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Google Launches People Finder & A Crisis Map to Help Rescue Survivors of Typhoon Yolanda

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typhoon Google Asia has launched a person finder and a crisis map to help relatives of victims in the Typhoon Yolanda  help gather and relay information to rescuse survivors or track the scale of the devastation in the Philippines’ storm.
Typhoon Yolanda, the strongest cyclone in Philippines history has caused widespread destruction in the country, killing over 10,000 people and over 2000 missing to date.

The Google Person Finder, is a web application open for anyone to post or search for the status of relatives or friends affected by the disaster. A user clicks on “I’m Looking for Someone” and types in their name and those who have have information on soomeone click on “I have information about someone” and put in their names and details.

The platform aims at helping to connect those surviving back to their families and also help put up a search on those missing or feared dead. The Person Finder is also available via SMS and mobile. Users send an SMS to 2662999 (Globe subscribers), 4664999 (SMART subscribers), 22020999 (Sun subscribers), or +16508003977 with the message “Search” and then the persons name such as “Search Sam Wakoba” if the person you are looking for is Sam Wakoba.
The crisis map will help track the most hit areas and scale the devastation of the ugliest storm ever in Philippines.

SkyVision To Wow South Africans With Its New Cloud Services In The ‘AfricaCom 2013’ Conference

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International communication provider,SkyVision Global Networks Ltd., has unveiled a full suite Cloud service and solutions.

The actual launch will be held later in the week, between 12-14 November in Cape town, Booth C14.

AfricaCom is an integral part of the company’s ongoing commitment to expanding its activity within the telco market and throughout Africa.

The SkyVision cloud based solutions is intends to make IT expenses to go down by organizing new applications without having to buy additional hardware, software licenses, or be concern with scale up/scale down their computing and storage resources.

The company also intends to introduce a brand new mobile App for its voice service, now that it provides high quality and cost effective international and inter-branch voice connectivity.

SkyVision customers will use the same service account at their office, from their laptop using our smartphone application and on the go from their mobile device using the new mobile app.

“Deploying efficient, effective infrastructure and solutions when limited resources are available, is a challenging task and a key enabler for diffusing ICT in developing countries,” said Doron Ben Sira, SkyVision CEO. “We are especially proud to be taking part in this continent-wide event where we can reach out to customers, prospects, policy makers and practitioners in ICT with a viable cloud-based solution. AfricaCom gives us the perfect stage to promote our corporate cloud services, uniquely tailored to meet the needs of e-Governance, e-Infrastructure, and e-Business customers,” he added.

 

Konga.com Wins Online Retailer of the Year at Marketing World Awards 2013

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Konga.com is the country’s  “Online Retailer Of The Year” and “Best Emerging Brand Of The Year (Fastest Growing Brand)” after Marketing World Awards 2013, beating other online brands such as OLX, Dealdey and Jumia.

According to the judges, Konga.com has set the mark for online retailing excellence in Nigeria taking several big steps that have endeared the brand to Nigerians this past year.

Konga is the most visited Ecommerce brand according to Alexa traffic rankings, and has the highest number of likes and followers on popular social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter.

The firm has set the pace for other retailers and businesses in Nigeria this year with several innovative offerings and achievements.

MWA 2The event which took place at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos was well attended by several brands and saw performances from star acts like Kcee of limpopo fame.

The ecommerce powerhouse also won the award for best emerging brand, beating brands like Techno and Gotv to the price.

Members of the Konga team received the awards with smiles dedicating the award to customers and staff of the brand.

” …As a brand we dedicate this award to our customers, they are our innovation drivers and continue to inspire us to set new levels of service excellence in Nigeria.

Justin Beiber Invests $1.1 Million In Social Network For Teenagers

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justin-bieber-cover-02Justin Bieber has invested $1.1 million in Shots of Me, a social network for teenagers and developed by mobile games developer firm RockLive.

Available in the App Store next week Shots of Me, the $1.1 million seed round was led by Bieber with participation from VC Shervin Pishevar, Floyd Mayweather and  Tom McInerney.

Speaking to Fortune RockLive CEO John Shahidi said, “We got to know Justin after he began playing our games and tweeting about it. He’s been very involved in our products, helping us test things and providing feedback… When we told him that we were looking to create a social network for teens that really addresses what they aren’t getting on other networks, and which tries to deal with things like cyber-bullying, his eyes just lit up.”

John founded RockLive with his brother Sam and have been developing games since 2010 but their new venture will not having a gaming foucs but just a social network to protect teenagesr from cyberbulling.

“We’ve really enjoyed making games, and have made a lot of money doing so, but this is something new,’ John told the paper.

With his 46.5 million Twitter followers, Justin Bieber’s one tweet will help the social network sign up millions of users on day one of its launch. Just like what RockLive does, the new network will not need press releases or PR agencies to run their launch or campaign but digital word of mouth will be their power.

According to CrunchBase, RockLive has raised $1.7 million in seed funding. Bieber’s $1.1 milion takes it $2.7 million.

Africa Video Traffic Expected to Grow Faster Than In Any Other Global Region-Report

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web-video-icon Sandvine,  a leading provider of intelligent broadband network solutions for fixed and mobile operators, today released its Internet traffic trends report, entitled “Global Internet Phenomena Report 2H2013”, based on data from a selection of Sandvine’s 250-plus service provider customers spanning North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Caribbean and Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Sandvine’s Global Internet Phenomena Report is published twice a year.

“For the first time ever, peer-to-peer file sharing has fallen below 10% of total traffic in North America, which is a stark difference from the 60% share it consumed 11 years ago,” said Dave Caputo, CEO, Sandvine.  “Since 2009 on-demand entertainment has consumed more bandwidth than “experience later” applications like peer-to-peer file sharing and we had projected it would inevitably dip below 10% of total traffic by 2015. It’s happened much faster. This phenomena, combined with the related rise in video applications like Netflix and YouTube, underscores a big reason why Sandvine’s business has grown beyond traffic management to new service creation.”

Sandvine’s Global Internet Phenomena Report 2H2013 includes findings from fixed and mobile networks around the world.

 

•          Video accounts for less than 6% of traffic in mobile networks in Africa, but is expected to grow faster than any other region before it.

•          Blackberry use in Africa? Blackberry email and BBM messaging accounts for over 13% of traffic across the continent.

•          Average monthly mobile usage in Asia-Pacific now exceeds 1 gigabyte, driven by video, which accounts for 50% of peak downstream traffic. This is more than double the 443 megabyte monthly average in North America.

•          In Europe, Netflix, less than two years since launch, now accounts for over 20% of downstream traffic on certain fixed networks in the British Isles. It took almost four years for Netflix to achieve 20% of data traffic in the United States.

•          Instagram and Dropbox are now top-ranked applications in many regions across the globe. In mobile networks in Latin America, Instagram, due to the recent addition of video, is now the 7th top ranked downstream application, making it a prime candidate for inclusion in tiered data plans which are popular in the region.

•          Netflix (31.6%) holds its ground as the leading downstream application in North America and together with YouTube (18.6%) accounts for over 50% of downstream traffic on fixed networks.

•          P2P Filesharing now accounts for less than 10% of total daily traffic in North America. Five years ago it accounted for over 31%.

With customers in over 20 countries within Africa, Sanvine say the African market is especially unique, as most users are connecting to the Internet for the first time through mobile devices, and using applications like Skype, Facebook and WhatsApp.

Caputo adds that in other parts of the world, new users have first connected to the Internet via a fixed line and while video is a small part of mobile bandwidth in Africa, the continent will be the fastest video adopter globally.

 

 

Transferbee.com Launches to Offer Affordable International Money Transfers From UK to Nigeria

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transferbeeTransferbee.com has launched in UK to enable Nigerians living in UK to send money to their family and friends in Nigeria easily and cheaply than it’s through banks or other money transfer systems.

Touted as the most affordable and convenient money transfer service launched in UK to Nigeria charges only 4.5 pounds to send money directly to one’s mobile phone in Nigeria, in just 24 hours. Receivers can redeem the money in 1000s of cash-out points without the need to visit the bank.

“According to the World bank report, Nigerians receive more than 20 billion US dollars from abroad every year. But the market is still dominated by banks and companies charging high fees for the same service. We want to change that and offer a cheap and convenient way for Nigerian people to send money back home”, Titas Bledis, CEO of Transferbee talked about the service launch.

ttrasfrTransferbee will also be unique because of the convenience of the service. The sender can transfer money to any Nigerian mobile phone number. The money will be sent to the receiver’s mobile money wallet in 24 hours. Mobile wallet will be created automatically, if the receiver is not yet using mobile money.

“The receiving party can then withdraw money in 1000s of cash-out points across the country without a need to visit the bank. Received money can also be used to pay for utility bills, airtime or other transfers”, Titas explained the convenience of mobile money.

At the moment, Transferbee is working with Nigeria’s Teasy Mobile Money and Cellulant Wallet and will have other mobile money operators on the platform soon.

Jumia Kenya Goes After Offline Retailers | Launches Initiative To Help Them Run Physical Shops

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JUMIALOGOIn a move that will help online retailer Jumia Kenya  to reach more customers offline, the firm has launched this week its salesforce team to give the opportunity to talented entrepreneurs to sell just about anything.

Benjamin Bavuz, Jumia Kenya’s Business Developing Manager told TechMoran that Jumia  is launching its sales force team which will see ordinary retailers in Kenya running physical Jumia retail points to help them reach more clients and businesses.

Not to be confused with sales agents, Jumia is looking for real entrepreneurs who are willing to grow fast and aiming at running their own physical shop with their own teams. The retailers start as J-Force Entrepreneurs, then progress every time they realize a certain amount of commission.

“As you are growing from the probation stage to the platinum level, your commission increases,” said Bavuz, “Are you a gold Entrepreneur ? We provide you with a tablet and unlimited Inernet!”

“After being a great J-Force Entreprenuer, one can become a J-Captain once they have proven they have an entrepreneurship spirit and are able to efficiently manage a big network. Once you stay at the Platinum Level for 3 weeks in a row, you will be ready to progress to J-Captain. We provide you with an amazing support system to make sure that you are as efficient as possible,” Bavuz added.

Being a J-Force Entreprenuer earns one money from the products they personnally sell. while being a J-Captain earns one 10% of the commission made by their own team, and 2% of the commission of the split network. The J-Captain will even receive a fixed income of KSH 10,000 every month.

Jumia  will either deliver the physical products to one’s location or they can pick them from their warehouses. Jumia will also help with custoemr care services and entreprenuers can also attend training sessions and workshops to improve their skills and become the best JForce member they can be. Other materials supplied aasone grows include flyers, material for a pop-up store, a personal Customer care agent.

Starters are required to pay an entrance fee of Ksh 500 which includes a Jumia T-shirt and printed copies of the catalogues.

“At the start of the program we provide entreprenuers with a catalogue of products to sell at thier leisure earning a commission with every sale, as their sales increase we invest more by providing them with tools to help push sales such as tablets, a personal buy good number, business registration and finally we assist in the establishment of a fulltime physical store, said Bavuz.

“By training the entreprenuers through different stages of the retail business from sales to management our program ensures that those we invest in have the right tools to succeed.”

The retailers pick goods from Jumia at wholesale prices, have a payment service set up for them , have their businesses registered by Jumia and also get assistance in establishing a physical shop.

 

Jacana Partners Invests Into Ghana’s Process and Plants

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Process and Plants Ghana Ltd (PPS) has received a boost from Jacana as it has made it public that it will be investing on the industrial product supplier.

This investment will support the growth of PPS Ghana’s operations by increasing stock and product range as well as financing PPS’s expansion to other West African countries.

“This latest round of financing from Jacana demonstrates that a leading investor recognises PPS Ghana’s vision, value and the strength of our team. Thanks to the partnership, we will be able to achieve our business strategy of providing customers with a greater variety of high-quality industrial products and services that we can deliver more quickly and reliably than ever before. We are more determined than ever to become a leader in the industrial distribution market in West Africa,” said Rudolph Matey, CEO of PPS.

The investment is the first project for Jacana’s partnership with EY Enterprise Growth Services (EGS), a non-profit EY programme that provides added value support to SMEs in emerging markets by organizing experienced consulting teams at subsidised rates.

Christian Opoku-Biney, Partner at Jacana said: “The market for industrial consumables is growing rapidly in West Africa and PPS has an opportunity to expand throughout the region as the dominant local supplier for international companies. We have the knowledge and international contact network to support this growth.  An example of the value-add Jacana brings to its portfolio companies is the hands-on financial support PPS has received from EY. By reducing the company’s cash conversion cycle, EY’s work will ultimately help PPS to release millions of dollars’ worth of capital back into the business. We are looking forward to working with EY’s EGS team to add value to more of our current and future investee companies in both East and West Africa.”

Jon Shepard, Director of EY’s Enterprise Growth Services programme said: “We are delighted to have partnered with Jacana and I look forward to supporting the important work the firm is doing for the under-served SME sector in Africa. Through EGS, EY is expanding a service that has so far been available only to larger clients.  Our objective is to help these vital smaller businesses achieve lasting improvements in their productivity, profitability and growth potential, so they can continue to create jobs and increased access to goods and services in communities where they are most needed.”

Intel And ITU Telecom To Venture Into e-Education

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Intel Corporation in partnership with ITU Telecom World 2013 are planning to bring up session on influencing the power of ICT to transform education.

The leading networking, knowledge-sharing and innovation showcasing platform for the global ICT community, ITU Telecom World 2013 will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, 19-22 November, bringing together an influential audience of private and public sector leaders from across the world.

Intel Education Solutions will host three interactive panel sessions and a ministerial round table at the event, focused on connecting investment in ICT to accelerate technology adoption, transform education and advance economies and societies:

The three involve, Education transformation which will be deal in three angles including converting the traditional education to digital form, financing e-Learning Programmes, which involves exploring the role of governments and public private partnerships in funding technology and multidisciplinary education projects and learning lessons from current national and regional education transformation projects.

In the Ministerial Roundtable, they will focus on the Importance of ICT in 21st Century Education.

“Education is critical to unlocking the power of grey matter, the human brain, the only natural resource distributed equally across the globe. Investing in ICT for education can transform outcomes for individuals, economies and societies at an unprecedented pace and scale. I believe that ITU Telecom World 2013 offers the ideal platform for government leaders and private sector innovators to come together, debate and share knowledge to ensure we achieve this common aim,” said Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU secretary-general

“As a proud partner of ITU Telecom World 2013, Intel welcomes the opportunity to meet and learn from other leaders—and to share visions, practical strategies, and best practices from ICT-enabled education transformation initiatives that Intel has supported in more than 100 countries,” said John E. Davies, vice president and general manager, World Ahead Group, Intel Corporation.

Intel will also showcase its work on driving broadband adoption and education transformation on the show floor at ITU Telecom World 2013, including new technologies, integrated solutions and real-life case studies supporting teaching and learning from kindergarten to university and beyond.

Kenya Becomes Home To IBM’s Research Facility

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uhuru and IBM

 

Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, officiated the opening of the first commercial technology research facility in Africa.

The lab is based in the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi and is highly supported by the countries Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology through the Kenya ICT Authority. This facility is IBM’s 12th global research lab

This lab will conduct applied and far-reaching exploratory research into the grand challenges of the African continent by delivering commercially-viable innovations that impact people’s lives.

The prestigious facility has one of Africa’s most powerful, cloud-enabled computing hubs, giving researchers the ability to analyse and draw insight from vast amounts of data in the search for solutions to major problems facing the continent; including energy, water, transportation, agriculture, healthcare, financial inclusion and public safety.

The lab’s research agenda will include the development of cognitive computing technologies which integrate learning and reasoning capabilities, enabling experts to make better decisions in areas such as healthcare delivery and financial services.

“The establishment of this research laboratory underpins the government’s commitment to innovation ecosystems that are already available in Kenya,” said Kenyatta. “Using innovation to drive home-grown solutions, Kenya continues to lead the continent in ICT. My government is proud that Kenya, and indeed Africa, will benefit from the presence of one of the most advanced research facilities, with some of the world’s most talented people, using some of the most powerful technologies to develop solutions for some of Africa’s most intractable problems.”

The lab brings together some of the best technology talent globally. Highly educated young Kenyans – many PhDs who were previously living in the diaspora, have been deployed at the lab, building a critical mass of Kenyan experts.

“We are currently experiencing the emergence of a new Africa – one where science and technology are enabling a pivotal ‘leap frog’ moment allowing governments and businesses to drive economic growth, raise the standard of living and compete with their global counterparts,” said Dr. Kamal Bhattacharya, Director, IBM Research  Africa. “The launch of Africa’s first full-scale, technology research facility signifies a new era in African innovation – one where commercially viable solutions to Africa’s grand challenges are developed in Africa for Africa, helping to lay the foundations for the continent’s future scientific and economic independence.”

Mobile Subscriptions In Kenya Have Increased But Voice Traffic Has Gone Down

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Communications Commissions of Kenya(CCK) revealed that mobile penetration in the country has seceded 77 percent but the voice traffic is declining.

In recent statistics for the communications and postal sector to end June this year, CCK says the level of mobile telephony penetration registered an increase of 2.3 percent to stand at 77.3 percent (30.5 million subscriptions), up from the previous quarter which recorded a penetration of 75.6 per cent (29.8 million subscriptions).

SMS and instant messaging have been the main contributors of the decline in voice traffic.

Total local mobile traffic declined by 1.1 per cent, recording a total of 7.1 billion minutes compared to 7.18 billion in the previous quarter.

The overall mobile voice traffic per subscriber dropped from 81.1minutes recorded in the previous quarter to 78.4 minutes.

The total number of SMS stood at 4.3 billion up from 4.0 billion posted in the previous quarter, which makes it an average of 47 SMS per subscriber, in a month.

Mobile money transfer transactions increased from 23.2 million in the previous quarter to 24.8 million in the quarter under review, recording a 6.8 percent growth, consistent with the positive subscriber growth patterns.

Comparing the Financial Years 2012/13 and 2011/12 the number of mobile money transfer subscriptions increased by 27.3 percent overall. The mobile transfer subscription increase has also  leade to the increase of the number of mobile money transfer agents. The agents grew to 88,466 agents during the quarter up from 74,216 registered during the previous quarter, representing a growth of 19.2 per cent.

Kenyans Increasingly Buying Digital TV’s As Deadline For Digital Migration Looms Says Nakumatt

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Samsung-Smart-TvNakumatt Holdings, East Africa’s top retailer has said Kenyans are increasingly buying Samsung Digital Televisions as they rush to beat the looming digital migration deadline set for December 2013.

According o the fir, its sales data captured in the last six months ending October, confirm that the range of Samsung TVs featuring inbuilt DVB-T2 tuners have been enjoying brisk sales easily touching the Kshs 30million a month mark.

Nakumatt Holdings Managing Director, Atul Shah said the highest sales growth for such digital TV’s has been recorded around Nairobi region with Mombasa, Kisumu and Nanyuki branches following closely.

The sales data captured between May and October, Shah noted, confirms a steady growth exclusively for Samsung Smart LED Digital TV models which are now enjoying an average 50% month on month sales growth.

Ahead of the Nairobi region analogue switch off, Shah confirmed that Nakumatt has already beefed up stock for Digital TVs and related accessories from various suppliers.

“As the digital migration deadline draws nearer, at Nakumatt stores countrywide, we have noted a spike on the demand for Samsung digital TV’s,” Shah confirmed. He added that, “this demand is particularly pronounced on the specific models that now come fully loaded with an inbuilt Digital Tuner, thus saving the customer the need to buy a set top box.”

Samsung Electronics East Africa Chief Operating Officer, Robert Ngeru disclosed that commencing this year, the firm is now delivering to the local market a wider range of Smart LED TV’s with inbuilt DVB-T2 tuners. All Samsung 2013 TV Models (from 28”), he said, are DVB T2 compliant as per CCK’s requirement.

Last December, Samsung Electronics East Africa, was the first Television set manufacturing company to receive the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) type approval rating for the Samsung ES 5600K TV model featuring an integrated digital TV tuner.

“In association with our esteemed franchisee Nakumatt Holdings among other authorised distributors, Samsung is now providing such products to meet local demands,” Ngeru explained. In addition, “As a Built for Africa product, all our products also offers a Triple protector so you never miss a moment of magic with built-in lightening, surge and humidity protection.”

As per the Kenya Gazette Notice No 13869 of 18th October 2013, the government has reiterated that the Analogue TV transmission switch off date for Nairobi and its environs remains 13th December 2013.

Startup Weekend Comes To Nairobi November 22

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nairobi_v01Startup Weekend, a meetup of tech entrepreneurs interested in learning hwo to launch successful ventures is set to happen November 22 at Nairobi’s iLab situated at Strathmore University. 

With over 400 past events in 100 countries around the world in 2011, Startup Weekend is a Washington-based orgainzation with activities in over 200 cities around the world.

The weekend long workshops take tech entreprenuers through pitching ideas, forming teams, and starting companies and are open to anyone with whatever idea they have, and from anywhere in the world.

The attendes pitch their ideas, receive feedback from peers and then form teams around ideas with most votes and then embark on a 54 hour task of programming, designing, business model creation and market validation with later presentations to judges for top prizes.

Others imply come to find cofounders, meet friends or learn a skill new skills. The judges in the Startup Weekend Nairobi include Eston Kimani, CEO and Co-Founder Africa’s Talking Ltd, Ella Peinovich founder Shopsoko, Evans Wadongo Executive Director and Chairman of SDFA-Kenya, Darshan Chandaria Director Chandaria Industries Limited and Robert Yawe MD KAY System Technologies Limited among others.

Register here to attend.

Ugandans Ridicule An Indiegogo Campaign Raising Funds To Take Joseph Kony Down

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JosephKony_alt1A new campaign on Indiegogo aims to raise money for research and innovation to help take down Joseph Kony, Uganda’s cult terrorist for over two decades and now world’s most wanted man in all of Africa with a reward of $15 million for his head and of his two lieutenants.

Organized by Robert Young Pelton, a Canadian adventurer with war experiences in Afghanistan and Somalia, crowd fund dubbed Dangerous want to raise$450,000 to take former soldiers to track down the war criminal.

According to the campaign page, the team is made up of committed individuals with professional support that want to locate Kony and turn him in.

“We are launching a new media venture called “Dangerous” to support this idea of finding the facts, causing direct action and doing good. “Dangerous” is a multimedia real world participatory platform for engaged people who are tired of witnessing” atrocities.”

The team will hire locals and volunteers to research, gather ground truth directly and electronically through print and social media.

With over $8,000 raised to his $450,000, Pelton is sure he will set up a system that will help nab the Lord Resistance Army’s head who, with his cruel army has killed, maimed, raped and kidnapped several thousands of innocent children, women and men and over 380,000 reportedly misplaced.

We talked to a number of friends in Kampala about these and they think the three gentlemen are just seeking attention and will not track the man down whom the country’s troops have failed to arrest for over two decades.

What do you think of this campaign?

Ghana’s Deputy Communications Minister Sacked Over Leaked Tape

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vic hannaGhana’s Deputy Communications Minister Victoria Hammah has been fired over an audio tape recording where she allegedly claimed she won’t quit politics until she has made $1 million.

The tape, claimed to have been made by her driver quoted her saying: “If you have money then you can control people.”

The tape comes just a few months after Ms. Hannah in August said she was under pressure to steal from the public coffers as many believed she was rich because she was a Minister.

Her tape caused rampange among citizens and is now viral on social media and is a subject of debate in local radio stations.

So much has been said about the tape and the swiftness of the president to sack her and many others have also discussed Ms. Hannah’s inability as Deputy Communications Minister, however she is seeking damages into her personal security against her cousin-driver, Lawrence Quayeson who was allegedly “contracted” by Deputy Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister, Rachel Appoh, to secretly record Victoria Hammah’s conversations.

The driver, however denies any wrongdoing. Opportunists are writing a book about it already and set to launch it in the country soon while the country’s former Commissioner of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Justice Francis Emile Short  is calling for further investigations into the matter.

Overall, the sacked minster did not say she will use corruption to make her $1 million befroe she quits politics, she could do any business as long as she makes money. The tape also has a second voice, another woman in it, raising more confusion if its a fake one or real.

Here is a link to the tape or read the whole transcript below courtesy of Spyghana.com

[Speaking in Twi]

“When I return, I hope the work that I expect you to do, is done. I intend to get a pick up vehicle. Kwasi says he has to travel to Sunyani for his brother’s engagement and a funeral and so he’s gone. I’ll get a white land cruiser and a pick-up. If you work together, it’s fine. If you work individually, it’s fine.

[Speaking in English]

Then, you go and gather information, as many information as possible and when you go, coach the regional organizers.

[Speaking in Twi]

I can vouch that I talked to one of them to guide you through the work you’ll be doing, with the exception of that of Brong Ahafo, Baba Gawuchi. I don’t trust him. So when you go there, I’ll send you to the Sunyani DCE, who would help you with everything including the information that you will gather.

When you are done, then you’ll be able to give me a correct report on my return. That’s why I wanted to prepare everything before I leave. Therefore, prepare adequately because God willing, when I leave on Tuesday, that same Tuesday, you people will also leave so that we all can return at the same time

[Speaking in English]

In some areas like your area, Bolga, you can go there and pretend as if you have come to greet to your people. If it is not the vehicle that you are sending, you can go by this normal go come, go come. You can pick a flight here, go to Tamale, pick a vehicle and go there. Go and among them gather enough information and capture. So when we get all these things and we meet, we can know the nature of the job and know what to do next. You should not sit at the office and guard only because his time we need to gather information to guide us as to what to do. You wanted to say…

You see, the truth is that, we’re not on top of issues. When you are up there, immediately you go, the only thing they tell you is everything is ok, everything is ok, everything is ok”.

[Phone conversation in Twi]

“Michael, Michael, aha morning, yesterday Baba Sheriff and I met him. Hello, are you listening to what I’m saying. I entered, spoke to him and it was a heated argument. Baba Sheriff also came in. He said you should answer every query to the best of your ability and knowledge. When you’re done and there other issues, we would intervene on his return because he’s travelled. He was saying certain things, but I have to meet you personally, so that we sit down, discuss and then act on it. I told him that he was encouraging him to do those things, and he was also saying certain things. We will talk about it when we meet. I’ll go to your office. I’m going to Captain’s place…

[Phone conversation ends]

[Speaking in Twi]

Let him get everything done. It is very important because this job that we’re going to do, there is no way we are staying home. We are not going to stay home. When I’m done with the man, I’ll do everything possible to see you guys off, no matter what. I want Joshua to get the car that he gives to those people and when you return, we’ll get you an operational vehicle to use. We can no longer use those useless cars that they’ve brought. You won’t get far with those. I will take one of them. Didn’t you return with the car? Ah yes, the distribution list, I want us to reconcile so we know how cars are left.

[Speaking in Twi] YBG

Haruna, one of John’s followers, went to the ministry. Some of these boys go to the ministries to beg for money. They shower praises on us, and immediately they see us, they try to extort money from us. He said in the presence of some boys that Atta Mills had doled out all of NDC’s money to me. Honestly, Atta Mills has never given me a pesewa. In this world, they say and I believe in that thing that when you give alms, at times you wouldn’t know where it comes from, but it will come.

[Speaking in Twi] YBG

Most of the ministers, you go and ask them, I have never approached any Minister for money. I have sent Kwaku to collect something for your sake. I have sent Kwaku to the Ministry of Finance to get a letter or draft, for the issue you spoke about concerning your wives. Because I said that I know nothing about, they have some money to dole out. What I’ve realized is, when money is given out free of charge, there is the tendency not to do the work.

For example, when one is given GH¢ 5000 as a loan, he must pay and if he’s not able to pay, it’s fine. When he knows he has to pay back, he would work very hard to get profit. So what they said was that it is a loan and I agreed. So I’ve asked for a draft, from the Finance Ministry Director, and then I’ll see to the disbursement of the money to you guys. I agree with what you’re saying and we’re still working on it. He says I should use a company’s name but I will not use the money for personal gains when I know it’s for your sake. I’ll see to its disbursement so that your wives can even use the money to do petty trading, so that you can have something to fall on. Most of you have collected money and it is not that I take delight in giving that thing to them. I’ve realized that this helps me and all those who follow me. This is because when I send anyone anywhere and he says that I sent him, the repercussions of what I did, [Speaking in English] will come to him, and they will extend the same goodwill to anyone of you.

[Speaking in English]

So sometimes, it’s so painful when it comes that I’m giving this thing out and you people are being angry, it pains me but sometimes I think that you all have to do it for our own benefit. Because this one, that what I’m talking about, I just went there for these people’s money. I did not ask for anything. Then when they gave me the money and I was leaving, it was the Finance Minister himself who called me and called the Finance Director and told him that “oh, have you forgotten the thing that we were discussing about Yaw”. He said “as for you, you come here always talking about somebody, you have never spoken about yourself. So we have also talked about yourself and we say this, this and I say oh thank God.

I have some boys that I’m working with. Now it’s a problem getting them something. He said “ok, then bring this, bring this and let us go in. I have money for you so that you can maybe give them and they can also do. It’s small though but maybe let us make it like this one is the beginning. So as and when maybe we, we pay and everybody will know that oh these people have paid, I’m sure they will do what, they will increase it, they will increase it. So for all you know in about two, three or four months time, God willing if we win this election, and I’m sure we are going to win.

You will see that all of you will be having your stores or maybe something you know, where your wife is, then you will be free doing whatever job that will be assigned. And the other time too, we were talking about these Special Forces and this thing, we haven’t abandoned it. If you are there, that doesn’t mean you cannot still work for us. We will send you there, you will be trained and you will come back and be working. When the need arises, they call you to perform whatever duty that will be assigned to you and then you’ll come back and be working for the party.

During the time that we were in power, Balo and the rest who are following President now, they were at party headquarters. They were soldiers but they were at the party headquarters. You ask Kwasi Yeboah. He even served as a guard at the party headquarters sometime when he was a soldier. So you could be there and later come and, and, and serve and maybe go back and come and go back. So those of you who still have the strength to serve in that case should also make up your mind. But this is the immediate this thing that we want to do for you and that is why Kwasi is going for that draft and when he gets the draft, he will be leaving this afternoon for Sunyani. But I will take the draft and write everything and send it on Monday and Tuesday I’ll go. Before I come back and before you people also come back, I’m sure the money would have been ready and we’ll give you amount to operate.

But this time, just go and prepare that by Tuesday, you’ll be leaving to the region. So just as I told you the other time, go and let everybody tell me where, but spread it. Each and every one of you should be in, in one region, so spread it. When you go there, then you can gather as many information as possible and then kind of. The one who will go to Western Region, Central Region, those who will stay in Greater Accra here, those who will go to Volta, Eastern, Ashanti, I know you can go to Upper East. The one who can go to Upper West, you go and just gather some information and quickly bring us.

Even if it is for few days, it will help us. Let us know the effect of these new political parties in the region. Do you get me, very important? So I’m going to write, when I get it, after the meeting, I’ll come back. When I get it, I’ll write some small note behind my staff introducing them to the regional organizer and I said that with the exception of Brong Ahafo Region. Stanley is here, so the one who will be going to Ashanti Region, I’ll just introduce that person to Stanley so when he goes, Stanley will take care of him. You go round with him, find whatever information then you come and bring it. And try to gather as many information as possible, much information that you get as possible you gather and let us know. Names of all the key members of the parties in there, we do not have to trust, this a National Security. I don’t trust them.

That is also good, that information is good. When you get the name, you get the name and that will be very nice. Then investigation will prove that these are enemies who have been training well and are holding weapons and that is all. Ghana, everybody will say that if these people are training people to do this then, the all die be die, then we link it up.

You see, I have discussed it with, what’s the name, aha Kwasivi that the problem is that those who were there earlier have abused some of these things. So they are reluctant to issue us some of these things. We have told him that with the caliber of people that we’re working with, that we’re not sure that anyone of you can misuse that identity that will be given to you. But they still want more guarantee, you get the point and sometimes, it’s extremely difficult to get them to issue National Security identity to you people because of what some other people have done.

I think you agree with me. Some were issued with some of these things. There was a time that a man was brought there. Aha, that man, is he from your area there? Where Majid, where Majid came and was begging us. Who sent the man to you? You see, so some of these things, immediately you raise the issue of identity, this is exactly what they say and they are also of the conviction that if you don’t take care and the party takes it up to issue you with a party security, they would say that they are also forming a Para-Military Centre. You see, so it’s a very dicey issue but we are still on it.

And I think that you will get … because elections is on the go come, anybody who goes out needs to be identified. So how are we going to identify you?

National security cannot come out and say that ok, just as Electoral Commission do not have enough staff, permanent staff, we also do not have permanent staff, enough permanent staff. So we have to employ some other people, train them and have them to at least, you know, deliver some vital information for us to act on. So we are giving identity to those that we have trained as temporary staff. Fine, do you get me? Then it becomes, but that one let me just tell you that, that is the problem, so if you people can assure us that this is what exactly we would do and that any one of us would not misuse it.

He has always been talking about that thing, you know and the other time that, even what did he say? Have we discussed this thing before him when you were there? So I think there was a bus that was, there was a bus that was free even before, no after you people have been trained. I met them there where they were you know, arguing, and then about three or four of them had then been arrested on some of these things, you know all of them had been arrested, and this guy who uses the motorbike, the short guy who normally comes to my office, Bright, said he was the one who went and exposed them. The next day, he was shouting, he was just shouting and Col. Gbevlo-Lartey said that they should go and bring him.

When they brought him and he explained himself, he said that he is right and he says you people are disgracing the government. Then they went and apologized, you know and went and did some very bad thing, you know. So they said that because Gbevlo-Lartey was saying that about to be locked up but when they brought him and he said his organizer is here and asked me if, you know, I’m somebody who….and when he explained himself and explained everything to them, Gbevlo-Lartey said they should go and bring those people. He asked them and they said yes, they’ve brought them. He went and extorted some money from them, saying that they were National Security Operatives. So that is their problem. That is their problem….

That is the card. So haven’t they abused the card? They haven’t, ok, so with this information, then you leave it. I’ll ask Kaki and if it is full, I’ll just put pressure on Kaki, because he is with you people, he has issued us… if he don’t issue this thing for you, then I will send it to the National Security Coordinator for him to second the need but the point is that those who are working with them there are having problems and are nothing to write home about. And they are all, that is the reason why the slightest chance that they get, they go in there to extort monies from Kapito. What we want you to do is that let us concentrate on what we are doing now. I will still push for this…and I will use it as an example that those boys who went to Sunyani, they are with those boys and they know that you people have given them that cards, so I’m also demanding the cards for them . I’m not saying that pay them but you just give them that cards so that wherever they go, they can also identify themselves. The party cannot do it. You people are there for the party so you give it to them and let them work for us and let us see them. That’s all…

 

 

CEO Weekends: Why Intel Will Win The Digital Education War With Kno’s Acquisition

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Kno_logo_w256xh254Intel Corporation has acquired Kno, an education software software (was earlier into hardware)  based in North America in a move that will see the chip giant develop an ecosystem of hardware, software and digital content for the global market.

Designed for both students  and educators, Kno’s acquisition boosts Intel’s global digital content library to more than 225,000 higher education and K-12 titles through existing partnerships with 75 educational publishers.

Kno, Inc. says it had partnered with over 80 leading publishers to offer more than 200,000 interactive titles that make learning more engaging, efficient, and social for students. Based on real curriculum’s Kno eTextbooks have interactive features, assessments, and social sharing tools to engage students at the point of learning. Teachers and administrators can assign, manage, and monitor learners digital learning easily.

bits-kno-custom1Intel which was an earlier investor of the 2009 founded firm will now use the firm’s technology to spread Kno worldwide. Kno with Intel’s technical and sales team will also literally digitize all educational content be it for schools or entreprises. Local education startups in Africa will need to do more to beat the multinational corporation, East Africa’s Kytabu, Elimu, Eneza Education, SkoolBox, Usomi, BrainShare among others have a wake up call as Kno might be in our shops as early as 2014, with a fully stocked curriculm and subsided by Intel Corp.

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Intel is not the only winner in the acquisition. Kno’s early investors including Andreessen Horowitz, FLOODGATE, Goldman Sachs, GSV Capital have also reaped from the exit.

CEO Weekends:Savannah Fund’s Accelerator Demo Day Set For November 20

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Startups admitted into Savannah Fund’s second accelerator class are set to DEMO late this month to an audience of investors and eCommerce lovers at the Afrikoin event November 20th at iHub.

The Africa-focused seed investment firm in September this year admitted the four startups from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Kenya and apart from seed money worked with them the Y-Combinator style to develop their business.

The four startups were selected from over 80 applicants who applied to the fund after a ‘month long competitive process.’

Speaking to TechMoran Mbana Alliy, Savannah Fund Partner said all of the startups have revenue though they are early stage but have two to three paying customers but most of themsome of the startups have paying customers and $15,000 susbcriptions

“We worked with them on their marketing as the weakest thing in most startups in Africa is marketing position. So we provide alot of extra help to their marketing positioning, messaging, know who they are trying to sell to and help them make money at the end of the day.”

 

Launching at Afrikoin, Savannah Fund’s second batch of startups is made of more eCormmercecompanies than its first batch. The startups include Kenya’s Cardplanet solution,  a payment card solutions firm for students and schools, Uganda’s Inforex,a foreign exchange network to allow users check and trade currencies amongst each other in Africa, Kenya’s Zatiti.com, :an SME e-commerce platform and applications builder and Nigeria’s and Ghana’s Zished, a loyalty and gifting ecommerce platform for users in the diaspora and locally.

According to Alliy the fund used no strategy to pick only eCormmerce and payments startups but realized that the four that were picked from the over 80 were in the eCormmerce space and they loved it.

“We just picked the startups that where good for us, and after having them in we realized they were in the ecommerce and payments space, so we just didnt want to have another demo day, but for value addition, we decided to have a demo day that will work for our startups, as they have been asking us questions on payments, cedit cards, regulations among others, hence Afrikoin.”

“To grow eccommerce, we need to understand payments, so we have to also discuss emerging trends, such as bitcoins among otehrs, so we shall have cross-collaboration and learning from the players in our local payments sector such as PayPal, Equity Bank, PesaPal, 3G Direct pay, KopoKopo, ipay, JamboPay, Mamamikes and Kipochi,” he told TechMoran

The four startups will therefore have time to learn from players already in the field and will also share their own experiences with them at Afrikoin, schedulled to be held at the iHub November 20. Apart from the startups launching and payment firms present, the event is open to anyone interested in knowing the future of eccormerce and payments in Kenya and Africa as a whole.

The startups had their 1st accelerator session with Silicon Valley’s Jed McCaleb, the developer of  MtGox a leading Bitcoin exchanger and also founder of OpenCoin and Andreesen- Horowitz backed Ripple and Joyce Kim, co-founder of simplehoney, a mobile commerce startup and a mentor at 500 Startups . The mentors took them through aspects of building a company from financing to monetization.

The Nairobi-based Savannah Fund, is an early stage seed fund investing between US$25,000-US$500,000 into web and mobile startups  in sub-Saharan Africa and was founded by Mbwana Alliy, Erik hersman and Paul Bragiel.

Though the fund invests  into early stage startups, it has partners who are keen on investing series A, B, C or follow-on funding into their starups.
To learn more about the startups, view below.

 

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E-commerce platform for small merchants in East Africa.

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Gifting and loyalty ecommerce platform targeting local, diaspora Africans and corporate entities starting in Ghana.

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Cashless payment solutions; mobile money meets cards initially targeting schools and electronic vouchers.

Picture Platform of foreign exchange providers within Africa allowing them to check and trade currencies.

Airtel Africa Shortlisted For Top AfricaCom Awards

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airtel (1) Airtel Africa has been recognized for its digital marketing excellence with three nominations at the 2013 AfricaCom Awards.

Airtel Nigeria’s Padi Na Good Thing O! Campaign was nominated in the ‘Best Marketing Campaign’ category, while Airtel Ghana’s Frndz Face Off campaign was shortlisted in the “Best Digital Music Initiative” category. In East Africa, Airtel Kenya received a nomination in the “Best Mobile Campaign” category for its Free Your Smartphone digital campaign.

The AfricaCom Awards are recognised as the premier accolade for anyone operating in Africa’s digital market. Winners will be announced on 13 November 2013. The annual event will be held in Cape Town, South Africa.

Andre Beyers, Chief Marketing Officer at Airtel Africa, said: “This is fantastic news for us as all our three entries have been shortlisted in various categories. It is a great achievement in a year where entries exceeded previous years by far. These nominations are a testament that the strategies we have put in place are paying off”.

The Padi Na Good Thing O! Campaign, which is a celebration of the virtues and benefits of friendship, was shortlisted in “Best Marketing Campaign” category. Padi Na Good Thing O! (a local phrase for ‘Friends Are a Good Thing’) is a campaign which revolves around a young Nigerian singer, Half Dollar, who, though immensely gifted, cannot find his needed big break. His friends are his biggest fans and when called upon, they use their collective strength and efforts to get him a lucrative recording deal.

The Padi Na Good Thing O! Campaign had a solid buzz across digital spheres. From 70,000 fans in October 2012, the Airtel Nigeria Facebook Page went up to over 350,000 fans in just three months. The Airtel Nigeria Facebook interactions (Likes, comments, and shares) rose to over 530,000 in the same period. Before the online campaign, the commercial had been viewed just 11,000 times on YouTube. That went up to 680,000 during the campaign period. On Twitter, Airtel Nigeria acquired 14,000 new followers.

The Campaign was jointly conceptualised by Airtel and its digital creative agency, OgilvyOne. Speaking on the campaign, Shahzad Khan, OgilvyOne General Manager, said: “The campaign caught the attention of the youth in the country. A major testimony to this claim is the results achieved. During the campaign period, the sales went up by 39% as compared to the previous quarter.”

Airtel Ghana’s Frndz Face-Off received a nomination in the “Best Digital Music Initiative” category. This award recognizes a successful initiative that improves access to music services and recognizes local artists.

Commenting on the concept of the campaign, the Managing Director of Airtel Ghana, Philip Sowah said: “Ghanaians love music and love to dance, especially the Azonto! This was enough to give us the big idea. We decided to create an online dance battle. We invited the youth to create a dance routine and to upload cool photos on our platform. The team with the highest votes would win the opportunity to share the stage with Ghanaian Hip-Hop Artist EL”.

Airtel Ghana’s Frndz Face-Off was the first digital dance activation ever run in the country. The telecommunications company’s social media and digital assets benefitted greatly from the challenge. Airtel Ghana received over 48,604 new Facebook fans, 226, 229 YouTube views and over 109,300 visits and 218,127 page views on the Face-Off microsite.

Airtel’s third nomination, the Free Your Smartphone campaign, was driven by an insight revealing that Kenya consumers don’t use the smart features on their phones because they are afraid of incurring huge data bills. They buy smartphones for ego boost and social status. Airtel came up with data bundles for the masses. The Free Your Smartphone campaign promoted these bundles on Facebook and through digital media to drive to an online game promoting all the things you can do with social media. This lead to an average of 16% increase in sales.

According to Airtel Africa’s Chief Marketing Officer, Andre Beyers, the three nominations are a confirmation of the company’s commitment to realizing its vision of becoming the most loved brand in Africa by 2015. Mr. Beyers assured that Airtel would keep exploring various platforms to excite and engage telecoms consumers.

A survey conducted by the African Business magazine indicates that despite only a 3 year presence in Africa, Airtel is one of Africa’s top ten most admired global brands.

Via PR

 

 

Deals Site Rupu Launches “Green November” to Woo Customers This Festive Season

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rupuOnline deals portal Rupu Kenya has launched a 6-week campaign dubbed “Green November” in a move to bring bigger and better bargains to  its customers across Nairobi as the festive season jets in.

In a statement, General Manager of Operations at Rupu James Gathere said that the campaign is aimed at bringing the best products to Kenyans at great discounts.

“Green November is our way as Rupu of helping you stretch the almighty shilling. We have partnered with all the best vendors in town to bring you the most amazing deals. If you were looking for a great and affordable Christmas gift – Rupu will have the best selection of ideas.”

rupushopsThis campaign will feature deals daily from the best restaurants, spas, salons, events and a variety of great electronics and household items. Customers can purchase these deals at more than 50% off the regular price. Apart from the campaign allowing customers to get bargains for a wide range of products and services, partnering vendors are expected to sign up new customers who they convert into long-term clients.

Mr. Gathere also outlined the effectiveness of Rupu as a marketing tool. “Rupu is a result-driven online marketing tool: we take a commission from deals running on the website and in return market our merchant’s services and products to our loyal fan base. Everyone wins: Rupu gets a revenue-share, the merchant receives many new loyal customers and Rupu users can explore the very best businesses in Kenya at a discount.”

ruputravel-bannerFounded in 2010, Rupu has grown to be Kenya’s own eCommerce success story. The firm recently launched Rupu Shops to allow retailers sell online and Rupu Travel, a travel deals section with great places to visit in the country at affordable rates.

Nigeria’s Konga.com Meet Dealdey.com In an Offline Battle of Ecommerce Titans

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Konga matchNow, this is fun. Nigeria’s eCormmerce brands are meeting at the gym to show their tactics, wits,and see who is the winner.

Nigeria’s fastest growing online mall, Konga.com and Nigeria’s biggest daily deals site, Dealdey want to show off their muscles, offline. Football teams from both brands will be coming together for the ultimate ecommerce showdown on Saturday, Nov 9 at Campos Stadium by 10am.

Both teams have released their full team lists, here for team Konga, and here for team Dealdey.

konga match 2 And it seems the captains are ready for the showdown.

According to the team captain of Konga FC, DealDey FC may have trained well for this game, but there is no team plan that can beat team work as exemplified by Konga.com FC. All our attributes as a company will be shown in 90 minutes on the pitch.” 

DealDey is not afraid of Konga’s online might.

Konga v dealdey”Konga is a big company with a set of dedicated and hardworking guys.  However, they are looking up to us as the pacesetters in the industry. We intend to prove to them that we are the big brothers,” said The team captain of Dealdey FC. Fans will also walk home with exciting prices.

Who do you think is going to win? Team Konga or Team dealdey?

Tigo Tanzania to Invest Over $75,000 Into Social Entrepreneurs Addressing Kids Challenges

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tigorfcTigo Tanzania has partnered with Swedish non-profit organization Reach for Change to launch the ‘Tigo Reach for Change’ initiative in a move that will identify and support local social entrepreneurs with solid ideas on improving the lives of Tanzanian children.

According to Tigo Tanzania General Manager Mr. Diego Gutierrez, “Statistics show that children less than 18 years of age constitute almost half of Tanzania’s population. But to date the investment in addressing their needs is not proportionate with their share of the population or their role as tomorrow’s leaders and human capital. Investing in children is the single most important investment in national development’’.

Mr. Gutierrez added that “Tigo has for many years been deeply involved in addressing challenges concerning children and youth in Tanzania. We believe the most effective way to bring about sustainable change is to empower motivated individuals with the right tools to bring to life innovative ideas that can change their society. Tigo Reach for Change initiative allows us to do just that!”

Those interested can apply online  on the Tigo Tanzania website. Top ideas will join a three year incubator programme  to help transform the ideas into sustainable ventures and will receive funding of USD 25,000 a year for up to three years, as well as mentoring and professional advice from senior employees of Tigo.

For the duration of the 3 years programme the social entrepreneur’s business idea will undergo evaluation to ensure that they attain required key performance indicators until their project is fully developed and self-sustainable.

Tigo last year, received over 1000 applications and selected three projects aimed at giving children with disabilities vocational skills; mobile classes for street children; and a project aimed at bridging the rural-urban digital divide.

Oracle Cloud Is Taking Kenya By Storm

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Kenya is one of the African countries that is quick to take up the newest trends in the market, not only in their lifestyle but also in business as well as technology.

The spirit of high interest has made a good number of businesses and technology adopt the cloud technology and not only cloud technology but the Oracle technology.

In the Kenya Oracle day that took place in the Safaripark Hotel, Nairobi, Dr. Andrew Sutherland of Oracle Europe told TechMoran that, Kenya has  great potential in making their businesses better because they are quick to show interest in the cloud technology compared to other African countries.

“Kenyans have shown great interest to the cloud technology compared to other African countries, this shows that the technology has the potential to grow. However there is that notion of technology being a difficult thing to do, people are afraid that it is too complicated. This can however be fixed by proper education as well as training,” He said.

This being the Third year, the Oracle day held today was geared towards demonstrating the Power of Hardware and Software normally engineered to work together as well as enlightening participants on how the power of  simplicity can change IT to a force that drives business innovation.

Dr. Sutherland believed that Kenya’s SME’s have a potential of blossoming if they embraced the cloud technology. Technology comes with a lot of flexibility in that one can get so many services, the ability to access work anywhere as well as transform the small scale business to a very large business.

Oracles solutions have received praises in a  number of organisation including Copycat and Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA).

Nazir Noordin, Manging Director of Copycats Kenya said that Oracle has made efforts so partner with many organizations include copycat to give the best solutions to their clients.

Dennis Volemi of CBA said that Oracle solutions have greatly made the M-Shwari service, a product of Safaricom and CBA, a success. He said that they have used a number of solutions in the system that has so far been a success.

“I am pleased with the Oracle solutions because apart from making IT solutions easier, it is a one stop shop as you can find many solutions in one body,” he said.

Other than Nairobi, Oracle day events took place in more than 30 cities across Europe, Middle East and Africa, as part of a global event series under the theme Converge. Connect. Empower the Modern Enterprise

SAP Software Keeps Track Of Shea Butter In Ghana

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SAP AG, a German software corporation that makes enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations is targeting a network of 15,000 women in the Ghana based Shea butter industry, with the aim to create a reliable supply chain that generates security for both buyers and farmers of Shea butter.

The SAP developed a mobile app that scans and traces each sack of Shea huts and each box of Shea butter, providing the product traceability demanded by global export markets, while also sending price and market information straight to the buyers’ mobile phone.

Yet, at a time when organic certification is in process in Ghanaian farming for Shea butter, Fair Trade certification was achieved earlier this year. In addition to other multi-national corporate clients, StarShea that extracts and distributes Shea butter recently began a collaboration with one of the leading suppliers of fats and oils to the global food industry, IOI Loders Croklaan, in addition to relying on SAP technology.

In Ghana, with 62 metric tons of shea butter sold in its first year, StarShea Ltd. is already one of the top four exporters in the country, reports say. Moreover, revenues for women participating in StarShea transactions have grown by 59 to 82 percent, and a Stanford University School of Business study discovered that women who sell hand-made Shea butter to international buyers generate three to for times as much revenue compared to women who do not participate in social business activities like StarShea , noted Mary Mazzoni a writer on sustainability.

However, SAP hopes the enterprise will have an even greater impact, especially after profitability is achieved, it’s the company’s ultimate goal to see Shea farmers become co-owners of the business.

Headquartered in Walldorf, Baden-Württemberg, with regional offices around the world, SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software. The company’s best known products are its enterprise resource planning application (SAP ERP), its enterprise data warehouse solution – SAP Business Warehouse, SAP BusinessObjects software, and most recently, Sybase mobile products and in-memory computing appliance SAP HANA

Thus far, reports say that SAP is already looking into how the mobile applications and supply chain management systems it developed in Ghana can be used to address similar challenges around the world. According to the UNEP, small holder farmers manage approximately half a billion farms worldwide and SAP said these software solutions could be used to address value chain inefficiencies regardless of crop.

 

Microsoft’s Releases New Report Of Cyber Security Risks Of Unsupported Software

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Microsoft  released its Security Intelligence Report volume 15, which analyzes threat intelligence from over a billion systems worldwide to provide in-depth perspectives on exploits, vulnerabilities and malware to help customers manage risk.

Among other intelligence, the report examines the security risk that consumers and businesses face when using unsupported operating systems and software and looks at the implications of using Windows XP once support, including security updates, ends on April 8, 2014.

For the Windows XP some of the top threats include:

  • Sality – Malware family that can steal your personal information and lower your PC security settings
  • Ramit – Malware that infects Windows executable files, Microsoft Office files, and HTML files.
  • Vobfus – Family of worms that can download other malware onto your PC; can be downloaded by other malware or spread via removable drives, such as USB flash drives.

Apart from this there others that are prevalent in Kenya, they include; Autorun a family of worms, which spread by copying itself to networks or removable drives of infected computers, this takes about 4.9 percent of the ‘infections’; Comame, which is a collection of all Trojan detections added by advanced automated analysis, and covers 5.5 percent and Comroki, which consisted of Trojans and can gain an authorized remote access to your PC, try to spread using autorun functionality, run applications without your knowledge or concent and disable your security products.

In the first half of 2013, about 17 percent of computers running Microsoft up-to-date real-time security products worldwide encountered malware. While Windows 8 encountered a similar amount of malware as Windows XP, people using Windows XP were six times more likely to actually be infected with those threats.

“The data helps illustrate the impact security innovations in newer operating systems are having. Modern operating systems, like Windows 8, include advanced security technologies that are specifically designed to make it harder, more complex, more expensive, and, therefore less appealing for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities.” says Kunle Awosika, Country Manager, Microsoft Kenya.

He added that once Windows XP stops receiving security updates on April 8, 2014, security risks associated with continuing to use the outdated software will increase as cybercriminals seek to exploit new vulnerabilities discovered. The last version of Windows XP to go out of support was Service Pack 2. In the two years following, malware infections jumped 66 percent when compared to Windows XP SP3, the version for which support ends next year.

“The importance of upgrading from Windows XP cannot be overstated,” said Kunle. “We truly want people to understand the risks of running Windows XP after support ends and to recognize the security benefits of upgrading to more modern operating system – one that includes the latest in security innovations, provides ongoing support and can in turn better protect them.”

Flying Donkeys Will Soon Land In Africa, Say Researchers

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Huge robots identified as flying donkeys with rugged air frames capable of lifting heavy suitcase loads over long distances will in the next seven years be available in Africa once selected tech savvy individuals participate for this year’s challenge to help achieve this dream.

Once applicants send their CVs and registrations this month of November 2013 through to February 2014, they would be able to help develop creative ideas of ensuring that the donkeys that are due in the continent by 2020, would be able to carry at least 20 kilos over 50 kilometers in less than an hour by air.

At a time when Africa is expanding to build its road network, creators of this concept: La Fondation Bundi and the Swiss National Centre for Competence for Research in Robotics (NCCR) thought of an idea that would utilize the sky as a means of transport, christened “Flying Donkey”. Thus, it is Aspired that Africa would be the first continent to be the first continent to develop unmanned air cargo at massive scale.

Yet, reports say that Africa would need to invest some $93bn USD each year in infrastructure but it is only deploying 45bn USD.

Nevertheless, apart from reducing road carnage, Flying Donkey hopes that thousands of the cargo robots would be operating on established networks in Africa and globally with a generation, through the creation of jobs at the same time enabling e-commerce.

“If we are going to use flying robots to transportation goods on a massive scale, it makes more sense to do in Africa first (size, demographic growth, rise of e-commerce)!” notes The Director and Board Member of the NCCR, Simon Johnson.

Moreover, the concept developed would work to ensure flying donkeys are a friendly service, dependably exploiting the sky while enhance e-commerce. “Flying Donkey will create jobs, new trades and industries in Africa that will benefits others around the world.”

For this year’s challenge, the initiators have set their focus on majority African designed and assembled flying donkeys. It is expected that for tens of thousands of donkeys would be operating globally within a generation.

Thus far, the foundation has identified technical, legal, logistics and architectural and design challenges. It will award large cash prizes to teams with the best solutions ranging from $50, 000 to 30,000 USD for team grants, 20,000 to 100,000 for annual sub-challenges while the winner of the Flying Donkey Challenge walks away with $2million USD.

“Overall, we will select teams from around the world, in all four tracks: Technology, Legal, Logistics & Design, with doable projects, high level of innovation, right skills and African collaboration,” noted Johnson.

In all, the first annual event will be hosted by Kenya’s North of Mt. Kenya, that’s big enough to allow the creation of a lab to enable a global emerging industry.

Moreover, starting this month of November 2013 through to 28th February 2014, individuals can send their CV and they would be put them in touch with teams that are applying. Application deadline for the First Edition is end in February 2014.

For details, send an email to Fondation Bundi-Afrotech address: [email protected].

AccessKenya Develops New Traffic Solution For Kenyan Drivers

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Since 2010, AccessKenya has provided live feeds on traffic in Nairobi and Mombasa through its portal traffic.accesskenya.com. This month, it has moved a step further to develop a public pilot program launched recently in conjunction with IBM targeted to reduce traffic on Kenyan roads.

Reports say that over two million vehicles on Nairobi’s roads congest roads each day, accounting for loss of Ksh50 million in productivity costs.

According to AccessKenya Group MD Kris Senanu, the newly launched initiative is of great value to both IBM and AccessKenya Group as a practical solution that would help control traffic, thus benefit the driving public. Thus, the mobile phone service will provide drivers with live updates on traffic while suggest alternative routes with less traffic.

In conjunction with IBM Research Africa, IBM has provided mathematical algorithms and analytical solution that allows commuters to access data from cameras through their mobile phones in real time while providing suggestions on less congested routes.

“We have availed our huge database of video feeds captured on our 36 CCTV Cameras covering various Strategic roads within Nairobi and Mombasa,” Senanu MD said in an interview.

According to IBM Research Africa Chief Scientist, Sid Dr Uyi Steward, Nairobi city stands to benefit from the use of technologies to manage their transport systems effectively. He noted that improving human mobility across Africa through the use of intelligent and analytical technology would remain a key focus set to be inaugurated in coming days.

In all, ahead of the public pilot officially launched recently, the USSD or short code based system has undergone two developmental tests. To sign up for the service based in Kenya, dial *384*3# on your mobile phones.

 

Warid Congo Partners With Telemune to Launch WAP Portal, Low Balance Suite and Phone Back Up Services

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Warid-LogoWarid Congo has partnered with Telemune, an Indian founded firm developing value added services for telcos in emerging markets  to launch WAP Portal Services, Low Balance Suite and Phone Back Up Service.

According to Mr. Imossio Begoume, Marketing director, Warid Congo, “We want to keep our customers up-to-date in the simplest and most convenient way possible – and ensure they have access to fun services on their mobile. We see WAP Portal services as a key means for our customers to stay in touch with what is happening in their world. We also want to make sure our customers are always in touch. With Low Balance services they can ask friends for balance or to call them or to pay for their call – or even ask Warid to extend credit. Phone Back Up provides users with access to their contacts at any time – and is really helpful if they lose their mobile or mistakenly delete contact details. We think these services will have great appeal and we are proud to be broadening the types of service our customers can enjoy from us.”

Telemune will be managing the services end-to-end and apart from deploying the solutions, managing operations and ensuring quality service and feature enhancement, Telemune will also manage content and content partners and create campaigns and promotions to drive service uptake for WAP Portal services.

Harish Bansal, CEO, Telemune said the services will add fun and utility to customers’ service experience.

“Telemune has extensive experience in delivering and managing successful WAP Portal services and we will work closely with Warid to build a popular and engaging service that is easy-to-use and offers a great range of constantly changing content. With Low Balance services, we are confident that mobile users will enjoy the new options they have to keep in touch and request credit. And Phone Back Up is a highly practical service that ensures users always have access to their contact details.”

Apart from the new services, Warid Congo also offers Warid Musik, Ezee chat, Warid Messenger, Warid World, to name a few.

 

A Look at Nigeria’s SmartWoman Initiative

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omobola
Mrs. Omobola Johnson (Image from Ynaija.com)

Launched recently by the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, the SmartWoman Project is a mobile service aimed at empowering women in Nigeria and around the world.

SmartWoman Nigeria will allow Nigerian women to connect with one another, share their knowledge and learn from each other; and through that empower themselves. Using ICT, the project aims at helping women improve their business performance, be more efficient and effective in their jobs, and also generate new employment opportunities.

The initiative was launched in partnership with ChangeCorp, a US based social enterprise ChangeCorp and WIMBIZ.

Apart from SmartWoman Nigeria, the ministry has also partnered with Huawei in a three-day training to give over 1000 girls essential ICT skills to help them get jobs or pursue their careers.

According to the Minister of Communication Technology (FMCT), Mrs Omobola Johnson, the initiatives aim at addressing the ICT gender gap apart from just helping them get jobs and become efficient and effective in their careers. To her ICT has an unlimited potential to significantly contribute to upping women’s social welfare.

“‎Nigeria’s ICT sector has increased tremendously in the past 12 years growing at 20 per cent annually, making it the fastest growing in the country and women must be part of the revolution,” Mrs Omobola Johnson said.

Her ministry aims to see more women and girls embracing ICTS so as they reach their potential and add to the country’s economic development.

Rwanda’s New Online Archive Becomes a First in the Region

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Rwandapedia

The project dubbed, Rwandapedia is aimed to collect information about the country and put it online in a format similar to Wikipedia.

A report by Rwanda Focus shows that the project which was primarily aimed to put up government records, is now being populated by other sectors.

The site allows users to contribute to topics and even upload images on the site. This is the same format embraced by Wikipedia.

The project was initiated by the Office of the Government Spokesperson and funded by the African Development Bank.

“It is Rwandan developed, owned, and managed. In the past, information would come from non-Rwandans. Along with putting our traditions on display, Rwandapedia allows us to tell our own story, our own way, as fully and honestly as we can,” Foreign Minister and Government Spokesperson, Louis Mushikiwabo said.

“With technology, we have the opportunity to do this online, through the audio and video files,” Joel Ndoli Pierre, Rwandapedia Project Lead said.

Kenyan Government to automate its payment by April 2014

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Online payments

The Kenyan government will not be taking physical cash payments come April 2014. This is according to the head of state, H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The president announced this directive as he officially opened the IBM Research Lab in Nairobi Kenya. The president said that the new directive is in line with the government policy in embracing technology.

Kenyatta said that the government will put up a website where all government payments for licenses, applications, and fees will be paid through the single system.

The move is expected to expedite payments to various government bodies while eliminating the threat of corruption that have been synonymous with government offices.

It is early to say what kind of system will be put into place or whether private companies will be allowed to bid.

Government online systems have been on the receiving end, negatively due to their slow or even offline modes. The Kenya Revenue Authority site has been accepting online applications of its Personal Identification Number but users often complain that the site is usually offline or terribly slow.

The new directive by the president will usher Kenya into one of the few countries in Africa where payments are made exclusively online.