What are our youths driving at, making the social media a second nature? From the lecture halls to the dinning rooms and in the churches, hands are permanently locked away on the keyboards of the iPad, Blackberry or mini laptops. Addiction has set in, taking over the better part of a normal life.

As an intervention strategy to create economic opportunities for 300 million youth over the next three years in Africa, the global software giant, Microsoft Corp has announced its ongoing commitment to driving opportunities for African youth through its YouthSpark initiative.

Nigeria may soon attract more foreign direct investment, FDI, particularly in the ICT sector, as Pyramid Research has just released the report of its 2013 top trends in global communications with a declaration that Nigeria still remained top spot for telecom investments in Middle East and Africa.

Managing Director of Dermo Imprex Nigeria, Dr. Antony Uwa has given reasons for the delay in implementing the Basic Registry and Information System in Nigeria (BRISIN), an integrated data and information project for Nigeria since 2007.

The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has raised the bar for its signature annual event as the Chairman, Quantum Capital Group and the Jim Ovia foundation, Jim Ovia, will deliver the keynote at the 2013 President dinner slated for this month in Lagos.

Despite challenges, efforts are underway to bridge the digital divide in Africa with the introduction of Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, a new effort through which the software giant would actively engage in Africa’s economic development to improve its global competitiveness.

Recently, the Telecom Answers Associates, a technical partner with the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC announced a business workshop on Broadband expansion program. The Business Workshop is expected to feature discussions on implementation modalities of the Program and also on topics such as Investment Opportunities in Infrastructure Extension; Content Development; Challenges of the Industry; Accessing Funding Opportunities as well as Operating Environment and Regulatory Requirements; amongst others. In this interview, the organizer of the programme, Engr. Titi Omo-Ettu shed more light on the essence of the workshop, which is to expand the reach of Broadband infrastructure in Nigeria. Excerpts:

To reduce the incidence of forgery, the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, CPN has approved the design of a new certificate with security features unscripted on it.

In the past four months, there has been unusual attention and comments in the media about frequency spectrum sales and allocations by the telecom regulatory body, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC. The allegations of underhand frequency dealings were made topical by one of the national dailies which devoted its front pages to report the matter.

At the launch of the Microsoft 4Africa initiative yesterday in Lagos, the global software giant, has disclosed its plans to commit about N12 billion in the African market as part of its initiative to help improve the continent’s global competitiveness.