WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP-AFRICA

Africa Union: We must take ICT seriously

3^rd February 2010

Bingu wa Mutharika, the African Union (AU) chairperson, has called upon member countries to take information and communication technologies seriously. Speaking at the end of the 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of AU in Ethiopia on Tuesday, wa Mutharika said, giving ICT special attention would play an important part in the development agenda of the union.

He said “no child should die of hunger and malnutrition”, elaborating on the summit theme: “Information and Communication Technologies in Africa: Challenges and Prospects for Development”.

http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=4531&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+itnewsafrica+(ITNewsAfrica.com)

Bridging the digital divide will help shield Africa from external shocks

3^rd February 2010

Twelve months ago, the economic clouds were dark and prospects gloomy. As a result of the crisis at the epicentres of the global economy, demand for and prices of our exports, especially mineral products, were falling. Investment flows including the IT industry were retrenching. There is no doubt this has caused some damage and interrupted the economic momentum we had built since the turn of this decade. Nonetheless, Africa has shown a remarkable resilience; our banking systems have remained robust and the worst effects into the real economy have, with some exceptions, especially mineral producing countries, been generally contained.

http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Opinion%20&%20Analysis/-/539548/854252/-/sv3ecyz/-/index.html

Facebook in South Africa: facts, figures, marketing opportunities

4^th February 2010

With over 2.6 million unique monthly browsers, 1.18 billion monthly page views, 46% of active users returning to the site daily, 1.58 million users on mobile platform and 78% of users coming back every week, South Africa is the 29th largest Facebook (FB) country across the globe. FNB, Media Shop, Zenith, Standard Bank and Group M, among others, are local companies that are on the FB direct sales platform, presenting these firms with huge opportunities for their brands to emerge victorious in a connected world full of endless possibilities.

http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/12/44374.html

Let’s work together to develop ICT

3^rd February 2010

The penetration of the fibre-optic cables into East Africa has generated a lot of opportunities. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) practitioners are excited about the string of goodies associated with the initiative — high speed internet connectivity, reduced costs in data and voice transfer, increased coverage, among others. While experts believe that ICT is the linchpin to the economic development of this country, a lot of effort and commitment from all stakeholders remains a necessity if success is to be realised. On July 18, 2005, President Yoweri Museveni (accompanied by Minister Isaac Musumba) launched the first NEPAD e-School in Africa at Bugulumbya S.S in Kamuli District. In his speech, the President pledged to ask the Ministry of Education to “put aside a budget” to support the programme.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/459/708981

Zap, M-pesa lined up for global awards

1^st February 2010

Kenya’s status as an innovator in the budding mobile money industry has been boosted with the shortlisting of two of the country’s money transfer solutions for global awards. Zain’s m-commerce solution, Zap, and Safaricom’s money transfers product, M-pesa, have been shortlisted for awards in the GSM Association’s Global Mobile Awards, pitting the two pioneers of the service against a number of new entrants to the field. The GSM noted that the flurry of new launches in the mobile money field has highlighted the economic relevance of products that allow people to transfer or perform simple business transactions using their phones as a financial medium.

http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Company%20Industry/-/539550/853806/-/t41abhz/-/

Rwanda to host regional ICT Centre of Excellence

5^th February 2010

The Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) has endorsed Rwanda as the headquarters of the ICT Centre of Excellence of the US-based Carnegie Mellon University. According to the State Minister in charge of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr. Mathias Harebamungu, the decision was reached during an annual regional meeting held last week in Bujumbura, Burundi. He revealed that during the meeting, the other two partner states of the bloc, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi, gave their full support to Rwanda hosting the school.

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=14162&article=25578