Samsung electronics West Africa has partnered with Eko Project, has launched the third Samsung electronic engineering academy in Lagos, Nigeria, as part of its goal o develop 10000 electronics engineers across Africa by 2015.

Eko Project is a World Bank initiative which is aimed at improving the quality of public secondary education.

The Academy was opened by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN in company of commissioners of education, science and technology and other senior officials of the State including Samsung system leadership and partners in Nigeria.

“Our aim is to promote co-operation, innovation, wealth creation and to facilitate thought leadership in the communities in which we operate in response to their real needs and conditions,” said Nicholas Shin the Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa.

“The Samsung Engineering Academy programme is our flagship CSR initiative undertaken in response of the need to develop a skilled workforce of technicians who will become service experts empowered to create wealth. Samsung, as a quality service-oriented company, aims to link CSR activities with our business goal of sustaining our level of innovation. This can only be achieved if we invest in quality education to empower the youth”, he adds.

The Samsung Electronics Engineering Academy, equipped with the latest electronics, is aimed at addressing the shortage of technical and engineering skills in Nigeria by providing hands-on, vocational skills training for secondary school students.

The Academy will initially admit 60 students. Upon completion of the programme, graduating students are automatically eligible for an internship at Samsung’s channel partners. Outstanding performers will have the opportunity to work as independent service technicians or employees in the company’s retail channel outlets. They also stand a chance of being selected to participate in a year-long leadership opportunity at Samsung Electronics’ headquarters in South Korea as part of the 100 African Young Leaders program.

Samsung started the first phase of academies in South Africa in March 2011. The South African Academy officially ended its pilot phase when the first class of students graduated in January, 2012. In February, a second Academy was launched in Kenya.

GSMA, Mobile for Development latest report indicate that the number of mobile money users in Kenya has surpassed 23 million.

The report forms part of the membership-driven organization’s mobile money for the unbanked (MMU) programme established to encourage co-operation and collaboration between mobile operators and the financial industry to make sure that the delivery of affordable services to the un-banked market.

In an MMU blog these information is connected to technological innovation, which, together with an accommodating policy environment and appropriate oversight, is said to improve the level of financial enclosure and economic growth.

“Mobile money has over the years grown from a money transfer platform to a payment platform and now many new products ride on the M-PESA platform. Some of those products, like M-Shwari, allow low-income and unbanked people to accumulate capital through savings and affordable credit,” states the posting.

Samsung Electronics South Africa has officially unveiled its expansion plans in the African health care sector by adding the Samsung Health & Medical Equipment business portfolio.

Samsung’s aim is take over the global healthcare unit by bringing together its expertise in electronics and IT technologies for an improved and more complete healthcare experience.

“Given the success of Samsung Health & Medical Equipment in other markets, we are able to share this knowledge and expertise with medical practitioners and patients in South Africa and drive a better and more complete healthcare experience,” said Manoj Bhoola, Business Leader for Business to Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our objective, as a world technology leader, is to equip healthcare providers with the tools they require to offer patients the best possible care. Our continued interest and investment in the healthcare sector will assist us in reaching our overall global growth goals and our 2020 vision.”

Internationally, the electronics company has been acknowledged as being the most efficient in chip, video imaging and mobile device markets. Merging with their capabilities that are well suited to undertake and manage remote analysis.

The Samsung Health & Medical range will incorporate digital radiography, in-vitro diagnostics and ultrasound. “The products within the three categories have digital capabilities that enable the results to be immediately transmitted to a specified location, anywhere in the world. This is extremely important in the South African context as it allows residents living in remote areas to visit a mobile telemedicine clinic and have their medical images examined by specialists anywhere around the globe,” adds Bhoola.

Various models are available in each of the product ranges. The digital radiology equipment includes ceiling mounted, free standing and mobile versions for use in a number of locations. The ultrasound equipment is perfect for use in obstetrics, gynaecology, cardiology and general surgery practices while the in-vitro clinical chemistry blood analysis provide accurate test results in seven minutes.

“We have a dedicated business unit and resources to head up our Healthcare division. We are currently in the process of seeking specialized distributors with unique and specialized skills, in terms of service management and diagnostics, to ensure we can successfully bring these solutions to the South African market,” Bhoola points out.

SAP, a global leader in mobile interconnection and mobile consumer engagement services,  has broadcasted an IPX peering agreement with the largest telecom operator in the Middle East and Africa, Etisalat UAE to deliver LTE roaming traffic to all its mobile operators.

The contract will strengthen the commitment of SAP Mobile Services, a division of SAP, to rapidly and efficiently increase the LTE roaming community and create a smooth global roaming experience for mobile subscribers.

Matthew Tonkin, the vice president, Sales, IPX of SAP Mobile Services, said that the strategic LTE roaming peering agreement will help Etisalat operator companies to join with SAP Mobile Services’ strong IPX customer community and launch LTE roaming quickly. It will also help SAP Mobile Services establish strong and steady growth in the Middle East and builds on the existing peering between SAP and Etisalat.

“The next 12 months will see an acceleration of LTE network deployments, with operators looking for immediate and comprehensive international coverage. Collaboration with Etisalat, currently the only Middle Eastern IPX provider, helps SAP reach the largest operator community in the region and globally,” he said.

“We are delighted to be working with SAP Mobile Services to mutually enhance our customers’ mobile roaming experience,” said Ali Amiri, executive vice president, Carrier and Wholesale Services Etisalat UAE. “The agreement will also help SAP Mobile Services to establish a strong and steady growth in the Middle East and take LTE roaming services to a new level, building on the existing peering between the two companies. Etisalat SmartHub IPX is a strategic addition to the Etisalat SmartHub portfolio, which will enhance our role as a global communication hub.”

Etisalat is a multinational company valued at USD 22 billion. It is a blue-chip organization that has nearly 42,000 people are directly employed by the company.

LG electronics has today handed over, Makina Self Help Primary, the last project of its three-year partnership with the World Food Program (WFP) Kenya that saw LG contribute about USD 1.3 million to provide meals and construction of schools facilities in Nairobi slums.

LG and WFP Kenya entered into a partnership in 2009 to provide school meals and infrastructure to “LG hope Schools” in the slums of Nairobi. The three faced programme saw LG provide school meals and construct school facilities to increase enrollment, hence pupil performance and promote good nutrition and health.

“The ultimate goal of the LG-WFP partnership was to contribute to sustainable development through the transformation of run-down and under-resourced schools into LGE Hope Schools, which would become community centres that promote opportunities and brighter futures for poor, disadvantaged children,” said Joseph Kim, Managing Director of LG East and Central Africa.

The partnership started with LG providing USD 403,920 to offer meals to 24,715 children in 15 schools in the slums of Nairobi. This donation was received at a time Kenyans were facing high food and fuel prices experienced across the world.

“Schools meals effectively keep children in school and help them learn, especially those who are sadly not getting enough to eat at home. WFP is therefore grateful for the support from LG which helped us provide school meals to children in slums,” said Paul Turnbull, WFT acting County Director.

This collaboration is aimed at alleviating short-term hunger and improve educational performance through providing of school meals by establishing good basic infrastructure for schools in order to ensure schools are able to provide proper hygiene, food storage, supply of water and low cost-cooking.

Makina Self Help Primary is located in the heart of Kibera slum, Nairobi. The school has 480 pupils from kindergarten to grade 8 of which many are orphans or from a single parent home. The school was chosen as a beneficiary because it is located in the poorest catchment area, had the worst infrastructure in terms of education facilities, and inadequate number of classrooms compared to the number of school children enrolled.

MBC Group viewers in North Africa and the Middle East will enjoy the next generation television experience by syncing their mobile devices with their television sets, through Ixonos service.

“The service synchronizes smart devices with the TV set, converting tablets and smart phones into 2nd screen devices that enable viewers to access a wealth of online information relevant to the programming, interact socially as well as benefit from personalised interactive advertisements,” Ixonos said.

This new service will enhance television experience for the many MBC viewers. They will be able to get relevant information on their mobile devices to get information about the television programme they are watching.

The service also allows viewers to sync their social media accounts with the MBC accounts, getting customized advertising on their social media accounts.

“By combining data from the viewers’ social media profiles with their television watching habits we can create in-depth viewer profiles. This enables running highly-targeted – and thus more effective – interactive advertisements,” explains Roope Suomalainen, Director, Experience, from Ixonos.

“We are thrilled to continue working with MBC and helping them to realize their vision; to enrich people’s lives through information, interaction and entertainment,” explains Antti Aumo, VP of Marketing at Ixonos.

Most analyst have depicted that in years to come, the idea of television as we know it, will be over. Gadgets that can access television content are changing day by day.

The Social Media Awards (SOMA) last week awarded personalities and companies that use social media to drive business or pass their message, on the 9th of August.

The social media awards recorded over 12,000 votes for the various categories in the award programme. This is according to OLX’s Marketing Manager, Priscilla Muhiu.

The awards that were initiated by the classifieds site, OLX brought together members of various industries who have found a common use of social media tools.

“Social media has definitely caught up in East Africa. We are seeing more and more companies launching their social media platforms in order to interact/engage with their target audience on a personal level,” Muhiu said.

“Social media provides a platform for dialogue with consumers. Businesses can use social media to disseminate product information, handle consumer complaints/issues as well as promotion.”

Some of the companies and personalities that emerged top in their own category included: Nation Television for the digital channel; Safaricom’s Bob Collymore bagged the CEO of the year using social media; Safaricom also won the customer care on the Twitter and Facebook category.

Here is the full list of the nominees in each category and the subsequent winners.

Airtel Kenya has set up a dedicated site in Unit 3 in the new parking area at the Nairobi airport to ease possible congestion after a fire outbreak that led the airport to be closed. The firm has also provided a high powered Wi-Fi router in the new immigration area for passengers to access free data services in a move to support the affected travelers and rescue operations at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

In addition to the above, Airtel is also enabling passengers to make short duration calls across the world for free. The temporary operations manned by six staff on a rotational basis is located at a tent near the entrance to the airport’s Unit 3 terminal.

The company’s managing director Shivan Bhargava noted that “Our response has been driven by the necessity for crisis communication for passengers, airline and airport staff”.

A statement from Kenya Airways through its chief operating officer Mbuvi Ngunze thanking its guests and stakeholders for their cooperation and understanding during this difficult time commended the contribution from Airtel with Mr. Ngunze saying “This is an important patriotic gesture which as Kenya Airways we really applaud.”

Mr. Bhargava expressed his Company’s gratitude to the management of Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Kenya Airways for facilitating the process to enable them be a part of the relief efforts.

Aggreko, temporary power and temperature control services provider has signed contracts with Electricité de Guinée (EDG) to deliver a 50 MW temporary power package to help alleviate power shortages currently affecting the capital Conakry.

The Aggreko installation will bring much needed additional capacity to the local grid and will ensure a more robust and reliable power supply is delivered to the commercial heart of the country in order to help keep business and industry up and running and keep the lights on in the city.

“We are happy to be assisting EDG, the national utility of Guinea in this important project,” commented Christophe Jacquin, Managing Director, Aggreko North and West Africa. “By delivering this large-scale, fast-track power solution, we are helping to provide a more consistent and reliable power supply to the people of Conakry while EDG work on addressing the issues facing the power infrastructure,”

“The Aggreko power plant will provide us with the time and space needed to address the power supply issues affecting the capital,” commented Nava Touré, Managing Director, Electricité de Guinée. “Their proven track record in providing similar power solutions across Africa gives us the confidence that they are the right partner for this vital project.