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StarTimes to Open Nigerian Digital Content to Chinese Market Stories by Emma Okonji StarTimes Nigeria is perfecting plans to export digital content productions from the Nigeria’s multi-billion naira Nollywood industry to the Chinese market, where the audience is growing at an impressive rate. The Chief Executive Officer, StarTimes Nigeria, Justin Zhang, who made the
disclosure recently, said: “The opportunities are enormous for Nollywood in China. Everyday, more and more Chinese nationals become interested in Nollywood movies. We hear good things about Nollywood movies and this is a significant improvement for the industry. StarTimes is working with one of the major movie distributors in China and is already holding
the Nigerian movie industry to step up in terms of production quality in a bid to reap the benefits of a larger audience. “Apart from the fact that many jobs will be created when this kicks off, it is also an opportunity for producers in Nigeria to increase their earnings. Imagine if a Nollywood production is exported to the Chinese box office where over 45,000 screens exist, the
talks with the minister of information, stakeholders in Nigeria’s movie distribution sector and a Bank to see to a successful exportation of Nigerian movies to China.� As world’s most populous country with 1.4 billion people, China’s cinema market currently has a staggering 45,000 screens as compared to Nigeria’s 200. This, according to Zhang, is an opportunity for
opportunities are unending. It will be a dream come true for us at StarTimes to see Nollywood movies grossing up to $50 million in the box office,� he said. In the first nine months of this year, China added a little over 7,500 new cinema screens, continuing a trend seen over the past few years. China has been building cinema screens at a rate of over 12 a day for
the past five years, rising to 27 a day this year. Over the years, StarTimes Nigeria has supported the localisation of Chinese movies and currently also owns a featured content platform, with 440 authorised channels across Africa, consisting of news, movies, series, sports, entertainment, children’s programs, fashion, religion and lots more.
Schneider Electric Innovates with IoT Datacentre Solutions Schneider Electric has further reaffirmed its position as one of the most innovative global specialists in energy management and automation with the introduction of EcoStruxure platform. The new system, which is internet of things (IoT)enabled, and an open interoperable solution, was designed to improve business efficiency, reliability, safety and connectivity. Senior Solutions Architect, Datacentre and Infrastructure, Schneider Electric, Okechi Osuagwu, said: “With critical factors such as frequent power outages, rising energy prices, climate changes and conflicts for resource access and controls, there is need for a holistic and robust energy infrastructure that ensures safe, efficient and green energy consumption from grid to rack. That is the edge Schneider EcoStruxure offers as a formidable ally.� He made these remarks at the just concluded International Data Corporation (IDC) 2017 event themed ‘Next-Gen
Datacentres: Making a Cloud Reality’ which took place recently in Lagos. Osuagwu explained further that the EcoStruxure Data Centre Solutions provide an open architecture of connected products and interoperable system across the domains of IT, Power and Buildings as well as apps, analytics & services for mobility, monitoring and insights. “We deploy the EcoStruxure in a tailored instance for each of the vertical end markets from Building, Data Center, Industry, and Infrastructure where Schneider Electric has decades of deep domain expertise and applied experience,� he noted. The new platform collects and analyses critical data from sensors to cloud, with key features for implementing smart operations across enterprises such as monitoring environmental parameters and asset utilisation, providing predictive analysis, smart alarming and the possibility to make control decisions anytime, anywhere and from any smart device.
Huawei to Send 10 Nigerians to China for ICT Empowerment Kasim Sumaina in Abuja In a bid to bring first class technical training on information and communication technology (ICT) to teeming Nigerian youths, Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited has said it will send 10 out of the best participants selected from the 1,345 students for further studies in China, in the ongoing ICT for Change Programme. The empowerment training programme is in line with government’s youth and student development and job creation which is seemingly in direct response to President Buhari’s drive to empower and encourage young Nigerians. According to the company, “We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government of Nigeria on a ICT for Change Programme. “The training officially kick- started on the 10th of November 2016 and so far One thousand three hundred and Forty Five (1.345) youths have completed the programme. A total number of 15 batches of
trainings were held in Abuja and Lagos training centres of Huawei.� According to a statement released by the company, 10 out of the best 40 participants will be selected from the 1,345 participants of the ongoing ICT for Change program. “The 10 best students would proceed for further studies in the People’s Republic of China on an empowerment programme designed for graduates of Electrical, Electronics, Computer Science, ICT, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics and other ICT related courses.� The training programme, Huawei disclosed, featured experienced trainers, who explored various means of training delivery. One of the participants, who spoke with THISDAY immediately after the test,Miss. Benson Eyalenya, said, the language (Chinese) was also huge motivator aside attaining further studies on ICT as she set to learn to communicate in Chinese whilst studying if she is among the participants that will make the the final list.
COURTESY VISIT
L-R: Chief Technical OďŹƒcer, VDT Communications Ltd, Mr. Victor Omoyeni; President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olushola Teniola and Managing Director/CEO, VDT Communications Ltd, Mr. Biodun Omoniyi, during a courtesy visit to VDT Communications by ATCON team in Lagos...recently
MTN Foundation Re-opens Digital Library at UNILAG MTN Foundation, under its UniversitiesConnect initiative has re-opened the digital library donated by the Foundation at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos (UNILAG). An MTN Foundation delegation led by the Chairman, Board of Directors, Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, inaugurated and presented the facility to the school’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rahman Bello at an event witnessed by members of the University Senate and the MTN Nigeria management team. Built in 2005, the fully furnished and air-conditioned digital library is equipped with 128 networked computers, running on Microsoft 365 which was donated by Microsoft Philanthropies. The library is equipped with an alternative source of electricity for a seamless digital library experiences. It also has three laser jet printers, a server, and VSAT-based Internet connectivity. Other universities that have benefited from the UniversitiesConnect initiative, include Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State; University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State and University of Benin, Edo State. Speaking at the event, Adelusi-Adeluyi, expressed delight on the fact that the project has been re-inaugurated and he urged the students to
collaborate with the University to ensure that the library is well managed. “This project aligns with the Foundation’s commitment to enhance learning and teaching by providing infrastructure, content and access to students in tertiary institutions across the country. UNILAG was the first institution to partner with us on the UniversitiesConnect project and we are pleased to reopen this pioneer digital library,� he said. In his remark on behalf of the University community, Prof. Bello commended MTN Foundation for their commitment to the development of education and ICT in Nigeria. “This is a welcome development in line with ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide. I assure you that this centre will be used for learning and extensive research by our students,� he said. Other dignitaries present at the event included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics and Research, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development Services, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola; Registrar, Dr (Mrs.) Taiwo Ipaye; Chief Operating Officer, MTN Nigeria, Muhammad Siddiqui; Executive Secretary MTNF, Nonny Ugboma; and Director, Enterprise Commercial Business, Microsoft, Wale Olokodana.
Okere to Chair NITRA 3rd Quarter Forum As preparations for the third quarter forum of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) gather momentum, stakeholders in the Banking, ICT and FinTech sectors of the Nigerian economy have continued to throw their weight behind the event. The latest to confirm his support for the programme is the Founder/Vice Chairman CWG Plc, Mr. Austin Okere, who has accepted to chair the one-day event. In a personally signed email dated August 14, 2017, and addressed to NITRA, Okere said: “Thank you for the invitation to chair this event. I am honoured and pleased to accept. I trust I shall be receiving more information in due course.� Digital disruption is changing how traditional banking services, payments, and remittances are now offered in the digital economy. Almost all sectors of financial services including payments, money transfers, banking and more are being re-imagined by non-traditional providers and FinTechs, while the traditional incumbent providers are reinventing themselves very quickly to understand better, the puzzle presented by FinTech and how they can leverage on the digital
movement. NITRA, an umbrella body for journalists reporting information and communications technology in Nigeria, is organising the third edition of its quarterly forum entitled “Digital Payment: Prospects and Challenges of a Financially Inclusive Nigeria.� The event which holds on September 29, 2017 at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, will not only highlight the challenges and opportunities in the FinTech space in Nigeria, but will also provide knowledge and networking platform that will bring the Nigeria Fintech industry at par with its counterparts across the globe. The event also offers the Banking, ICT and FinTech industries an excellent opportunity to showcase some of their achievements before the largest gathering of the sectors players under one roof. It affords them the opportunity to share their contributions to Digital Payments as well as efforts towards actualizing financial inclusion in the country. Okere is Founder of CWG Plc and had served as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. He has been Vice Chairman of CWG Plc since June 2015 and also its Director.