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"Proudly Nigerian" does not just apply to the people of this vast land - the West African giant is now building its own warships.
After nearly five years in the making, the Nigerian navy ship or NNS Andoni was launched with a colourful event.
At 31m (100ft) long, this is no giant of the seas, but the fact that it was designed and built in Nigeria, by Nigerian engineers, is a great source of pride.
"We are all happy and elated," said Commodore SI Alade, one of Nigeria's senior naval officers.
"This is the first time this kind of thing is happening in Nigeria and even in the sub region."
With a speed of up to 25 knots (46km/h), this can quickly go to intercept the pirates ”
Commanding Officer Adepegba
Moments after stepping on board NNS Andoni, sailor FL Badmus said: "I feel on top of the world.
"I'm proud to have been picked by the naval authorities to serve on this ship....
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Congratulation Nigeria for creating your own navy ship, the next thing to develop is missiles.
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Good to see. But what are the specs? How does it compare? Just curious . Does it use WWII technology? Speed, armament/guns, radar tech, range, human and ammo capacity, shell thickness, on board technology etc?
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Mr Innocent Chukwuma - The automobile manufacturer from Nigeria
Chukwuma is our CEO of the week.
Mr Innocent Chukwuma needs no introduction in Nigeria. He is the young man from Nnewi, the manufacturing capital of Nigeria who has, from the scratch, successfully built a vehicle manufacturing plant. Before this period, Chukwuma had established a motorcycle manufacturing plant and a plastic plant that is churning out helmets for use by motorcyclists in Nigeria.
The 46-year-old businessman, interestingly, started with just N3,000 he got from his brother and he has, today, built a multi- billion naira business empire. His case is a typical grass to grace story.
Chukwuma, who is a member of the Vision 20:2020, said he is conscious of the fact that Nigerians like quality and that the road network is not fantastic and, because of that, they decided to turn out quality and rugged vehicles that would stand the test of time.
He also said that apart from the durability of the vehicles, they are also cheaper than the imported ones.
His words: “I want to say that I am not afraid of competing with Honda, Toyota or any other big name in the automobile industry. I only have respect for them. My reason is because I have done it before and I hope to do it again. There were a lot of big names in the industry when I went into the manufacturing of motorcycles some years back, but that did not stop me. I went in there and excelled. I have not failed in any business that I have embarked upon, and this one will not be an exception.
Even talking about competition, I can tell you that I have never competed with anybody. I am always competing with myself. I try to turn out quality products and allow the market to judge. So, I am competing with the market for acceptance, rather than the people producing the same thing as I am because the market is the ultimate judge.”
According to him, his goal, apart from putting Nigeria on the map of vehicle manufacturing countries, is to stop Nigerians from buying fairly used vehicles, popularly known as Tokunbo, as is now the case.
He said that with the commissioning of the plant, Nigerians could now beat their chest and say, “this is our own,” just as the Americans, the Chinese, the Germans and the Japanese. Recently, President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company in Nnewi, Anambra State, and Daily Sun caught up with this rare entrepreneur and he spoke about his foray into business, his challenges and successes.
IN addition to small arms and other ordinances which the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) is already producing, the firm has begun the manufacturing of medium calibre weapons.
Among the new weapons already produced by DICON are Simm Mortar and the Bazooka/Cricket-Propelled Grenades (RPG-Model 7). Next on the line to be produced is the field gun artillery weapons.
And to ensure that the new weapons enjoy the benefits of modern technology and conform to international standards, Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China towards the installation of the new lines of production.
Already, Chinese experts are in the country to finalise arrangements towards mass production of the weapons.
Also, the medium calibre weapons produced at the military firm's plant in Kaduna have been test-fired and are working perfectly.
Chairman of DICON and Chief Steward of Albarka Airline Plc, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), said that the production had already been approved by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Marwa said: "The Federal Government understands the need of DICON and approved the new development (lines of production) for this year's budget. The new lines of production will fully and effectively be ready in two to three years.
"In the area of production, I feel very fulfilled. We have now started producing weapons. We are breaking out of cocoon to higher calibre medium-range weapons".
Through its Research and Development Programme, DICON has produced its own Jimmy Soap, a device used in finishing rifles and other ammunition.
A 25-litre of the soap costs $5,000 in the international market.
Gen. Marwa also added that in the last three years, DICON had resumed the manufacturing of FM rifles, 7.2mm ammunition short guns and related cartridges.
He said that his greatest joy was that DICON had "corrected the major defect in sub-machine gun that has been defected since the early 70s". We have resumed production of pistols.
"The FM rifle used to have problem of heat generation. We also held meetings with Biafran scientists, including those who manufactured Ogbunigwe. We've had several meetings with them and they are offering their services to DICON".
According to Marwa, DICON has manufactured a stabiliser which is awaiting mass production just as it is also producing headframes for boreholes.
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has unveiled the first motorcycle produced in Nigeria, designed and manufactured by the National Engineering Design and Development Institute (Nnewi), a subsidiary of NASENI.
The 80C engine motorcycle was launched in Anambra state today. The agency is now asking the government to ban the importation of motorcycles, promising that with financial assistance, they can produce better motorcyles. #Yimz! Hehe!
The Vice Chairman of NASENI, Dr.Mohammed Haruna, said:
"About 20 million Nigerians today rely on motorcycles as a means of transport and many unemployed youths and men support their families or earn a living from running motorcycle as a commercial venture. Imagine the large number of jobs that will be created if only Nigeria could close her borders against the importation of motorcycles and allow entrepreneurs to invest in the manufacturing of the parts including production of the motorcycle locally.
Euphoria as Nigeria's solar-powered race car emerges By Sola Ogundipe
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Even as Nigerians look forward to the commencement of the forthcoming 2015 general elections in February, another expected highlight of the new year is the scheduled presentation of the prototype of Nigeria's first ever solar-powered race car, the Eaglemobile "9jaBOLT" Solar Car, to President Goodluck Jonathan within the first quarter of the year.
The upcoming presentation of the innovative design to the president at the State House, Abuja, will be at the instance of the Nigeria Eco-Racing Team, a.k.a. Team Nigeria, which is competing as Africa's sole representative at the World Solar Challenge at Adelaide, Australia, later in the year in October.
The 27-year-old World Solar Challenge, a globally reputed competition at which Nigeria showcases as Africa's only competitor and for the first time, is the No.1 and most keenly contested technology challenge in the Renewable Energy category and Design ecosystem.
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Nigeria launches first satellite built by Africans
[ABUJA] Nigeria successfully launched NigeriaSat-X, the first satellite to be designed and built by Africans, into orbit this week (17 August).
NigeriaSat-X was launched along with another small satellite, NigeriaSat-2, from Yasny in southern Russia.
The satellite is the result of a transfer training agreement between Nigeria's National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, a satellite developer based in the United Kingdom. It brought 26 young scientists from NASRDA to work on the satellite for 18 months, under the supervision of experts in Surrey.
NigeriaSat-X will be used for resource management, and for mapping of the country that will feed into food security through crop monitoring, urban planning and disaster management. It will also facilitate the development of Nigeria's space capability and engineering skills for new technologies.
In a national broadcast, President Goodluck Jonathan praised the resourceful Nigerians who made this history possible.
Jonathan, a scientist by training, said: Today marks another milestone in our nation's effort to solve national problems through space technologies.
Nigeria's national space policy was approved in 2001 and culminated in the launch of the country's first satellite, NigeriaSat-1, in 2003....
WEST ATLANTIC SHIPYARD is equipped for the construction and repair of all types of ship up to 100 m.
Due to its geographical location, WEST ATLANTIC SHIPYARD mainly builds support vessels for the offshore industry and is taking steps to increase diversification into different sectors in line with the PIRIOU group’s strategy.
Two made-in-Nigeria mobile phones for launch Nov Plans have reached advanced stage to launch two new made-in-Nigeria mobile phone brands into the nation’s dynamic telephony market by November this year, the Phone and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDAN) has disclosed.
President of PAPDAN, Godfrey Iyke Nwosu, who disclosed this receently, said the phone brands are the outcome of a joint venture among 20 Nigerian investors who have pooled resources to introduce devices that will cater to local market needs.
Nwosu noted that the two new phone brands to be called iQ and MaxTel will cater to three market segments in the feature, medium and smart phone segments to offer choice to consumers.
The President of PAPDAN, a group representing the interest of phone dealers in Ikeja Computer Village, the nation’s largest market cluster for technology products and services, says that its membership today counts over 3000 businesses.
Members of PAPDAN occupy a crucial place in the retail end of the tech market, as they sell in excess of two million units of phones and allied devices monthly, Nwosu says.
The PAPDAN President also said the planned introduction of the new phones will provide home-grown solutions for the Nigerian technology market.
Earlier in a keynote presentation, CEO of Technovision, Tomi Davies, urged the market leaders to be mindful of the fast pace of technology and its impact on their businesses.
According to him, more than 60 per cent of their customers today form part of the 60 per cent of the population who fall below the age bracket of 24.
Miniaturisation, which is one of the key trends driving the evolving technology industry, will define the choice that these new consumers will make and their businesses must continuously adapt to these changes.
Also commenting, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CAPDAN, Ganiyu Alimi commended Technology Times for creating a platform to promote the key technology market.
“We must strategise and begin to think about what products we must target to these changing population because we don’t want to be left out”, the CAPDAN, BOT Chairman added.
Founder of Technology Times, Shina Badaru, told attendees that the initiative is part of the drive by the news and information hub on the Nigerian ICT sector to promote new platforms that will further open up local technology businesses to an increasingly dynamic market in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
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Nigerian Pharmaceutical Maufacturing Industry
WHO Approves More Nigerian Pharmaceutical Companies 16 Oct 2014
By Paul Obi
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has certified three additional Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturing companies to produce drugs locally in accordance with WHO good manufacturing practice (GMP) after the audits and inspections by WHO Pre-qualification team.
The three drug manufacturing companies are Evans Pharmaceutical Ltd, May & Baker Pharmaceutical Ltd and Chi Pharmaceutical Ltd. Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu revealed this in Abuja during a press briefing, stating that the certification is a landmark achievement, bringing the total of Nigerian companies manufacturing drugs locally to four (4) with the inclusion of the Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited already into production.
According to Chukwu, these companies are certified to join other companies within Africa and outside to produce medicines for malaria, HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis and other UN coordinated projects such as the UN Commission on Life Commodities. Chukwu explained that "by this laudable achievement, Nigeria is recorded among the nations of the world whose local drug industries manufacture at WHO standards. The WHO GMP standard is the international norm and Nigeria has joined the world in this global phenomenon.
"The world now awaits products such as Artemether-Lumefantrine tablets for malaria, Lamivudine tablets for HIV/AIDS, Levoflaxine tablets for tuberculosis, Zinc sulphate tablets for treatment of diarrhea, fluconazole injections, ciprofloxacine tablets and many more that are made-in-Nigeria drugs expected to be pre-qualified by the WHO in no distant time. Accordingly, Chukwu disclosed that the companies in question will begin to compete favourably with pharmaceutical companies the world over in international bidding processes for medicines supplies in relevant global health programmes.
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Nigeria can no longer rely only on oil for revenue because the USA, UK and Saudi Arabia collapse the price of the barrel of oil from $100 to $50 per barrel. Nigeria have to develop its manufacturing industry to export goods on the African continent.
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Nigerian made bullet-proof vest and other War materials
President Goodluck Jonathan has commissioned the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), a company that will be manufacturing bullet proof vest for the military and other security agents.
The President at the commissioning in Kaduna, commended the Public Private Partnership (PPP) between DICON and MAROM-DOLPHIN Nigeria Limited which resulted in the domestic production of the bullet proof vests and other textile wares for security agencies in the country.
President Jonathan noted that the landmark event shows that the military establishment has effectively keyed into the federal government’s Local Content Policy which is aimed at building indigenous capacity in the petroleum and other sectors of the national economy.”
The President restated his administration’s commitment “to creating the requisite enabling environment for local manufacturing industries to grow, become major employers of labour and progressively become globally competitive.”
Noting that the Nigerian Navy has locally designed and constructed Seaward Defence Boat, just as the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps produced an Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), the president stated that these are part of activities marking the 2012 Nigerian Army Day Celebrations (NADCEL).
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Nine-out-of-ten-times we get the hear great news coming from Nigeria.
quote:This is the beginning of the transformation... and I believe in another 10 to 15 years, we can be thinking about starting a project to take Nigerians into the air," President Jonathan said.
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quote:Some people don't know that their is a begin of an Industrial Revolution going on in Africa. A lot of countries are starting to build their industry.For example in Nigeria they now manufacture their own car parts, part of motors and in 5 years they will build for 100% their own motors.A lot of western products are been copied. The same what happend 20 years ago in China before their Industrial Revolution is now happening in Nigeria. Western scientists confirm the beginning of an industrial revolution in Nigeria. For example in the city Nnewi, 300 kilometres at south of the capital Abuja, their are more then thirty industrial companies who are making car components. On average each company has a small hundred employees in service.
Industrial revolution: African tigers Les Celliers de Meknes is one of the many industrial companies in Morocco. The firma is owned by Brahim Zniber, who produces especially foods: soft drink, cattle fodder, vegetable oil, textile. Also car components ' The industrial revolution in Morocco stands in the start block-systems The industrial revolution in Morocco is beginning to start' , according to Bouchaara . ' Except local companies also the foreign investments are growing . Renault builds in Tanger one of the largest car factories in the world. Within ten years our economy is at the level of Spain.' The infrastructure has improved enormously. We have recently a fantastic new motorway from Tanger to Marrakesh. ' Morocco is not the only country in Africa where the industry is starting to begin. Except in a number of other countries in North Africa industrial companies are also strong in rise in particularly Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Sudan, Mozambique and South Africa. In Nigeria much industrial companies rice slowly from a deep valley. Because of the enormous income from the oil-export other sectors were neglected for decades. The current government tries to change this . Johnny Ekewuba, marketing manager of the Nigerian Ibeto Group. Its company, that especially manufacters car components . ' We grow 5% a year. The products of the Ibeto Group still remain cheap. A set of their brake block-systems costs 300 naira or less than two euro, what ten times are cheaper than in the Netherlands. The beto Group even already started to exports components to the foreign countries. In neighbouring countries Cameroon and Niger Nigerian car absorbers, oil filters and brake block-systems from Nigeria are everywhere . ' Also we export to India and Great-Britain.' African economies grew the previous time more strongly than economies in Europe. Except with the industry also companies in the agrarian, financial sector and communication . The coming years the economies are expected further to increase. Of lot of influential improvements have taken place the previous years in Africa, like the extension of mobile network . In a large number African countries the network were build by the Sudanese businessman Mo Ibrahim, director of Celtel. ' Western investors claimed that it was risky to invest in Africa ' , says Ibrahim : ' I found that fear exaggerated and decided to show that they were wrong.' Good telecommunication is very important for companies. Cable phones in Africa have always had problems ' , thus Ibrahim. ' A connection was expensive, there were technical problems'. Current mobile network is, however, more reliable.' Also Internet has come thanks the mobile network for much more Africans available. Cell Celtel was a huge success., in 2006, he sold his company to an investor in Kuwait, and the the name was changed in Zain. Ibrahim got 3.5 billion dollar,and is now one of the richest Africans in the world. Ibrahim is now seeking to invest in other things ' The foodstuff industry in Africa has huge potential'
Internet: Africa starts to open its window to the world
In sub-Saharan Africa, mobile technology has evolved rapidly, but this has not happened to internet access. With 170 million users, internet penetration in Africa is at 18 percent, which is significantly lower than the global average of 30 percent, and only one in 10 households is connected to the net.
Still, the number of connected users in the continent grew by seven times the global average between the years 2000 and 2012, according to Internet World Statistics.
"Africa has reached a penetration which has broken the barrier of 15 percent, and that's important," says Nii Quaynor, a scientist who has played an important role in the introduction and development of the internet throughout Africa. He is known as the "father of the internet" in the continent.
However, the ability to produce software, applications and tools is not developed enough because there's a lack of a critical mass that incorporates knowledge.
Most sub-Saharan countries produce very few professionals, and there are no technology investment strategies. "It is becoming increasingly difficult to help creating supplies, because the established companies are getting stronger and there may eventually be no space left," says Quaynor. The fact is that most countries focus on technology use and consumption, but not on production, which is what builds up the economy.
Africa is not changing as fast as the rest of the world, and the gap is widening
Nii Quaynor, board chairman of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) and director of the Internet Society in Ghana
Internet development in Africa has made great progress since the mid-1990s, and especially in the 2000s following changes in policies and regulations. Such changes have been achieved thanks to the effort of leaders like Nii Quaynor.
"The main challenge was to prepare the environment. Policies, business, economy, everything was new," says Quaynor.
Until 2009, the only way to connect to the world from sub-Saharan Africa were through satellite connections, which are very expensive and low in capacity. The new submarine connections led to a remarkable increase in data transmission capacity and drastically reduced the transmission time and cost.
60 percent of the world population is still disconnected to the world wide web. 64 percent of them live in rural areas.
It is estimated that by 2020, internet users via mobile will be 3.8 billion worldwide.
Today, there are 16 submarine cables connecting Africa to America, Europe and Asia, and international connectivity is no longer a significant issue. This has allowed countries to share information, both within the continent and to the world, in a more direct way. It has created more space for innovation, research and education.
"Networks have ended the isolation of African scientists and researchers. You now have access to information from the more developed countries, and this is changing the way people think," says Meoli Kashorda, director of KENET (Kenya Education Network).
Internet penetration happens in urban areas. The problem is distribution within countries Meoli Kashorda, director of KENET (Kenya Education Network)
It is up to governments and regional economic communities to implement policies that allow inland countries to benefit from the international connectivity. According to Kashorda, it will take a few years to achieve direct connection between all African countries.
The connection of Africa to the world is progressing, and so is the connection between African countries. There is, however, one final goal to meet, perhaps the most difficult: the interior connection within a country.
International connectivity deceased the cost of the internet. However, the lack of infrastructure in rural areas has not allowed for the same price reduction inside the countries. It seems that, in Africa, companies have a very limited commitment to the internet.
"When there aren't enough opportunities, vision is blurry and short sighted, and interest in collaborating is practically non-existent," explains internet expert Quaynor. "We must create a political environment which helps these multinational corporations to focus on what is important: region development."
In sub-Saharan Africa, governments have traditionally left infrastructure in the hands of the private sector. Recently, however, there seems to be a greater political commitment to this issue, and some governments are creating infrastructure, either on their own or in partnership with the private sector.
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In the last few years, the number of women involved in the technological world has risen dramatically in Africa.
Internet: Africa starts to open its window to the world
There is a real Pan-African movement of technological centres that is encouraging community building and empowering young developers to create innovative products and companies. There are now about 100 technological laboratories in 28 countries across Africa
More and more young people are developing applications focused on local needs Boubakar Barry, CEO of Wacren (West and Central African Research and Education Network)
This trend is expanding at the speed of a new "hub" every two weeks. DTBI in Tanzania, CcHUb in Nigeria, RLab in South Africa or iHub in Kenya, are some of the most popular centres in Africa.
Are you wondering how an incubator works in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Accra or Cape Town?
The great growth of these incubators throughout the continent is a consequence of internet development, which acts as an irrigation hose. Wherever the optical fibre cables are, new hubs grow like weeds and start to modify local ecosystems. But in those places they haven't reached, the land remains dry and does not produce anything.
In order to bring technology to low connectivity areas, several projects are being undertaken in different parts of the continent. One of them is Citizen Connect, created by the MyDigitalBridge Foundation, with support from Microsoft and the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia.
The Citizen Connect programme seeks to implement the technology of "white band" to bring the nternet to rural areas of Namibia.
In Africa, new technologies portend an improvement in the living conditions of people.
Citizen Connect seeks to provide the infrastructure needed to offer connectivity and services to citizens, regardless of their location and income or the existent infrastructure.
One pilot project is being carried out in Oshakati, a small town in northern Namibia. It uses a technology known as White Space, an innovation based on the use of blank spaces, or the non-use of the frequencies assigned to broadcasting services, to offer affordable high-speed internet connection in remote areas.
Do you want to know how Citizen Connect works?
Africa is progressing towards greater connectivity, prices are falling slightly and internet use is increasing. Nonetheless, there are still some obstacles to expand access to mobile internet, such as affordability and investment in network coverage expansion. And while internet is already common in sub-Saharan urban centres, more than 70 percent of the population live in rural areas.
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Internet in Africa The Internet in Africa is limited by a lower penetration rate when compared to the rest of the world. Measurable parameters such as the number of ISP subscriptions, overall number of hosts, IXP-traffic, and overall available bandwidth all indicate that Africa is way behind the "digital divide". Moreover, Africa itself exhibits an inner digital divide, with most Internet activity and infrastructure concentrated in South Africa, Morocco, Egypt as well as smaller economies like Mauritius and Seychelles.
While the telecommunications market in Africa is still in its early stages of development, it is also one of the fastest-growing in the world. In the 2000s, mobile telephone service in Africa has been booming, and mobile telephone use is now substantially more widespread than fixed line telephony. Telecommunication companies in Africa are looking at Broadband Wireless Access technologies as the key to make Internet available to the population at large. Projects are being completed that aim at the realization of Internet backbones that might help cut the cost of bandwidth in African countries.
The International Telecommunication Union has held the first Connect the World meeting in Kigali, Rwanda (in October 2007) as a demonstration that the development of telecommunications in Africa is considered a key intermediate objective for the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals.
Current situation All measurable parameters about Internet in Africa (ISP subscriptions, host number, network traffic, available bandwidth and bandwidth cost) give an essentially homogeneous picture. South Africa is the only African country that has figures similar to those of Europe and North America; it is followed by some smaller, highly touristic economies such as Seychelles and Mauritius, and a few North African countries, most notably Morocco and Egypt. Apart from South Africa; the leading Subsaharan country in telecommunication and Internet development is Kenya.
Evolution and perspectives The African telecommunication market is growing at a faster rate than in the rest of the world.In the 2000s this has especially been true for the mobile telephony market, that between 2004 and 2007 grew three times as fast as the world's average. In 2005, over 5 billion USD have been invested in Africa in telecommunication infrastructures.
Internet in Africa is now growing even faster than mobile telephony. Between 2000 and 2008, Internet subscriptions have grown by 1030.2%, versus the world's average of 290.6%.
IXP traffic An indirect measure that is sometimes used to assess the penetration of Internet technology in a given area is the overall amount of data traffic at Internet exchange points (IXPs). On African IXPs, traffic can be measured in kbit/s (kilobits per second) or Mbit/s (megabits per second), while in the rest of the world it is typically in the order of magnitude of Gbit/s (gigabits per second). The main IXP of Johannesburg, JINX (which is also the largest IXP in Africa) has about 6.5 Gbit/s traffic (in Sep 2012).[14]
IXP traffic, anyway, is only a measure of local network traffic (mainly e-mail), while most of African generated traffic is routed through other continents, and most web contents created in Africa are hosted on Web servers located elsewhere.[9] Additionally, measurable data do not consider private peering, i.e., inter-ISP traffic that does not go through IXPs. For example, the main academic network in South Africa, TENET, has 10 Gbit/s private peering with ISP Internet Solutions both in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Infrastructure development A number of projects have been started that aim at bringing more bandwidth to Africa, in order to cut down costs for both operators and end users. At least three projects for an underseas backbone in the Indian Ocean have been started. EASSy (East African Submarine cable System), sponsored by the World Bank and the Development Bank of Southern Africa, is a cable system that will connect Mtunzini (South Africa) and Port Sudan (Sudan), with branches to several countries on the eastern coast of Africa. The Kenyan government has started a similar project named TEAMS (The East Africa Marine System), with the collaboration of Etisalat. A third project, SEACOM, is completely African-owned. SEACOM bandwidth has already been sold to several customers, including the South African network TENET.
In South Africa, the SANReN network, with a 500 Gbit/s core, has been designed to become the fastest academic network in the world; the universities of Witwatersrand and Johannesburg are already using a bandwidth of 10 Gbit/s provided by this network.
Access With bandwidth becoming more available and less costly, the first to benefit will be institutions and companies that already have Internet access. In order for the network to reach a larger part of the population, solutions are needed for the last mile problem, i.e., to make bandwidth available to the final user. To be feasible for Africa, last mile solutions must be found that take into account the limited penetration of fixed telephony lines, especially in rural areas. Of about 400.000 rural communities that are estimated to exist in Africa, less than 3% have PSTN access. Note that providing network access to rural communities is one of Millennium Goals defined by the World Summit on the Information Society.
Most studies on this subject identify Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) technologies such as WiMAX as the most promising solution for the end user's Internet access in Africa. These technologies can also benefit from the wide availability of the mobile telephony network. Even in smaller countries like Seychelles, most Internet users already access the network via the GSM network. Providers that have 3G licenses will be able to provide WiMAX services.
Some experimentation is already being conducted in a few countries. In Kenya, the Digital Village Scheme project aims at providing government services in rural areas via wireless access. In Nigeria, Horizon Wireless is running a broadband (3.5 GHz) wireless network. Since 2007, MTN Rwanda has been working to provide broadband wireless access in Kigali. In Algeria, the Icosnet ISP and Aperto Networks have been collaborating for a business WiMAX solution. The South African authority ICASA has already assigned WiMAX licences to several providers, and Neotel is implementing WiMAX-based last mile solutions in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban.
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Rebooting African economies: The place of science and technology in society Dr. Calestous Juma, Professor, Harvard Kennedy School The slump in commodity prices and the associated economic uncertainties are forcing African countries to explore new development strategies that are more durable. One obvious shift is investing in human resources by building scientific and technological capacities. This would be a dramatic departure from the conventional focus on the continent’s natural resources. The transition requires African policymakers to focus more on how their own societies can shape their scientific and technological trajectories.
African societies – with their myriad economic and social challenges – offer the richest test-bed for scientific and technological research. They also offer unprecedented opportunities for applying the world’s abundant scientific knowledge and engineering expertise to solve societal problems.
Conventional wisdom informs African policymakers that their economies are likely to grow if they do invest significantly in basic research and development (R&D). The case is often made for devoting a minimum of 1% of a country’s GDP to R&D. The assumption is that investing in research would result in new technologies, which would then be deployed in the economy to boost development and improve human well-being.
There is justification for investing in R&D, but not because of the linear view of such investments. This approach has been sold to African countries over the decades and continues to be promoted uncritically. This view assumes a one-way flow of events: from basic to applied R&D, and to societal impacts.
The view also treats science as if it was something that happens outside society. This perception is not unfounded. Many in the scientific community would prefer to receive financial support for their research without the related expectation of addressing social challenges. It is not uncommon for the scientific community to argue for increases in research funding, while at the same time seeking independence from close government scrutiny.
As outlined by the African Union’s 10-year Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA-2024), the real reason to invest in R&D is to respond to challenges in key sectors such as agriculture, health, ecological management and the built environment. This approach does not negate the importance of scientific research – it simply seeks to connect scientific and technological endeavours to broader societal needs.
Much of Africa’s scientific advancement will come from technologists and engineers whose obstacles might yield new scientific insights. The Second Law of Thermodynamics, for example, stemmed from efforts to improve the steam engine. The technology was first developed to address a practical challenge of helping to pump water from flooded mines. In this case, science followed engineering. The point here is not to argue against basic research, but to underscore two important points. First, that scientific enterprise is likely to receive greater support if it is directly connected to societal needs. Second, a creative and open approach to scientific research needs to acknowledge the two-way traffic for scientific discoveries.
Science can therefore be advanced as part of the ongoing investments in infrastructure projects and expansion of entrepreneurial activities across the continent. Using a similar approach, African countries could start to think of their natural resources not solely as export commodities but reservoirs for geological knowledge, as well as a basis for advancing material science and technology.
Efforts to address Africa’s problems in diverse fields might yield new scientific discoveries that are directly linked to the continent’s challenges. In this respect, science would serve society just as society serves science. The two co-evolve and shape each other in complex and dynamic ways over time.
Indeed, advances in the application of mobile technology in Africa are starting to shape fundamental research as young people discover the importance of mathematics and electronic engineering in the development of new products such as apps and digital services. Similarly, a few African research institutions are starting to harness the power of nanotechnology to explore new properties of natural resources that can be leveraged to develop new products.
In the same vein, Africa can leapfrog decades of prior technologies by starting to harness for civilian use of the power of technologies such as solar photovoltaics, 3D printing, drones, robots, satellites and synthetic biology, especially gene editing.
African countries are already at the forefront of harnessing these technologies. For example, Rwanda has set itself the ambitious goal of building the first drone airport in the world. An increasing number of African countries are leveraging drone technology to address a variety of resource mapping, delivery and agricultural services. It is through such efforts that salient basic research challenges are likely to emerge.
Pushing the frontiers of agricultural research in response to challenges such as climate change and drought is likely to yield new scientific breakthroughs. Such research results will the lead to further advancement of agricultural research and economic development. The relationship between the two is not linear but iterative.
One of the key implications of acknowledging the interactive approach is the need to abandon the false dichotomy between STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects on the one hand, and the social sciences and humanities on the other. Instead, the focus should be on promoting creativity though the integration of the diverse disciplines. Inventors need legal expertise just as much as medical researchers need anthropological knowledge. The demarcation is a relic that only perpetuates the underutilization of knowledge for development. It also creates opportunities for unnecessary feuding over limited financial resources.
The co-evolution between science and society challenges not our world view about the place of scientists in society, but the very definition of what we consider to be science. It also calls into question the dominant design of the research landscape among most African countries.
There is a popular view that separates science from other technical fields, especially engineering. In fact, much of the work of engineers is credited to scientists, especially by the press. Scientists take the credit for new technology products and engineers usually shoulder the blame when technologies fail.
Accepting the view that science and society co-evolve requires the recognition of engineering and other disciplines as being integral to the research enterprise. Forums that bring scientists together should also endeavour to accommodate technologists, engineers and associated experts from the social sciences and humanities.
This has implications on the way that universities are structured. It calls for greater emphasis on transdisciplinary collaboration. Such an approach is not just about the token inclusion of experts from other fields, but about genuine efforts to bring the diverse disciplines together to help find solutions to social problems.
Indeed, some countries reflect this confluence in the structure of their ministries. Japan, for example, has one ministry dealing with education, culture, sports, science and technology. In many African countries, science is viewed as the opposite of culture. Most African governments lump culture with arts, tourism and handicrafts. Only Comoros has research and culture under one ministry. The point here is not to copy the Japanese model, but to highlight the fact that most African countries consider science to be separate from culture. The tendency is to define culture in static terms despite considerable evidence of creativity in handicrafts, making them centres of innovation.
Improving the capacity of existing institutions to foster research requires building capacity in innovation management. It is for this reason that the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) has launched the Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship in Africa (TIE-Africa) Executive Programme with a $1 million gift from the Schooner Foundation to assist African countries to build their innovation management capacity.
The time has come for African countries to view their social and economic challenges as opportunities for scientific advancement. It is also time to bring science and other fields, such as engineering, the social sciences and humanities, together to help address societal challenges. Only through such collaboration can we hope to advance both science and society as an integral whole.
posted
It is a very smart African Government policy to invest in sciences, engineering and technology because the World economy is going to be dominated by information technology, computers, softwares, internet, cell phones, robots, self driving cars and drones.
Tukuler
multidisciplinary Black Scholar
Member # 19944
posted
@ Lamin
quote:Originally posted by IronLion: Nigeria launches first satellite built by Africans
[ABUJA] Nigeria successfully launched NigeriaSat-X, the first satellite to be designed and built by Africans, into orbit this week (17 August).
NigeriaSat-X was launched along with another small satellite, NigeriaSat-2, from Yasny in southern Russia.
The satellite is the result of a transfer training agreement between Nigeria's National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, a satellite developer based in the United Kingdom. It brought 26 young scientists from NASRDA to work on the satellite for 18 months, under the supervision of experts in Surrey.
NigeriaSat-X will be used for resource management, and for mapping of the country that will feed into food security through crop monitoring, urban planning and disaster management. It will also facilitate the development of Nigeria's space capability and engineering skills for new technologies.
In a national broadcast, President Goodluck Jonathan praised the resourceful Nigerians who made this history possible.
Jonathan, a scientist by training, said: Today marks another milestone in our nation's effort to solve national problems through space technologies.
Nigeria's national space policy was approved in 2001 and culminated in the launch of the country's first satellite, NigeriaSat-1, in 2003....
posted
Once the component parts of a technology are known and are not secret--as in the case of cutting edge technology where intellectual property rights are in play--then the component parts of any such technology could be obtained then put together. No big deal.
The key is to MANUFACTURE those component parts locally which would then be sold to other companies that would then assemble those parts into a finished product on a MASS scale. This is not the case in Nigeria. Why? Too much corruption, greed[Nigeria's politicians make $90,000/month and spend most of their time taking bribes and talking BS in Assembly meetings] and destructive self-interest, and stupid ethnic and religion considerations.
For serious industrial development there must be adequate MEGAWATT usage. As of now Nigeria(population 185-190 million) uses some 6,000 megawatts. South Africa(55 million) uses 50,000 megawatts. Brazil--with 200 million people uses 150,000 megawatts of electricity. Fill in the blanks given the above.
Rational Solution First, improve the infrastructure in terms of roads, power generation, water production by way of working and efficient dams, railways(woefully lacking), hospitals(pay first before you are treated--hence many people just die), improve primary, secondary, and tertiary education systems.
Flying Geese Model Adopt the Flying geese model of Japanese origin:
Mass produce goods that require just basic technologies. Such would cut back on importation needs. Examples for which there is constant demand: footballs, tennis balls and racquets, basketballs, golf balls, shoes, etc.--instead of importing from India, Pakistan, Thailand, etc.
Next step: Manufacture second order goods such as batteries, torchlights, tires, etc. Thn on to TVs, cell phones, computers--all mass-produced by serious companies. Surplus production could then be exported to other parts of Africa and beyond. The message of the model is clear.
The Destructive Effect of the Brain Drain If the governments that run Nigeria were serious minded in a positive way[the governments so far have been serious minded in very negative and destructive ways]then individuals such as the following would be very instrumental in that regard. Google them.
Akintunde Akinwande, Kunle Olukotun, Wole Soboyejo, Adebisi Agboola, and others.Instead they are all abroad helping Euro-America maintain its technological prowess. Just like the days of the enslavement of Africans in the Americas: helping Euro-America develop its economies while Africa languished.
Japan, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. all had as their goal many decades ago that their survival depended on competing seriously with the West in terms of industrial and technological development.
Posts: 5492 | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
Once the component parts of a technology are known and are not secret--as in the case of cutting edge technology where intellectual property rights are in play--then the component parts of any such technology could be obtained then put together. No big deal.
The key is to MANUFACTURE those component parts locally which would then be sold to other companies that would then assemble those parts into a finished product on a MASS scale. This is not the case in Nigeria. Why? Too much corruption, greed[Nigeria's politicians make $90,000/month and spend most of their time taking bribes and talking BS in Assembly meetings] and destructive self-interest, and stupid ethnic and religion considerations.
For serious industrial development there must be adequate MEGAWATT usage. As of now Nigeria(population 185-190 million) uses some 6,000 megawatts. South Africa(55 million) uses 50,000 megawatts. Brazil--with 200 million people uses 150,000 megawatts of electricity. Fill in the blanks given the above.
Rational Solution First, improve the infrastructure in terms of roads, power generation, water production by way of working and efficient dams, railways(woefully lacking), hospitals(pay first before you are treated--hence many people just die), improve primary, secondary, and tertiary education systems.
Flying Geese Model Adopt the Flying geese model of Japanese origin:
Mass produce goods that require just basic technologies. Such would cut back on importation needs. Examples for which there is constant demand: footballs, tennis balls and racquets, basketballs, golf balls, shoes, etc.--instead of importing from India, Pakistan, Thailand, etc.
Next step: Manufacture second order goods such as batteries, torchlights, tires, etc. Thn on to TVs, cell phones, computers--all mass-produced by serious companies. Surplus production could then be exported to other parts of Africa and beyond. The message of the model is clear.
The Destructive Effect of the Brain Drain If the governments that run Nigeria were serious minded in a positive way[the governments so far have been serious minded in very negative and destructive ways]then individuals such as the following would be very instrumental in that regard. Google them.
Akintunde Akinwande, Kunle Olukotun, Wole Soboyejo, Adebisi Agboola, and others.Instead they are all abroad helping Euro-America maintain its technological prowess. Just like the days of the enslavement of Africans in the Americas: helping Euro-America develop its economies while Africa languished.
Japan, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. all had as their goal many decades ago that their survival depended on competing seriously with the West in terms of industrial and technological development.
Posts: 5492 | Registered: Nov 2004
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Meaning yes the West fears reverse engineering. That's why I couldn't get IBM to sell Cameroon a 3084 decades ago.
Satellite design isn't child's play. More than forty of our nations in Africa. How many design satellites? Four have but only Nigeria and Ghana were never settler colonized.
Keep moving on Nigeria. You are our star. Never settler colonized, your overall industrialization is a testament to your over 3000 years of a variety of civilizations culminating in today's triumphs.
And Ghana, your academic excellency is reknowned.
That's how I feel about it. To each his own opinion be true.
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