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NigComSat-1R, Still an Opportunity to Explore

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Recently, the revolution in the world’s weather condition has caused a lot of changes in the atmosphere of orbit, which has led to satellite failures most especially in 2008. This development has caused a lot of worry in the satellite industry which experts attribute to weather, gravitational pulls, uncertainty in the space environment and many others. The latest casualty is Astra 5A, a communication satellite operated by Swiss Space Corporation (SSC) and SES Astra which suffered ‘technical anomaly’ on 20 January, 2009.
Astra 5A was built by one of the world’s best satellite manufacturers, Thales Alenia of Italy. Presently, an investigation is on by a technical team from Thales Alenia, SSC and SES to unravel the cause and to initiate a possible safety action. The satellite was positioned at orbital slot of 31.5 degree east. The spacecraft has operated for nearly eleven years until 22 October when it experienced a lost control but was recovered fifteen days later (November, 2008). With just a year and few months to complete its mission in space, the unexpected happened putting it to final rest.
Other spacecrafts have experienced these similar situations. A cursory look revealed that EchoStar-2 satellite with orbital location at 119 degrees West longitude built at the cost of $250m including construction, launch, and launch insurance, had a power system failure and experienced a total loss in July last year. In the fleet of EchoStar are EchoStar-3 located at 61.5 degree east, EchoStar-5 orbiting at 110 degree east while it future satellite which it has already secured an orbital slot located at 148 degree east will be orbiting soon. These mechanisms are put in place to address the uncertainties in the orbit.
 Also Kazsat-1 in October regained a twelve hour outage which service was later restored. There were many others that suffered the same fate but could not be recovered. For Echostar-2, it was a total loss due to power failure. This means that there was no hope of recovery for this at all like NigComSat-1. Eutelsat- W5 reputed to be amongst the best operated satellite in the world also lost one of its two solar arrays owing to motor malfunction.
A chronology of satellite failures has revealed that KoreaSat-5 also lost power for than twelve hours, but service was restored afterward. It is the fifth satellite in the fleets of Korean satellite operators. Already the Korean government has concluded plans for the launch of KoreaSat-6 to be built by Arianspace in the second half of 2010. Korean space agency press release last year revealed that the Arianspace has another Korean satellite on its launch manifest, COMS-1, a multi-mission satellite for the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KAR).
Meanwhile, NigComSat-1 which was launched on 13 May, 2007 was put on a safe mode after a power failure which occurred on November 8, 2008 forcing the operators to terminate its mission to avoid colossal damage to other satellites in the orbit.
Though different ‘experts’ have spoken on the otherwise viability of the bird in the sky, however, considering the benefits derivable from it, which in recent time has overwhelmed many of us, it is a venture worthwhile. The telecom industry is now a major revenue earner after oil, it is pertinent therefore at this point to draw the attention of policy makers to distinguish between politics and mere rhetoric. The saying that charity begins at home must start with us. We have observed with dismay when a Middle East satellite operator was accorded the privilege of obtaining a licence to venture into the downstream, an issue which has generated heated argument between NIGCOMSAT Ltd and the regulators on the propriety of it and in defiance of a presidential directives to that effect.
Meanwhile some schools of thoughts also believed that with the enormity of infrastructural inadequacy in the country, going into space is a luxury for Nigeria.  But the telephones couldn’t be as effective as they are today if not for a major project like the communications satellite. The Direct-to-Home pay TV will not be possible in the comfort of our homes without the satellite. The number of football followers which has blossomed recently most especially followers of foreign clubs, is made possible because of communications satellite beaming to our various homes. If a census of pay TV is to be carried out, it will be amazing to realize the number of pay TVs subscription especially in our rural communities competing with those in the urban cities because of the love for the round leather, all these are made possible by the bird in the sky.
The tele-medicine project aimed at reaching the vast majority of our sick rural populace to address the issue of health will not be realistic if our own satellite capacity continues to elude us. Even the internet which is one of the convenient ways of connecting people to the world as a global village will not be feasible.
Considering the huge capital flight from Africa and Nigeria in particular for purchase of bandwidths, our own satellite capacity is a most. It is rather ridiculous that in a jet age some Nigerians still don’t have enough fate in Nigeria to successfully run a satellite company or go to space.
 Taking a cue from Astra 5A, immediately the spacecraft mission was declared ended by the unfortunate circumstance; customers including a German cable operator on the satellite were transferred to another SES Astra satellite located at 23.5 degree east. This was in contrast to NIGCOMSAT Ltd quest for more satellites (2 and 3) in the event of such calamity to enable it also do same by transferring its customers conveniently and quietly to the redundant ones which was rebuff by those believed to understand the satellite business better. The authorities of NigComSat Ltd were rather left with the option to buy capacity from other satellite service providers to meet with customers’ demand. This again placed it at a very difficult and disadvantage position because the revenue which could have accrued to it from the sales of bandwidths and transponders will not be feasible immediately because the company is now forced to source for money to maintain the existing customers on its transponders before replacement or most of its customers will look elsewhere to maintain their businesses. The comparative advantage with its competitors is further deepened as the market will be available for satellites operators with backups in the orbit as they make their ways into the Nigerian telecom market.
Proponents against the take off of NigComSat-2 and 3 to serve as a backup insisted that the capacity on NigComSat-1 must be fully utilized or exhausted not minding the possibility of failure or the harsh space environment. NigComSat-1 unlike Astra 5A with fleets of satellites will do much to address the inconveniences of settling its customers on other satellites. Astra 5A was obviously more prepared and understood the benefits than the government of Nigeria. This is exactly what Nigerians need to know most especially from space experts and not mere expression of sentiments.
 As China prepares to replace the failed satellite (NigComSat-1R), it is pertinent for Nigerians to give very strong support to the realization of this laudable project. Federal government on its part must remain resolute most especially in the pursuit of the seven point’s agenda to facilitate the quick endorsement of the NigComSat 2 and 3 because this will expand our technological revolution. From the analysis above, it is crystal clear that the satellite adventure is a serious business and one satellite alone cannot give adequate guarantee in this respect not to even talk of global coverage. Since Nigeria is on the verge of divesting its revenue generation from the oil, the telecom sector remains a viable alternative. The rat race for orbital slots is high and Nigeria cannot afford to lack behind. Nigeria’s presence is required not only to save it from embarrassment of lacking behind in the technological order but African continent from the clouts of the western dominance in the space industry.
The senate misgiving about China’s capacity to handle NigComSat-2 &3, though genuine as it may sound, it is my strong conviction that management of NIGCOMSAT Ltd will give a thorough consideration to an open bidding to consider the best capable hands. However, from the analysis above, even satellites manufactured from the so call best hands have failed at one point or the other. Our prayers should be to have a satellite that will serve the country and the continent well.
My recent encounter at the Lagos Business School has revealed a lot to me. I was taken aback when a staff of Chevron mentioned to me how the company was greatly affected when NigComSat-1 crashed. Also the recent strike embarked upon by staff of NITEL and the subsequent shut down of SAT 3 which is presently giving cause for concern to both internet users and the effect on poor quality of telecomm services is an eye opener for Nigerians to give the desired supp


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Wema Bank Launches Second FGN-ALAT Digital ‘Skillnovation’ Cohort

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Wema Bank has launched the second cohort for the FGN-ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme in partnership with the Federal Government to train and equip two million young people and 1 million MSMEs across Nigeria with relevant digital skills.

Since the launch of the first cohort in 2023, over 300,000 youths and business owners have leveraged the platform as a launchpad for their business and career success.

This cohort featured 100% virtual learning sessions through which participants from the 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were provided with self-paced online learning experiences.

As cohort 2 begins in the second quarter of 2024, the FGN-ALAT digital programme is officially transitioning to physical training sessions and the curriculum will cover key digital skills including software engineering, product management, business analysis, cloud computing and product design, among others.

This phase of the programme will be executed via FGN-ALAT digital hubs, which will be set up in the different states across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria to ensure that every Nigerian can access the programme’s full benefits regardless of their location.

These hubs will be equipped with training and incubation facilities ideal for digital-driven learning, giving participants the opportunity to acquire marketable and transferrable digital skills and gain a competitive edge in the global digital ecosystem.

The FGN-ALAT digital hubs will be set up in phases and trainings will commence accordingly, starting with Borno  and Anambra State.

Wema Bank’s Executive Director of Retail and Digital Business, Tunde Mabawonku, emphasised the pivotal role of the programme in bridging the gaps in Nigeria’s macroeconomic landscape towards national development.

“We are unwavering in our commitment to supporting MSMEs and with the FGN-ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme, it’s all about the bigger picture—which is why we have partnered with the Federal Government to augment the scale of this programme’s impact.

“By tailoring this programme to suit the needs of both entrepreneurial minded and professionally inclined Nigerians, we are not just arming SMEs for more efficient business management and growth, we are also equipping Nigeria’s workforce for increased productivity and the ripple effect will not only create more viable employment opportunities for Nigerians towards reduced unemployment and underemployment rates, but further drive economic growth and national development, boosting Nigeria’s position on the global playing field.

“The digital evolution is moving sporadically and by empowering our youth and MSMEs with in-demand digital skills, we are ensuring that Nigeria is not left behind as the world evolves.

“Beyond the intellectual resources and other non-monetary opportunities, we are going a step further to provide financial support for these participants in form of millions of naira in equity capital, soft loans and grants, to enable them put their learnings to practice and build sustainable streams of income that could help them become employers in their own right.

“I encourage you to take the big step forward in achieving your business and career goals by joining the programme. All you have to do is visit the website to register. This programme is completely free and there’s more than enough room for you. Your success is Nigeria’s success and as your unique journey unravels, our promise remains certain,” he said.

Referring to the programme as an eye-opener for all, Mariam Isah, a beneficiary of Cohort 1, said, “It’s almost unbelievable all I’ve learnt in one month virtual training.

“I started this training simply looking for a way forward for my business but I have unlocked secrets that are life changing not just in my business but in all aspects of life. I am so grateful for this rare opportunity, and I can’t wait to be a part of the cohort 2.”


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StarNews, Global Black Economic Forum Launch Business Competition In Partnership with MTN & USAID

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Africa’s leading video streaming platform, StarNews Mobile and the Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF), have announced a call for applications for the launch of their Business Competition in Lagos, Nigeria.

Held in partnership with MTN and United Nations Agency for International Development (USAID), the initiative will empower Nigeria’s most promising businesses that are classified as Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with invaluable investment and partnership opportunities from the USA.

Held over 10 weeks between April 8th to June 14th, hosted exclusively on the StarNews Biz Channel on the StarNews platform, this competition offers a platform for emerging entrepreneurs to showcase their ventures and gain national visibility.

With subscribers voting for their favourite candidates, the top 20 contestants will seize the spotlight and make their mark on the business landscape.

The StarNews Business Competition in partnership with GBEF delivers a unique opportunity for thriving Nigerian SMEs to access mentoring, funding, partnerships and socio-economic development tools through the Global Black Economic Forum.

With the prospect of securing cash prizes through StarNews worth up to NGN5,000,000, getting access to StarNews’s network of investors and the opportunity to gain national visibility by having their business on the StarNews web platform.

The top three winners will also receive coaching from GBEF’s Academy for Advancing Excellence and become part of GBEF’s ecosystem of global leaders committed to social and economic justice across the Black Diaspora.

Previous speakers at GBEF convenings from the entertainment sector include Wyclef Jean (Haitian Musician & Activist), Debra Lee (Former CEO of Black Entertainment Television – BET) and Ceci Kurzman (Founder of Nexus Management Group). Applications will close on April 5th 2024.

Speaking on the competition’s launch, Guy Kamgaing, Founder and CEO at StarNews Mobile, says “The StarNews Business Competition is a passion project close to our hearts at StarNews Mobile.

It’s about discovering the most promising business entrepreneurs and creators in Nigeria, opening up global opportunities for them and providing them with the resources and tools to achieve their goals.

By partnering with MTN, USAID and GBEF, we want to be a platform of empowerment for these SMEs by helping them give back to the communities that are supporting them.”

According to the US Embassy and Consulate for Nigeria, over 80% of Nigerian startups are incorporated in the United States and more than 60% of venture capital funding in Nigerian startups accounted for by the US.

In 2023 alone, Nigerian startups raised a total of $398mn however, this signalled a 66% funding decline compared to 2022 due to the global economic downturn, reinforcing the massive need for a fresh injection of capital and business support for Nigeria’s emerging SMEs.

Alphonso David, President and CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum notes that, “Our partnership with StarNews Mobile is a critical resource as we continue to build the collective strength of entrepreneurship across the Diaspora.

“Building a sustainable ecosystem of Black entrepreneurs in the United States and across the African continent is essential to create a future that makes economic opportunity and economic freedom a reality for all.”

A sister company to ESSENCE, GBEF advances its work by convening global summits and conferences, bringing together world leaders, business leaders, entrepreneurs, celebrities and civic leaders to address the most challenging problems facing our communities.

GBEF’s Academy for Advancing Excellence facilitates workforce and leadership development strategy, addressing the talent pipeline & employee lifecycle, providing leadership development & coaching, and conducting institutional assessments & research.

GBEF also develops and implements economic and social justice policy recommendations with partners ranging from civil and human rights organisations to government entities and corporations that advocate for economic opportunity, social justice, and health equity through thought leadership, advocacy and litigation.

Launched in 2017, StarNews Mobile empowers African content creators with the unique opportunity to monetize their work through a subscription model, boasting over 4 million subscribers and a thriving community of more than 120 content creators.

With a strong presence across six countries including Cameroon, Nigeria, Côte D’Ivoire, Congo, Benin and Ghana, the platform has also established key partnerships with major telecom operators such as MTN and Orange.

To-date, StarNews Mobile has secured over $8mn in funding with its most recent raise – a $3mn pre-Series A funding round in October 2023 – led by Janngo Capital with participation from French football players Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jules Koundé and Mike Maignan.

 


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Companies Invest More than $100,000 Yearly to Upskill their Cybersecurity Teams – Study Reveals

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Over 70% of businesses pay more than USD $100,000 for additional training annually to keep skills of their cybersecurity employees up to date, a recent global Kaspersky study has revealed.

However, the surveyed companies also highlighted that there was a lack of relevant courses covering new challenging spheres in the educational market and stated that training does not always bring them the expected result.

In its recent study ‘The portrait of the modern Information Security professional’, Kaspersky examined the topic of the global cybersecurity staff shortage, analysing the exact reasons businesses lack cybersecurity experts, and identifying the ways they evaluate and upskill their cybersecurity workforce¹.

According to the research, companies are investing significant amounts in upskilling their cybersecurity teams: 43% of organisations globally say they usually spend between $100,000 and $200,000 per year on information security courses, while 31% even invest over $200,000 for training programs. The remaining 26% state they usually pay less than $100,000 for educational initiatives².

However, cybersecurity practitioners also note that the educational market is struggling to keep up with the rapidly changing industry and fail to deliver the necessary training programs on time.

Survey results for the Middle East, Turkiye, Africa (META) region shows that the scarcity of courses covering new challenging spheres (48%) was the main problem for those searching for cybersecurity training.

50% of respondents from the META region also stated that trainees tend to forget what they learned because they had no opportunity to apply newly acquired knowledge, therefore the courses were useless to them.

The need for special training pre-requisites such as coding and advanced mathematics, which were not specified at the pre-registration stage were also problematic for 37% of practitioners from the META region.

“With a constantly evolving threat landscape, businesses should continually improve the skills of their cybersecurity personnel in order to be well prepared for sophisticated cyberattacks.

“Developing high-profile specialists within the company and building internal expertise can be an effective strategy for organisations that aim to retain existing employees and allow them to grow professionally, instead of constantly hunting for new candidates and checking their professional backgrounds and practical skills.

“For organisations served by Managed Service Providers it is also important to maintain a pretty high level of expertise internally and use the same language when discussing the scope of services and Service Level Agreement with them,” comments Veniamin Levtsov, VP, Center of Corporate Business Expertise at Kaspersky.


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