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| Milestone |
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| Glo
Mobile Benin Marks 100 Days |
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| Glo
Mobile Benin has marked its first 100 days
of operation in Republic of Benin, describing
its outing so far in that country as a huge
success.
Globacom's Chief Operating Officer, Mohamed
Jameel, said Glo Mobile Benin which rolled
out services on June 5 this year marked
100 days on Friday September 12, with a
remarkable impact on the telecoms market.
He stated that Glo has already become the
choice network in Benin.
Glo Mobile Benin, he noted, immediately
endeared itself to Beninese as it became
the first operator in that country to launch
Per Second Billing (PSB) and several value
added services including Magic Plus, Multimedia
Messaging Service (MMS), GPRS, Easyshare
and Ring Back Tune. It was also the first
network to roll out services across the
country at the same time.
He recalled that Glo Mobile had achieved
a similar feat in Nigeria when, despite
starting operations two years after other
networks, it not only recorded 1 million
subscribers in nine months but also became
the fastest growing network in Africa in
its first year of operation.
Globacom was granted the license late last
year by the Beninese government after it
emerged tops in a keen contest in which
several telecom operators participated.
Government sources said Globacom was preferred
ahead of the other bidders because of its
technical superiority and ability to deliver.
The company flagged off services in Benin
at a well attended ceremony in Cotonou on
June 5. Beninese President Boni Yayi had
at the occasion stated that the entrance
of Glo into Benin Republic's telecommunication
market would transform the sector.
He said in a speech read on his behalf by
the Minister of Communication that he had
always wished that Glo, having changed the
landscape in Nigeria, would come to Benin
to make communication better for the people.
Jameel said that Globacom was delighted
that it has lived up to the expectations
of the government and people of Benin, even
in just three months.
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Visafone
Subcribers To Win 12 Cars In 12 Weeks |
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| Visafone,
Nigeria's fastest growing mobile phone company
has announced the commencement of its Fantastic
Bonanza offer. The company plans to give
out 12 brand new and latest model Kia saloon
cars in 12 weeks to 12 lucky subscribers
on the Visafone network.
Visafone will also give out millions of
naira worth of free airtime and free SMS
to subscribers who will join the network
during the promo period which runs from
October 13, 2008 January 4, 2009.
According to the company, if you buy and
activate a Visafone handset during the period,
you will automatically get N1000 free airtime
and 100 free SMS. To become eligible for
the weekly draws of 1 Kia Rio, both new
and old subscribers will |
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have to recharge their phones with at least
N400 every week to qualify.
A statement from company's Corporate Communications
department said that Visafone is embarking
on this promo “to express its appreciation
to Nigerians for making it the fastest growing
mobile phone company in the country. We want
to reward both existing and potential subscribers
for keeping faith with us and helping us grow
our network.”
Visafone which has consummate banker and ICT
philanthropist Jim Ovia as founder, commenced
commercial operations on February 22, 2008
and crossed the 1 million subscriber mark
in an unprecedented 6 months and 4 days. The
company was also voted Best Telecom Brand
of the Year 2008 in a Telecom News/Phillip
Consulting survey. |
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Foundation
Harps On Massive IT Knowledge |
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| A
non governmental organisation known as Ikechukwu
Okogbue Foundation is set to boost its humanitarian
services by extending its kind gestures to potential
indigents across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.
Speaking during a media briefing recently, President
of the Foundation, Ikechukwu Okogbue said the
launching of the N50 million naira poverty alleviation
fund on 1st November 2008, at Union Bank Sports
Club, Bode Thomas Surulere Lagos, will certainly
widen the tentacles of the Foundation to reach
out, adding that the Foundation has expended over
N20 million since inception in September 2006.
He said the Foundation was borne out of love and
passion for the country, the down trodden and
the indigent in the society who have the capacity
and intelligence to be responsible to the society
if empowered.
Okogbue said the Foundation is fashioned after
the ministry of Christ who went about healing
the sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked
and empowering people. “I will like to say
with a sense of modesty that in no distant time
by the special grace of God, our people will no
longer live in penury, perpetual fear and worries.
Nothing is more destructive to a soul's inner
peace than unreasonable worries, fear, hatred
and passion.
“I must say here that the value of life
does depend upon the place we occupy in the society;
it depends on how or rather what we do with that
position. By adding to the prosperity of others,
you add value to your own life”, he said.
He therefore, called on wealthy Nigerians to join
the Foundation to reach out to help the poor in
the interest of the nation.
Okogbue insisted that no nation survives in this
modern economy without equipping its citizenry
with the necessary IT knowledge to face the competitive
global economy hence the foundation is not relenting
on the provision of IT-based education to its
beneficiaries.
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He said,
“In the area of IT, we are aware that
without IT knowledge, getting a job even after
graduation becomes difficult.
So, we are planning to reach the less privileged
by establishing computer centres in the rural
areas, bring Internet closer to them so that
when such people come to big cities like Lagos,
it will be easy for them to adapt. |
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“In
our IT plan, we have selected three pilot states
including one in the Niger Delta where we shall
establish these centres. We shall see how it goes
in these three states then we would consider the
whole country”
Okogbue said over 50 students have benefited from
its scholarship scheme with many more beneficiaries
in the Foundation revolving transport loan scheme,
free small credit scheme and rural water project
adding that the Niger Delta region is a target area
because it believes that empowering the youth of
that region will certainly engage their minds and
divert their attention from unwholesome activities.
“This is open to all Nigerians but we started
in Imo and Lagos States and we are moving to cover
the 36 States of the federation especially the Niger
Delta because of the crisis there. After this launch,
we are looking at about 100, 000 indigent Nigerians
to touch positively”, he noted.
He emphasized that development programmes should
not be left to the government alone but requires
the cooperation of well meaning Nigerians hence
the Foundation intends to permeate the six geo-
political zones of the federation.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman Board of Trustees
of the Foundation, Jude Ehiri said the Foundation
has at various times organized seminars and lectures
to enrich the minds of the youths because according
to him “alleviating poverty of the mind may
not be an issue of money”. |
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Computerize
Nigeria Partners Zinox, Others For e-School Project |
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| The Computerize
Nigeria project in partnership with Zinox computers, Microsoft
and CIFEX of France has announced the launching of one of
its Digital Knowledge Democracy Projects known as e-school
project.
Speaking during the official launch of the project, an Executive
Director with Zinox Computers, Vivian Abii explained that
digital knowledge democracy project is aimed at providing
total solutions to different sectors of the society beginning
with the education sector especially primary and secondary
schools hence the e-school project.
She said the e-school project provides a solution that makes
the student competitive and world class; enabling parents
to sit in the confines of their homes and visit other schools
so that they are at liberty to choose preferred ones among
the many schools visited.
She explained that the concept of democracy in the “Digital
Knowledge Democracy Project” is well thought out as
it is in line with the freedom the parent or educational institution
has to chose from the bouquet of offerings unbundled in the
e-school project more so, when Nigeria has just celebrated
its 48 years of independence.
Abii maintained that Computerize Nigeria in conjunction with
Zinox and other partners is determined to ensure that those
who purchase laptop or desktop from Zinox Computers do not
only get value for their money through trainings but enjoy
the 12-month “No Story” warranty.
She stated that Computerize Nigeria has gone into partnership
with other organisations to cushion the financial effect on
schools that are qualified for the e-school project but are
concerned about its cash flow. Such a school he said has a
flexible payment option that spans two years.
Giving insight into the cost of the e-school project, Abii
said the deployment of about 20 PCs with e-school offering
will go for about N3.5million, 30 PCs for about N5.1million
while 50 PCs will cost N7.5 million. She however explained
that schools with computers but wishing to queue into the
e-school project will be offered discount after thorough assessments.
In a presentation on e-school Head, e-Strategies & Solutions,
Ben Ejimagwa said the project consists of computer laboratory,
smart class rooms, digital library, free web-site, school
web-site, school ZX portal, free email addresses for all senior
staff, 1km square Zinox wireless cloud, computer ownership
scheme for staff and students as well as subsidized computer
training for all staff.
He noted that any interested school has the option of starting
with the school priority needs critical of making a modern
institution until there is a gradual achievement of comprehensive
implementation of all digital infrastructures and contents
that are offered to achieve world class standard that positions
the school for global rating.
Ejimagwa said that the e-school project is aimed at delivering
computerized and exclusively designed world class e-solution
to every serious secondary and primary school in Nigeria.
These solutions he said are learning centres equipped with
latest computer systems, desktops, laptops, electronic board
and digital library packaged to change the quality of teaching,
learning and administration in schools.
He also informed that unbundled with the e-school project
is the Zinox Wireless Cloud which provides high speed C-Band
wireless Internet and telephony wherever one may be in the
school premises.
The occasion was also an opportunity for the Chief Executive
Officer of Freeplay product, David Floyd to highlight the
importance of Freeplay products such as the lash light, the
lantern and FM radio which was described as solution to the
country's constant power failure as the product may not necessarily
require electricity to recharge.
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