Nokia last week revealed that consistent media campaign and other related activities in the Nigerian mobile market has significantly checkmated the spread pf counterfeit mobile phones dropping the market share from 15 percent in July 2010 to 6 percent by July 2011.

If there are few people whose views should be taken seriously in the Nigerian ICT sector, one of them is Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem. A former President of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, past President of Nigeria Internet Group, NIG, and the CEO of Teledom Group, an indigenous conglomerate company with expertise in broadband ICT infrastructure development, deployment and software development, he can be said to have seen it all in terms of versatility, expertise and experience. In this interview, Ekuwem stressed the need for local content policy in the ICT sector, just like the case in the downstream sector of petroleum industry. According to him, this will bring about direct investment in ICT manufacturing and assembling, and create jobs for the teeming young Nigerians. Excerpts:

Sony Ericsson has dramatically made a come back in the Nigerian mobile market. This time around the company says it has come to stay even as it vowed to give the existing market leaders a run for their market share.

The Association of Rural Telephony Operators of Nigeria (ARTON), has explained position on the first phase of the National Rural Telephony Project, dismissing as baseless, a story by one of the Nigerian newspapers linking the project with fraud.

Last Wednesday, my phone beeped; a text message had arrived, but it wasn’t the first time that day. Picking the phone, the message read: “Pls be careful in receiving calls, espacially (sic) new numbers. Over 10 people lost their lives in Wukari LGA Adamawa state 2day in answering calls. Dis are d no (sic) 091411 only 5 digit (sic). Past (sic) it 2 others pls 2 save lives.”

DATA released last week by the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, has indicated an increase in the way people engage ICT services. The report however hinted that the development was due to a steady fall in the prices of telephone and broadband Internet services.

AS scramble for the Nigerian market continues as a result of existing opportunities, the Minister of Communication and Technology, (CT) Mrs. Omobola Johnson has warned that activities of foreign ICT vendors must comply with local regulations to promote healthy competition.

One of Nigeria’s ICT solution provider, Resourcery Plc recently received multiple awards, by achieving CommScope Elite Partnership Status, BICSI RCDD certification and BICSI Corporate membership status.

Research In Motion, RIM, makers of the Blackberry range of smart phones has announced the launch of the new BlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone in Nigeria. The smartphone will be available through Airtel, Globacom, Etisalat and MTN Nigeria.

The Lawmaker representing Lagos east Senatorial District, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, recently held the second convocation ceremony for beneficiaries of his free ICT training institute at Magodo Estate, Lagos last week. Over 30 students graduated from the programme.