E-Business
Galaxy Backbone Empowers Over 200 Engineers, Others under NICEP
Over 200 Nigerian Engineers and Technicians have been empowered with the latest knowledge in installation and maintenance of Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technology by Galaxy Backbone Plc as part of its commitment to entrench capacity building and technology skills transfer in the implementation of the NICEP project.
Galaxy Backbone is a wholly independent company with the primary mandate of setting up and operating a unified Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure platform.
Mr. Omotayo Williams, Galaxy Backbone NICEP, project manager, made this disclosure during a media enlightenment tour of the NICEP warehouse in Lagos, where the equipment for the delivery of 5000 Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT) nationwide under the NICEP project are stored.
According to him, these techies exclude the IT professionals in the employment of Galaxy Backbone Plc, who have equally been trained both locally and internationally to ensure sustainability of the NICEP project. These trains were conducted in the US and Israel by Hughes Network Systems and Interlek Systems, respectively.
During the tour of the NICEP warehouse by ICT editors, Williams listed all NICEP equipments imported and stored in the warehouse to include 1.2m antenna – 3,251; 1.8m antenna – 486; 2.4m antenna – 351; VRT Phone -5451; solar system -4105; Batteries – 7892; VAST indoor and outdoor unit – 3925; Multi-media screen – 52; Equipment rack – 3925; Inverter – 352; VAP – 882 and Personal computers – 941.
Also speaking, Mr. Prithwish Baisya, the Rt.Com Project implementation manager said that even within the warehouse the focus is to source locally those items that can are produced in the country such as electrical cables, galvanized pipes, solar panel frames and electrical connectors including the knitting of the cables for easy installation of the VSAT equipment. This, he said, “avails them the courage to do good and quality job at the end of the day”. “It makes things easy and the quality is assured,” he declared.
Enlightening the media further on the proposed platform for internet penetration in the remote areas of the country, Williams said each remote location that will serve as a community centre is expected to contain at least, four Personal Computers (PCs) linked to the internet with other communication equipment to enable it offer other value added services such as e-health and e-learning facilities where necessary. He stressed that in some areas where the remote site is deployed as cyber café, the unit would contain up to 10 PCs. He noted that “the beauty of it is that when deployed in any remote area, the telecommunications aspect could be in use simultaneously with browsing of the World Wide Web (www), without any atom of distraction or disruption of service. While the each remote location is powered on solar energy, it has backup capacity in case of a fault which could last for three days”.
The media was also shown the logistics centre where installation activities at remote locations are monitored and feedbacks from the field are tracked and thus enable the company to address issues as quickly as possible.
Mr. Franklyn Ginger-Eke, Galaxy Backbone, manager, corporate communication, said that in order to ensure that relevant parastatals are carried along in the implementation, a NICEP Implementation Committee (NIC) was constituted by FEC and the committee is briefed regularly by Galaxy every two-months on the progress of the implementation.
However, the company attributed the delay in the pace of roll-out to the need to have proper security at remote sites by beneficiaries of the project.
According to Ginger-Eke, “providing security at remote locations is not the responsibility of Galaxy and it will be irresponsible of Galaxy to go ahead and locate such costly equipment in unsecure locations and then gleefully announce that 5000 sites have been connected only to discover months later that the equipments have been vandalized or carted away. Another factor slowing down roll-out is the issue of readiness of sites by beneficiaries such as states and MDAs. As soon as Galaxy receives lists of sites that are ready, we plan to roll-out at an average of 200 sites per week to enable us to complete the target in 6 months”.
E-Business
NITDA, NIMC Partner for Seamless Data Exchange Capabilities
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have announced a collaboration on National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to enhance synergy between digital identity, payment ecosystems and secure seamless data exchange capabilities for Nigeria.
NITDA, which made the announcement on its X handle, said that the collaboration was to further strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,
During the meeting, Kashifu Inuwa, director general of NITDA, and Bisoye Coker-Odusote, director general of NIMC, with some management staff of both organisations, 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 and is expected to deliver a comprehensive implementation report within the next 4 weeks.
E-Business
Expert Urges FG to Harmonise NIN, BVN to Tackle Crimes
Noble Ajuonu, head, Sydani Technologies Ltd., has urged the Federal Government to harmonise National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) to tackle crimes and insecurity in the country.
Ajuonu made the call at a media roundtable, organised by Sydani Group in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable focuses on driving sustainability through a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s key development areas.
Ajuonu said that Nigeria could overcome its security challenges and pave the way for a safer, more secure future for all Nigerians by embracing technology and implementing practical solutions,
“We need to harmonise data, prioritise seamless integration of databases like NIN, BVN, and security agency records, establish clear protocols for data sharing and access, with robust safeguards against misuse,’’ expert said.
According to him, the unified data pool will empower intelligence gathering and targeted operations.
He also called for investments in smart surveillance, intelligent video analytics software, training of personnel in data analysis, interpretation of data in real-time to combat crimes.
“There is need to implement a legal framework for call interception in criminal investigations, with strict oversight to prevent abuse, encourage community cohesion, training of tech savvy security personnel with tech-enabled tools.’’
Ajuonu also urged the government to address infrastructure deficit in technology, saying that technology was all encompassing to address insecurity.
“According to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as of December 2023, only 104.2 million Nigerians had been enrolled for the National Identity Number (NIN).’’
Ajuonu added that over 122.2 million citizens left uncaptured for NIN were people in rural areas where enrolment centres, digital services were limited.
“Most crimes are being perpetuated from rural communities and this lack of comprehensive identification creates a gap where elements not captured in the national database can constitute public nuisance, crimes.
“There is the inadequacy in the integration of NIN, BVN and Voters Identification Number (VIN).
“Advanced call interception and analysis tools, used successfully in other countries, could provide invaluable insights into criminal networks and operations but infrastructure is lacking,’’ he said.
Also, Mr Godfrey Petgrave, the Agricultural Expert, Sydani Group, called for empowerment of smallholder farmers with access to finance and training to enhance productivity.
According to Petgrave, Nigeria requires policy reform and institutional strengthening to improve agricultural practices and embrace digital agriculture solutions to address food insecurity.
Mr Akolade Jimoh, another expert of the group on health, advocated for expanded community-based health insurance programmes for rural and underserved areas.
Jimoh added that the country needed to encourage Public Private Partnership to revolutionise products design and quality improvement on health services.
E-Business
Konga launches Infinix Brand Week with Incredible Deals
Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce group, is thrilled to announce the launch of amazing deals at its Infinix Brand Week. Infinix, a leading global smartphone brand known for its innovative products and cutting-edge technology promises exclusive discounts and special offers on select smartphones, marking an exciting milestone in the realm of online shopping.
Shoppers can expect nothing short of extraordinary deals on a wide range of Infinix products, all available exclusively on the Konga online platform. With discounts of up to 30% off, this partnership between Konga and Infinix aims to redefine the shopping experience for tech enthusiasts across Nigeria.
Konga Brand Week has become synonymous with excitement and unbeatable deals, and this year’s edition is no exception. In addition to exclusive discounts on Infinix smartphones, shoppers can explore a diverse array of products across various categories, including electronics, fashion, home essentials, and more.
“At Konga, we are dedicated to providing our customers with the best shopping experience possible,” said Rita Ohaedoghasi, VP Marketing at Konga. “The Infinix Week during Konga Brand Week allows us to continue delivering on that promise by offering incredible discounts and special offers on some of the most sought-after smartphones in the market.”
To stay updated on the latest developments and exclusive deals during Konga Brand Week, shoppers are encouraged to connect with Konga across all platforms, including social media and the Konga website. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to score big savings and elevate your tech game with Infinix and Konga.
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