well-deserved status as unarguably one of Nigeria’s top three leading Women-in-Tech, a female technology business leader with extensive years of proven capacity in building high-performing teams and transforming businesses beyond stakeholders’ expectations.

In partnership with her husband, Chioma Ekeh has played immense roles in growing and nurturing partner businesses, launching several thriving new businesses and successfully closing some of the biggest acquisitions in the technology space in Nigeria.

The Tech Experience Centre – Africa’s first technology experience centre – located at Yudala Heights, a sprawling edifice in the heart of Victoria Island – is another project that has Chioma Ekeh’s indelible signature on it.

The launch of the Tech Experience Centre in October 2020 received high praise from the Nigerian government and representatives of global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

Under her guidance, Celebrating You, an annual showpiece celebratory event hosted by TD Africa has become unarguably the biggest year-end event in the Nigerian technology industry for over a decade.

Also, she has spearheaded several CSR projects, including The Herwakening – an empowerment programme for female entrepreneurs– and Girls in ICT – a project targeted at encouraging young girls to take up STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines and considering careers in technology.

As she turns 60, Chioma Ekeh deserves rarefied mention and unmitigated encomiums. An amazon, this unusual female tech icon who has shattered several glass ceilings, knows no fatigue and has continued to innovate, effortlessly leading from the front.

 

 


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Academic Technologists Propose N350,000 Minimum Wage

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National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), has proposed N350,000 as the new minimum wage for Technologists in the tertiary institutions.

Academic Technologists Propose N350,000 Minimum Wage

Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, national pesident of NAAT, stated this at 5th National Delegate Conference in University of Abuja.

Nwokoma, said the proposal was based on the present economic situation in the country occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy, high inflationary rate and the attendant hardship.

Nwokoma maintained that technology rule the world and advanced development and shaping the landscape of education in developed countries.

Prof. Tahir Mamman, minister of Education, said the federal government will soon introduce the policy that will make skill acquisition compulsory for primary and secondary schools.

The minister said global space is driven by technology which the advanced world is using to solve problems and gaining grounds.

The Union protect, defend, and promote the rights and well being and interests of all members and to advance the cause of members, employed in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education.

The theme of the conference is, “Technology, a recipe for national development and socioeconomic growth in the 21st century: the Nigeria quest for a better tomorrow.”

 

 


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9mobile Partners Microsoft to Host Impactful Training Session for Journalists

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9mobile, telecommunications company, recently partnered with tech giant, Microsoft to host a capacity-building session for journalists aimed at empowering them with innovative tools to improve their skills for maximum performance in their field.

The learning session held at Microsoft Africa Development Center had in attendance media partners from print and online platforms and publications.

The training session provided a platform to introduce journalists to the benefits of Microsoft Copilot and its potential to revolutionize the profession.

Microsoft Copilot is an advanced AI-powered tool which offers a wide array of functionalities designed to streamline workflow, enhance productivity, and elevate the quality of their output.

Through this partnership, 9mobile and Microsoft sought to equip journalists with the skills and knowledge necessary to leverage Copilot effectively in their day-to-day work.

Speaking at the training session, Chineze Amanfo, PR Lead, 9mobile, expressed her enthusiasm and satisfaction with the session, emphasizing the company’s commitment to fostering innovation and empowerment within the media industry.

She stated, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Microsoft in providing this invaluable training opportunity for journalists. At 9mobile, we recognize the pivotal role that the media plays in shaping public discourse and driving societal change.

Therefore, equipping them with the requisite knowledge and tools such as the Microsoft Copilot, will enhance their capability to deliver on their respective assignments efficiently by disseminating accurate and impactful information to the public.”

“We prioritize our relationship with the media hence, the need for the periodic capacity building session for journalists. With this training, we have clearly demonstrated our unwavering commitment to sustaining the initiative.

“We will continue to explore new avenues for collaboration and innovation, ensuring that our partners in the media industry have access to the tools and resources they need to thrive, Amanfo added.”

Yemi Orimolade, The Senior Business Programme Manager, Marketing Communications, Microsoft Africa Development Center, appreciated the participants for their contributions in making the session an engaging experience and enjoined them to champion the message of AI responsibility.

He said, “Microsoft’s Copilot is poised to be a game-changer for journalists. It is a reliable tool for generating and optimising content, staying informed, and enhancing productivity. Our commitment is to harness the transformative potential of AI for societal betterment. Welcome to the future of journalism, working smarter with Microsoft Copilot.”

The capacity-building session received an overwhelmingly positive response from participants, who lauded the practical insights and demos provided.

Attendees expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to familiarize themselves with a tool as powerful and versatile as Microsoft Copilot, acknowledging its potential to revolutionize their workflow and enhance their journalistic endeavors.

With the successful hosting of the capacity-building session, 9mobile and Microsoft look forward to more areas of sustained collaboration to drive positive change and innovation within media ecosystem in Nigeria.


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