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.

TWENTY-Seven year old Gift Azubuike and Samson Oduwole, a three hundred level Micro Biology student of University of Lagos were going on their usual business, until about 2 pm last Monday, when their names were called as N10million winners in the ongoing MTN customer reward programme.

The Android Developer Challenge for Sub-Saharan Africa, an online competition has taken place, with Team Nigeria coming out in the top three.

Therefore, our national development roadmap should be strategically focused on a mission to preparing Nigerian for the 21st Century Knowledge Olympiad as a prerequisite for the participating in the Information Society.(IS).That should be the central vision of our national transformation agenda, if we must resolve the unspoken complex conflict in Nigeria such as keeping more than 30million slaves (of the underestimated 150 million) as house-helps, street hawkers, mai-guards and R-Fundamentalism -which are thankless labourers to the “Okada and Pure Water Economy!”