Telecom

NTITA 2021: Enugu State Leads Pack with Triple Nominations

Published

3 years ago

November 16, 2021

Kindly share this post

Enugu State is leading the nomination list for the 2021 Nigeria Tech Innovation & Telecom Awards (NTITA), Nigeria’s IT and Telecoms industry’s Oscars holding this Friday in Lagos.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State

Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, and Governor Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu top nominees for Nigeria’s most profound digital leaders for 2021 as Governor Ugwuanyi ranks ahead for the coveted ICT Governor of the Year award.

Interestingly, Enugu is also leading the list for Tech Innovation Hub of the Year (Mentoring & Capacity Building); and Emerging Leaders in Innovation/Tech Advisory (Public Sector).

NTITA 2021, Nigeria’s most prized IT and Telecom event, operates as a collaborative platform with stakeholders majorly the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and the Africa Digital Economy Forum (ADEF). The event is powered by InstinctWave, an ISO certified company.

This year’s recognition is celebrating the country’s technology leadership, most promising innovations, companies and projects; and political leaders pushing the required willpower to foster right environment for ICT to flourish.

“The ADEF is proud to be associated with NTITA as a barometer to measure not just innovation but commitment to tech-growth by political leaders and other stakeholders,” said President of ADEF Olusola Teniola.

Pantami’s 2021 nomination rides on his sturdy profile as a leading light in ICT policy drive and a pathfinder for Nigeria’s steady push in digital economy. The minister was a top nominee in the 2020 NTITA and went on to clinch the coveted prize. His stellar achievements have attracted wide appeal from NTITA 2021 judging panel drawn from some of the most respected figures in the technology industry, media and academia.

Ugwuanyi’s consistent leverage of technology and strong ICT policy-thrusts to rework the economic future of Enugu state has drawn much admiration, earning the south eastern state top spot in the national drive towards a digital economy.

“Enugu is not an entirely surprising revelation. Unbeknownst to many people, the state has demonstrated strong focused on youth development and soft skill building.

“It has one of the best strategic collaborative drive to provision digital infrastructure and services. In addition, it has a robust policy thrust for fostering entrepreneurs and delivering of the best ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in Nigeria that has been recognized by the World Bank and other global institutions.

“This has really impressed the 2021 NTITA jurors,” said Mr. Akin Naphtal, CEO of InstinctWave, Africa’s premium B2B event and media specialists.

He added: “NTITA 2021 is spotlighting political willpower and tech innovations. Without political willpower, not much can happen; and without innovation, nothing significant can happen.”

“NTITA has become the reference to measure growth and achievements in Nigeria’s most dynamic industry with impacts across all sectors,” said President of ATCON, Ike Nnamani.

This year’s award categories are Nigeria ICT Governor of the Year; Digital Leader of the Year; Public Sector ICT Woman of the Year; Public Sector ICT CEO of the Year; Broadband Oxygenator of the Year; Telecom CEO of the Year; ICT First Lady for 2021; Tech Innovation Hub of the Year (Mentoring & Capacity Building); Emerging Leaders in Innovation/Tech Advisory (Public Sector); Emerging ICT CEO for 2021; Most Innovative and ICT Focused State 2021; Most Innovative Operator 2021; and a host of other awards.

The nomination criteria focus on persons or organisations at the forefront of promoting regulation, standards or best practice; persons or organisations actively driving technological innovation; persons who have used their office to bear on advancing technology innovations; and persons who are instrumental in the success of an ICT organisation or business; among others.

Every year the categories are updated to reflect the latest market trends and to ensure they do justice to our increasingly diverse industry. The new featured award categories allow us to recognize contributions from all parts of ICT sector; from communication service providers, solutions providers, banking, health, insurance, fintech, cloud, cyber security, digitization and consultancies.

According to Naphtal, the awards has grown over the years, in participation and prestige; setting the highest industry standard for honoring organizations and individuals in the Telecom & ICT sector in Nigeria. The platform has also become the benchmark for outstanding performances in the industry and a symbol of excellence that marks leadership, quality and innovation.

Kindly share this post

Up Next

NITMA 2021: NCS Reaffirms Commitment to Reward Excellence, Sets to Launch N50m Innovative Development Fund

Don't Miss

Nweke Emerges Team Lead @NCCF-ICT Subcommittee

Ugo Onwuaso

Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

Comments

Telecom

Google, Meta Criticize Australia’s Rush to Pass Social Media Ban for Under-16s

Published

1 day ago

November 28, 2024

Ugo Onwuaso

Kindly share this post

Tech giants Google and Meta have called on the Australian government to delay a proposed bill that would ban children under 16 from accessing most social media platforms.

The companies argue that more time is needed to assess the bill’s impact and await results from an age-verification trial.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government aims to pass the legislation—one of the strictest globally on children’s social media use—by Thursday, the final day of the parliamentary year. Introduced last week, the bill was open for public submissions for just one day, drawing criticism for its expedited timeline.

The proposed law would require social media companies, rather than parents or children, to enforce age-verification measures, potentially using biometrics or government-issued identification. Companies found in breach could face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million).

Meta criticised the bill as “inconsistent and ineffective” without clear results from the age-verification trial. Google echoed the sentiment, urging for a measured approach to ensure Australians understand the implications of the legislation.

TikTok raised “significant concerns” over the lack of consultation with experts, social media platforms, mental health organisations, and young people. “Novel policies must be drafted thoroughly to ensure their success,” the company stated.

Elon Musk’s X also opposed the bill, arguing it could infringe on children’s human rights, including their freedom of expression and access to information. Musk, a vocal advocate for free speech, accused the government of using the bill as a backdoor to control internet access.

The opposition Liberal Party has signalled support for the bill, while some independent lawmakers have criticised the government for rushing its passage. A Senate committee report on the bill is expected on Tuesday.

If passed, the bill will place Australia at the forefront of regulating children’s online activity, but its swift progression and potential implications have sparked a heated debate over privacy, freedom, and the role of government in digital spaces.

Kindly share this post

Telecom

Unforgettable Moments and Big Wins at the TECNO SPARK 30 City Tour

Published

1 day ago

November 28, 2024

Ugo Onwuaso

Kindly share this post

TECNO SPARK 30 city tour made a memorable stop at Ikeja City Mall on November 15th, bringing with it an infectious energy that electrified the entire city.

As the event unfolded, it was clear that this was more than just a product showcase – it was an immersive experience designed to thrill and delight.

The day’s festivities kicked off with the iconic TECNO SPARK 30 transformer bus, painted in bold red and blue hues, rolling into action.

The bus served as the hub for a games grotto, where fans immersed themselves in thrilling digital games and adventures.

Outside, the excitement spilled over, with attendees engaging in friendly competitions of Jenga, Monopoly, Ludo, and chess.

These games sparked laughter, playful banter, and a sense of camaraderie among strangers.

As the games heated up, so did the rewards. Purchasers of the TECNO SPARK 30 Pro enjoyed a N20,000 discount and a chance to win up to 100% cashback by participating in the games.

The atmosphere was electric, with cheers of victory, enthusiastic applause, and celebratory high-fives.

The excitement reached a fever pitch with the arrival of tech and lifestyle creator Kagan, accompanied by Big Brother Naija Season 9 stars Victoria and Ruthee.

The trio dove into the action, competing in games and claiming victory. They were awarded TECNO-branded gift items, earning cheers and applause from the thrilled crowd.

The event was an unforgettable experience, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.

Kindly share this post

Telecom

Sophos Report Highlights Cyber Risks During Holiday Shopping Season

Published

1 day ago

November 28, 2024

Ugo Onwuaso

Kindly share this post

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday around the corner, we’re entering a high-risk period for cybersecurity.

A recent Sophos report highlights that malicious emails were the second most common root cause of ransomware attacks in critical sectors, responsible for 25% of cases.

During peak shopping days, this threat intensifies.

Here’s what happens: with the surge in online deals, more employees may be shopping from their work computers, feeling that Cyber Monday is a legitimate time to do so.

This increases the risk of them clicking more freely and potentially exposing the organization to malicious links or phishing attacks.

To keep your organization safe, encourage your team to follow these simple tips:

• Use an ad blocker – Advertisements are not only tracking your every movement and collecting enough information on your habits to make the FBI blush, but they are also a major source of malicious links and deceptive content on the internet. Not only is your browsing safer, but also faster and uses less bandwidth. Two of our favorites are uBlock Origin and Ghostery.

• Use private browsing or incognito mode – To prevent your shopping habits and interests from following you around from site to site (and potentially revealing what gifts you might be purchasing to others using your device, bonus!), you should enable private browsing (Firefox) or incognito mode (Chrome). This will block tracking cookies and help the internet forget your travels as the waves wash away your footprints in the sand.

• Make your browser “privacy smart” – The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) provides a browser extension called Privacy Badger designed to automatically make all the right choices around browsing whilst maintaining our privacy and blocking invisible trackers.

• Avoid using one account on multiple services – When logging into an e-commerce site it is often tempting to use the “Sign in with Facebook” or “Sign in with Google” button. While it takes a few more minutes to create a new login, it will provide more privacy as you are not sharing all of the sites you shop at with these tech giants.

• Use guest login when available – In addition to letting you use an account from other websites, many have an option to use a guest login rather than creating a new account. This is a great option if you don’t expect to need technical support or to do business on a recurring basis. Fewer passwords, fewer personal details, fewer problems if they get hacked.

• Don’t save card details – Many e-commerce sites will default to storing your credit card information in your profile for your “convenience” (or their hope you’ll shop there again). They can’t lose what they don’t have, so tell them not to store your credit card unless it is absolutely necessary.

• Use temporary card numbers – Many financial institutions now offer temporary or one-time use credit card numbers. You can open the app on your phone or in your browser and get a single-use disposable credit card number preventing card fraud and tracking when merchants share card processors. Sometimes you’re even able to specify a card limit per temporary number to further protect your account.

• Use credit, not debit – All of us need to be wary of overspending during the holidays, but it is best to leave the debit card at home. Credit cards offer significantly more protection against online fraud, and you are in the power position in a dispute. You can simply not pay your bill while disputing the charge, rather than having criminals directly drain your bank account of your hard-earned cash.

• Beware of direct messages via social media/chat apps – With modern generative AI technology it is almost trivial to create an entire fake online store and lure people to share their personal information and payment data with you. It’s safest to shop at established sites or those personally recommended to you by friends and family. Many unsolicited messages lead to data collection or theft.

• Don’t click deals in email that look too good to be true or are from businesses you don’t have accounts from – these could be phishing emails hoping to bait you into clicking links to bogus, malicious web sites.

This season, small steps can make a big difference in protecting against cyber threats.

Kindly share this post