TechCabal

Leading Africa’s Tech Conversation

  • Sponsored: VConnect And Stanbic IBTC Join Forces To Serve SMEs

    Nigeria’s largest local search engine, VConnect has announced a strategic partnership with Stanbic IBTC, a leading banking conglomerate in Africa and provider of integrated financial services, to enable SME customers of both companies gain online presence and have access to financial aid which would help these SMEs increase reach and profit.

    In most countries Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) represent a substantial proportion of all economic activities, and typically account for well in excess of 50 percent of total employment. However, developing a successful and thriving SME is always difficult, especially in emerging markets because there are limited platforms that encourage and support their growth and development. It is in view of this, that VConnect and Stanbic IBTC have joined forces in order to empower SMEs.

    The partnership between both organisations is forged such that SME clients of both would benefit substantially from it.

    Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Deepankar Rustagi, General Manager, VConnect said “The partnership with Stanbic IBTC is in line with our company’s goal of ensuring that SMEs in Nigeria are not limited to their immediate environment and grow as much as they can.” He said SMEs are the live wire of any country and they contribute in no small measure to the growth and development.

    Mr. Deepankar said the partnership was forged with Stanbic IBTC based on the observation that the bank has overtime created avenues for the development of SMEs through various products aimed at their development. He further stated that an alliance between the two organizations bodes well for the advancement of SMEs in Nigeria.

    According to the Stanbic IBTC SME Head, Mr Akintunde Oyebode Nigerian SMEs are not taking advantage of the online space to increase business as most SMEs are confused about it or have heard numerous negative stories, he however promised that Stanbic IBTC will help its customers make good decisions and increase the variety of beneficial services available to its huge SME customer base promising that the bank is poised to help its customers succeed.

    The rewards of better SME banking are potentially huge, not just for banks and the SMEs themselves, but for the economy as a whole. SME clients of Stanbic IBTC and VConnect global services can therefore look forward to top-notch services geared towards their development.

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  • Leadpath Launches Accelerator to invest up to $100,000 in Nigerian Startups

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    As the footprint of technology continues to impact Africa, it is obvious that the next frontier in business development will be in the tech space. Startups continue to revolutionize our daily experience, and this trend will only continue in the future.

    Unfortunately, while startups may see these opportunities, they often aren’t in the position to take advantage of them because of a variety of factors, chief among them being funding.

    Thus, the LeadPath Accelerator programme is being launched in Lagos this Friday. The LeadPath Accelerator will make seed investments in startups doing business in software applications, mobile applications, electronic payments and big data. Typical investments range between $25,000 to $100,000 in the first instance, as well as follow-on investments from LeadPath and other venture funds. LeadPath will also offer office space, mentorship and other services to their investees, helping them achieve scale and success in a promising but challenging market.

    LeadPath is launching their accelerator on Friday 7th March 2014 at 70 Olonode Street, Yaba, Lagos. Techcabal is giving out tickets to the launch event. If you would like to attend, click here to register.

    More pictures of the space:

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  • Foto: The World’s Largest Collection Of African Stock Photography

    Like Foto, tell your story, your way. Use TechCabal’s platform to inform, inspire, and educate with text, images, slides, infographics, interactive web apps and other forms of multimedia. Share your biggest moments and greatest ideas directly with our audience.

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  • Partner Content: Register For The Internet Intermediary Liability Workshop, Lagos

    Should you be held responsible if someone uses your network (or service) to commit a crime?

    Paradigm Initiative Nigeria is working in partnership with the Association for Progressive Communications on an ICT Policy project that seeks to identify and follow up on specific national opportunities for strengthening protection from liability for Internet intermediaries in Nigeria. The project also seeks to increase awareness among stakeholders and project target groups, on the possible risks of Internet intermediary liability in Nigeria.

    Our Internet intermediary liability workshop holds on October 29, 2013, from 10am to 3pm in Lagos. Lunch will be served.

    This workshop intends to serve as a platform for stakeholders and Internet intermediaries to discuss and create guides for Internet Intermediary Liability. The proposed guides include a Need-To-Know Guide for the media and other content producers to help them understand and navigate Internet intermediary liability in African contexts, and a Best Practice Guide for ISPs and regulators to aid in drafting Internet intermediary laws.

    Please register by 6pm on Thursday, October 24, 2013, and we will get back to you on Friday, October 25, 2013, if we still have a seat available, as there are limited seats. Register here.

    Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) is a social enterprise that connects Nigerian youth with ICT-enabled opportunities.

    The Association for Progressive Communications is a global network of civil society organisations whose mission is to empower and support organisations, social movements and individuals in and through the use of information and communication technologies.

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  • Partner Content: Want To Help Revolutionise Nigerian Education Via Technology? Join The First Veritas Network

    First Veritas Educational Content Delivery Ltd is establishing a network of people and companies involved in Technology in Education in Nigeria.

    The Technology In Education community in Nigeria has grown over the last few years but players seem to operate in their tiny corners, often not realizing how large the community is and sometimes reinventing the wheel others have long perfected.

    The Network, apart from providing a platform to share ideas and publicize solutions offered by members, will also be a strong voice in the advocacy for using technology to enrich learning. Nigerian children, their teachers as well as their school administrators deserve to know the possibilities and promise of tech in education.

    Interested individuals and organizations should send an mail with their Name, Address, Phone numbers and other contact details to: info@1stveritas.com. They should also give a short description of their solution or nature of their involvement.

    Once this is verified, the details supplied will form the basis of a Nigerian directory of Tech in Ed. Other ideas and proposed activities will be advised to individual members of the network.

    If you know of anyone or organization that deserves to be a part of this network, kindly bring this to their attention or submit their details for First Veritas to contact them.

    First Veritas Educational Content Delivery Ltd, is a company poised to drive positive change in the learning environment. We help government to deliver better education services, schools to improve teacher and management effectiveness, and students to achieve overall improvements in learning outcomes.

    Photo Credit: Johan Larsson via Compfight cc

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  • Sponsored: Join Us At Edo Technology Day 2013

    At the inception of the government of Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole (mni, CON) it identified Information Communication Technology (ICT) as a key driver in service delivery to the people of Edo State. This policy thrust necessitated the need for the annual Edo Technology Day event.

    The Edo Technology Day serves as a premium stakeholder platform that brings together policy makers, industry players, technology experts, innovators and investors, to share ideas and experiences. It also serves as a forum for exploring opportunities and strategies for the utilization of technology, and charting the way forward on how best to mainstream technology in governance and its development process.

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    Working in collaboration with Microsoft Corporation, a leading software giant, Edo State Government organized the first Edo Technology Day in 2010. The event was chaired by the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, with the theme: “The Role of Technology in Capacity Building”. The Edo State Government used the opportunity to formally launch its Citizens Identification Card Project, the Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution and unveiled the Edo State Government website. It is worthy of mention that over 400 hundred young graduates were recruited for the successful execution of these laudable projects.

    In 2011 the theme of the Technology Day was “Repositioning Edo State using Technology”. It was chaired by the Lagos State Governor, Barr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), while the keynote address was presented by Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui, former Chairman of the Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS). At the event, Edo State showcased its efforts and achievements in positioning Edo State as a leading technology hub. Also, as a means of showing how the technology bug has pervaded the citizens of the State, secondary school students from across the State exhibited innovations in technology. The winning project was a robot for industrial use, designed by a young girl who is now on scholarship in Russia.

    Still keeping up with the original objectives, the theme of the 2013 Edo State Technology Day is ‘Fostering Governance with Technology’. The event is scheduled to hold on 12th and 13th September 2013, and will emphasize how technology is being used by governments to transparently and efficiently deliver services to citizens, stimulate the information society, drive public sector transformation and help governments obtain citizens’ participation in governance. At this year’s event, the Edo State Open Data Portal will be launched. This portal would further demonstrate Edo State’s avowed commitment to transparency and citizens’ participation in governance, as essential government data would be made available to stakeholders and the general public on the portal. This would make Edo State the first State in Nigeria to launch a functional Open Data portal.

    The keynote address will be delivered by Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Honourable Minister of Communication Technology of Nigeria, and the event will be chaired by Mr. Hakeem Belo-Osagie, Chairman of Etisalat Nigeria.

    CNBC Africa will cover discussion sessions featuring renowned technology experts and key players in the ICT sector, who will speak on topics that include “Broadband Delivery and Management in Nigeria”; “Education at the brink of Digital Revolution”; “Security Implications of Big Data”; and “Actualizing a Workable National IT Policy”.
    With a plethora of technology solutions, major global and local technology vendors and solutions providers will exhibit state-of-the-art displays of their technology products and services in diverse areas.

    Furthermore, the event will play host to other States in Nigeria, such as Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and the BRACED Commission States of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers and Delta who will showcase how they are using technology to foster governance in their respective states.

    The 2013 Edo Technology Day is scheduled to hold on the Thursday, 12th and Friday, 13th of September, 2013 from 9.00 a.m. at The Emporium, JBS Estate, Boundary Road, GRA, Benin City, Edo State.

    We look forward to seeing you at this milestone event even as we welcome you to the great City of Benin with its rich cultural and historical landmarks.

    Join us!

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