Nigeria Com Congress
Prof. Akunyili, Minister for Information & Communications in Nigeria, has confirmed the Ministry’s support for the inaugural Nigeria Com congress, which will take place in the new Eko Centre, Lagos, Nigeria, on 28th and 29th September 2010.
Nigeria Com is launching this September thanks to popular demand from the telecommunications industry in the region; consequently, West & Central Africa Com (held in Abuja, Nigeria in 2008 & 2009) has moved to Dakar in Senegal, and a new, dedicated Nigeria Com event is landing in Lagos – the business capital of Nigeria. Nigeria Com is the annual event dedicated to the communications market of Nigeria, the largest in Africa, and is the meeting place for operators (fixed, mobile, wireless), ISPs, regulators, investors and vendors from the region to debate the future of telecommunications in this market and to meet their peers.
Hon. Minister Prof. Akunyili will officially open the keynote on Day 1 of the congress and will give an official address on the Nigerian government’s objective of creating an environment that is favourable to the sustainable development of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.
Over 700 participants are expected in Lagos for Nigeria Com, representing the whole telecommunications sector. The event comprises a high-level conference with 8 C-level representatives from Nigerian operators, including: MTN Nigeria, Zain Nigeria, Etisalat Nigeria, Globacom Nigeria, Starcomms Nigeria, Pinet Informatics, ZOOM Telecom Nigeria, ipNX Nigeria, GiCell Wireless and others. Over two days, they will discuss operators’ strategies and new technologies for broadband, value-added services, local content, and subscriber acquisition.
In addition, an exhibition will showcase the latest innovations from over 50 telecoms companies present in the region and internationally, and will offer many opportunities to network, share ideas and make business contacts.
About Nigeria com
Nigeria is Africa’s leading telecoms market in terms of subscriptions and one of the most dynamic thanks to its healthy competition levels, its unified licensing regime and the high level of investment it attracts from local and international companies alike.
Mobile penetration is higher than the African average at over 40% which still leaves plenty of room to grow, in particular in the rural areas. Competition is fierce among the country’s operators, led by MTN and Zain as well as smaller and newer players, whether GSM or CDMA based. Network coverage and quality of service are major priorities for all operators, who are investing heavily on their infrastructure.
The broadband market is buzzing, with competition between the country’s numerous ISPs, the mobile operators offering data over 3G, and the wireless broadband players using technologies such as WiMAX. The market will be given a boost by the arrival of the two new international submarine fibre optic cables linking West Africa to Europe and South Africa, which will enable operators to offer cheaper and more reliable services. The unified licensing regime enables the development of converged operator models and the offering of triple play services, which will help develop internet usage and increase revenues for operators.
As operators are expanding, they are looking at more cost-effective solutions to retain their margins. Outsourcing is a key issue in the market, as well as infrastructure sharing – a number of Nigeria-based companies successfully offer tower-sharing services.
All in all this burgeoning economy offers huge potential and in a continent where face-toface is the all important lubricant for business transactions this event is a must-attend.
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Nigeria flag with crest
Less than three months to the celebration of the nation’s 50th anniversary Independence in October, the Presidency has sent a budget of N10Billion (Ten Billion Naira) to the Assembly for approval.
The nation has July, August and September to plan for the landmark celebration which would definitely attract many International dignitaries.
It is Naira windfall extravaganza, the Nigerian style, as the questions have arisen as to how the huge amount would be disbursed and expended only less than three months to the event proper.
Already, Nigerians are questioning the reason why the budget and preparation for the event had been left to the last minutes adding that plans for the celebration of such magnitude should have commenced at least six months to one year ago.
“It is a situation that gives way for serious and high level corruption and embezzlement. By the nation’s corruption standard, only a paltry of the budgeted amount are likely to be expended while the biggest share could be lining various private pockets.
A highlight of the N639 billion naira Supplementary Appropriation Bill that President Goodluck Jonathan sent to the National Assembly for approval yesterday out of the budgeted N10Billion Naira is as follows:
Goodluck Jonathan
A breakdown of the expenditure shows that N950 million is budgeted for anniversary parade including march past, fleet review and aerial display, while another N350 million will be expended on national unity torch and tour.
First Lady Mrs. Patience Jonathan will spend N50 million for a special visit to special homes, orphanages, prisons and selected hospitals, while N20 million will be used to sponsor a special session of the National Children Parliament. Another N20 million will used to organise a party for 1000 children.
The government will further spend N40 million to organise a Presidential banquet, N50 million for calisthenics performance, N310 million for cultural, historical and military exhibitions while another N40 million will go for what the government called “food week.”
Other monies to be gulped by the 50th anniversary birthday bash include N320 million on secretariat equipment, accommodation, logistics and utilities while N30 million is budgeted for the designing and unveiling of the 50th anniversary logo.
Similarly, the Ministry of Information and Communications will spend N1.2 billion for insertion of special reports on Nigeria in both local and international media, another N320 million will be spent on jingles, adverts, billboards, documentary and publicity, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will receive N105 million for an undisclosed expenditure.
To mark the 50th independence anniversary, the government has also budgeted N700 million to accommodate and transport special guests both from within and outside the country.
Another N450 million will be used to finance the production of branded souvenirs and gift items for foreign heads of state and to erect a coat of arms on Aso Rock.
Also as part of the bash, a variety gala night and fireworks will gulp N210 million naira; an international friendly football match and local competition will gulp N200 million while event managers and producers will take home N120 million naira.
Designing and publication of a compendium on Nigeria will cost N400 million, while a similar one on the legislature will cost N150 million and a compendium on the judiciary will cost N50 million.
Commissioning of the golden jubilee plaza will cost N10 million naira; while designing, construction and mounting of
Tower of Unity in the 36 states of the Federation will gulp another N540 million.
Debates, essays, conferences, lectures, and a colloquium will gulp yet another N150 million; musical concerts and carnivals in the 6 geo-political zones will cost N60 million; durbar, masquerades and cultural dances will consume N100 million and designing and construction of 10 symbolic monuments of founding fathers of Nigeria will swallow up N80 million naira.
Dora Akunyili
A memory tomb at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos will consume N40 million, security and protocol will cost N500 million naira while N25 million has been budgeted for medicals during the same anniversary.
However, a call has gone to the Presidency to set up a high powered monitoring committee to monitor the disbursement and all projects handled from the spot of the budget approval
By the national Aseembly.
By Fatai Ogunribido,London with NBF News report..
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Dame Dora Akunyili.
Former Information Minister Professor Dora Akunyili has retained her portfolio as the nation’s Minister of Information and Communication given the opportunity to serve under Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.
She has joined the new members of the Cabinet after a grueling and agonising screening, single out for such result of her loyalty to a nation she so much adore.
Dora has emerged a new face of the honest, sincere, loyal and patriotic Nigeria woman who through her genuine sense of purpose and direction has remained forthright in her quest for a fair and egalitarian society.
Dora’s rejection from the current Cabinet after she was picked by the Acting President as a member of his proposed team could have spell a doom for the nation as Nigeria could have been percieved as a nation that relishes falsehood rather than sincerity of purpose and truthfulness.
We salute our great nation as she skipped this tag with the reinstatement of our darling Dora who once again through her patriotic activities has given many generations coming hope of a very fair and honest society.
Akunyili’s nomination did not come by accident and neither did it come by political lobby or source of super-lord pacification as is the case all the time with Nigerian polity. This had been demonstrated as had happened in the case of many whose names were included in the current Cabinet, having made the nation once again witness another era of family cabinet with some touch of public eye-service balancing.
Dora under the last dispensation and ministerial make -up of Yar’Adua distinguished herself as a very passionate, well-wishing and a worthy Ambassador for the country. She exhumes glamour, patriotism , culturism, devotion and loyalty.
She championed the Nigeria rebranding effort, which she held to the last day even as many across the world saw the effort as a waste of time and resources which it eventually turned to be.
She held up to her own as she sought a new tag and identity for the country in desperate efforts to shed off the old tag of the nation being perceived by the outside world as corrupt , inept and crime riddled.
She remained unbowed to the cause even in the face of glaring failure with her self conviction that Nigerians are good people and the nation-a great country.
She was uncompromising even in the face of serious humiliation and threat to her job by many enemies of the nation and servant of retrogression. These traits today have endeared Dora to millions across the world as a loyal citizen in a country whose leadership top cadre has remained morally bankrupt and spiritually unrepentant.
Good name according to an old saying is better than riches. No doubt that Dora Akunyily has kindled a hope for coming generation of politicians and that all is not lost afterwards as she has kept her good name as a true Nigerian. She was once lost in the last cabinet but eventually had her eyes opened with realities about Nigeria. She retraced her steps.
Nigerians once again have demonstrated that they are no ingrates; that if they see a worthy national hero they will appreciate and celebrate without any iota of objection. Dora has proved herself to be worthy of celebration.
Dora has singled herself out as a selfless politicians, a worthy Ambassador capable of serving the nation better on international capacity. She will be under -utilised under the current dispensation if she fails to serve as cultural and tourism Minister for our dear nation once again.
We implore our newly nominated ministers to please take a cue from Dora Akunyili and build a good name for themselves for the sake of their future political career and generations of Nigerians living and yet unborn.
While we wish our troubled Acting President a better and fruitful days ahead as he wrestles with oppressors and agents of doom who have characterised our political life for long, it is sure that Dr Goodluck Jonathan would soon witness a divine triumph of truth over falsehood.
Author, Good people, Great nation.
There is no doubt, those enemies of progress would soon be shamed and brought to a stand still by the divine power of God and the spirit of those who fought tooth and nail to see our nation free from foreign intruders-We mean those past heroes whose spirit refuse to sleep seeing our nation being sold out to invisible enemies within the nation and outside.
Wishing the new Cabinet members a successful tenure of office, as they take the batons to lead the nation to a different level of self re -discovery and development.
To our Dora, more grease to your elbow. Long live NIGERIA.
By: Fatai Ogunribido.
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Goodluck Jonathan, may announce new cabinet in 48 hours.
A list of would-be cabinet Ministers has been sent by the Acting President to the Senate for approval.
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan had been rumoured to be compiling a new list to replace disloyal Yar’Adua Ministers live up to expectations yesterday even though the list has been met with low zeal of approval by the general public.
The list of the first batch of the cabinet members includes names of 7 former ministers, a new economic czar, Olusegun Aganga, a managing director at Goldman Sachs in London and 16 others.
Some of the former ministers whose names were included are Godsday Orubebe, Adetokunbo Kayode, Odein Ajumogobia, Mrs. Deziani Allison- Madueke, Fidelia Njeze, Architect Nuhu Somo Wya and Sen. Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, some of the new names includes former student activist and deputy governor of Nassarawa State, Labaran Maku, Prof. M. K Abubakar (Kaduna) and others
List of ministers:
Bello Masari
Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke
Nuhu Somo Wya
Odein Ajumogobia
Fidelia Njeze
Adetokunbo Kayode
Sen. Akinlabi Olasunkanmi
Godsday Orubebe
Josephine Anenih
Prof. M.K. Abubakar
Navy Captain N.S. Olubolade
Eng. Chris Ogienwonyi
Ndanusa Alao
Alhaji Murtala Yar‘Adua
Hon. Nduese Essien
Alhaji Umaru Aliyu
Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed
Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga
Bawa Bwari
Senator Bala Mohammed
Adamu Maina Waziri
Labaran Maku
Senator Sanusi Daggash
Emeka Wogu
Bello Adoke (SAN)
Mrs. Josephine Tapgun
Suleiman Bello
Umar Bature
Musiliu Obanikoro
Jonathan had been widely reported as having sent some list of new nominees to the Senate last week with the list rumoured to comprise only ministers being retained from the old cabinet sacked last week.
It is aimed at preventing the complete paralysis of government in one of Africa’s top oil producers while security clearance of the newcomers gets underway.
On Tuesday before the lists weresent , the Vice President consulted with many of the country’s influential groups including 36 state governors, following up on talks from the previous day.
He also met with a former military ruler and mediator in crises in several west African countries, Abdulsalami Abubakar, on Monday.
Abdulsalami is seen as well respected in the military and comes from the mainly Muslim north, while Jonathan is a Christian from the south.
“We cannot be waiting forever,” Ikedi Ohakim, governor of Imo State, told reporters after meeting Jonathan.
A source close to the presidency said Jonathan expected to have met some of his top advisors Monday night and that the new cabinet line up must be out in the next two days.
“It’s likely to be ready within the next 48 hours,” the source told AFP.
Western and African diplomats in Abuja however suggest the government appointment might take longer than is thought.
“Our expectations are that a full cabinet should be ready by mid-month (April),” said one diplomat.
Another said the entire exercise should last roughly three weeks from the dissolution.
“It looks like the cabinet will be announced in two batches,” said another, adding the first 22 would likely be drawn from the old government, but nailing down the remaining 20 could be a “bit of a mess and a long political process”.
Others say Jonathan is also working against the clock with just under a year to next elections.
A team of advisors he appointed early this month urged him to move quickly to assert his authority.
“Now that you have been invested with the authority the nation expects you to proceed quickly to effect the needed transformation,” chief advisor Theophilus Danjuma told Jigeria Crest
Jonathan is seeking a pro-reform government for the west African giant, where much of the 150 million population lives in poverty without basics such as water and electricity despite its oil wealth.