Industry players unveil IT Edge

IT Edge was formally unveiled last weekend for public reading at a brief ceremony. The event featured a short talk on “IT & the Changing Face of Banking in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects,” by Managing Director of First Atlantic Online limited Deji Oguntonnade.

From Left, Executive Editor of IT Edge Bayero Agabi, Uloma Umeanu of Microsoft, Member of Editorial Advisers Group of IT Edge, Dr Gabriel Obi of the CPN and Editor of IT Edge Segun Oruame

The one-hour event was attended by major industry players including the President of the Nigeria Computer Society (NSC) Dr. Chris Nwannenna, who chaired the occasion, President of the Computer Registration Council (CPN) Dr Gabriel Obi, Mr. Anayo Agu of the US Embassy, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu of the Executive Cyberschuul, Lagos, General Manager of Victoria Garden City Communications (VGCC) Gbenga Adebayo, Calixthus Okoruwa of MTN and Uloma Umeanu of Microsoft Nigeria. Others were Benjamin Akinteye of eTranzact, Siemens representative, Segun Akinlabi and that of NITDA, Vincent Olatunji.

“There is clearly a vacuum in reporting IT and exploring content-oriented issues in IT. Nigeria remains a country with abundant potentials for greatness but unfortunately; most of these potentials are unexplored. There is abundance of human resources mostly unsung. Knowledge Media International (KMI) is established to fill this vacuum; to satisfy this yearning and open up a knowledge window particularly in the area of software development, said President of KMI, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem.

Opening speech by President of KMI, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem

“We are opening a fresh vista for knowledge because knowledge is power that enables the possessor to be both creative and productive. We are focusing on traditionally ignored areas and helping to bring to the fore, budding indigenous IT talents yet undiscovered,” added Ekuwem, who is also the president of Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) and chief executive officer of Teledom International.

Good will Message from Mr. Anayo Agu of the US Embassy and , immediate past President of the NCS, Alhaji Ladi Ogunneye, Dr Gabriel Obi, Deji Oguntonnade

IT Edge is a multi-channels technology business news media. Its basket of technology business news services include a frequently updated website (www.itedgenews.com) and a bi-monthly print edition which launch issue was publicly unveiled in Lagos.  Other services are IT Edge SMS, IT Edge Radio and IT Edge TV platforms. The magazine also debuted in Accra and Kumasi (Ghana) last week in line with its objective to report and circulate in the entire sub-region. By design, KMI is to offer technology business intelligence on Nigeria’s fledgling IT industry to prospective players and the investing public.

While opening the tape for a public display of the IT Edge magazine, the NSC president commended the directors and management of IT Edge and enjoined that they abide by the driving theme of the company. “This is something to showcase outside of the country. I am particularly proud that this magazine shares a common focus with us and that is software. NSC is unreservedly committed to the development of indigenous software and I must say we and the community of IT practitioners in the country have found a good partner in IT Edge,” said Dr Nwannenna.

Earlier Oguntonnade, the guest speaker had enumerated on the crucial role of technology in the banking industry stressing that it was practically inconceivable to have any financial player that has not integrated IT into its operations.  Oguntonnade and his team had spearheaded the migration of First Atlantic Bank into an online bank about four years ago. He now heads a sister company of the bank that offers IT solutions particularly for the financial sector.

In his good will message, immediate past president of the NSC, Alhaji Ladi Ogunneye charged the editorial team of the magazine to keep only to promoting content, a statement strongly emphasised by John St. Ezeani in his warning any undue tendency to stress advertorial contents over editorial matters would only kill the credibility of the publications. Ezeani heads a telecom consumers group. For Agu, having a good publication is not enough, he advised the management of IT Edge to ensure that the magazine circulates effectively. “This magazine needs good marketing. It must be made to circulate very well so that its editorial strength would also translate into commercial success,” said Agu.

Good will message from Dr. Chris Nwannenna, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu of the Executive Cyberschuul, Lagos and President of KMI, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem (Left) and Managing Director of First Atlantic Online limited Deji Oguntonnade (Right).

For students in tertiary institutions across country, IT Edge would circulate in the thousands through the national computer students association (NACOSS) to drive awareness within the largely ignored community. “I am particularly happy to be associated with this effort as an editorial adviser and I expect this to help in re-shaping our focus on the key issues in IT,” said Dr Obi of the CPN. Obi is a member of the editorial board of IT Edge.

Earlier, Editor of IT Edge, Segun Oruame had highlighted the editorial direction as one that one would keep to the finest tradition of journalism to uphold facts and ensure balance in reporting. The magazine, said Oruame, would remain faithful to its underlying vision of providing reports that have depth and worth the time spent by the reader to grow through the magazine.

Also at the event were Lai Omotola of Next Technology, Gerry Ekesianni of Geosanna, Collins Onuegbu of Signal Alliance, Shina Badaru of Daily Independent, Ejide Oladumoye of the NCS, Ken Nwogbo of The Champion Newspaper, Sonny Aragba-Akpore of The Guardian, and Toyin Ogunseide among others.

[Related Story: IT Edge Magazine Debuts]

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