INTEL Corporation has begun a collaboration with Broadband Technologies to introduce into the country, the newest Information Technology (IT) facility-the wireless internet connectivity.

This is coming at a time Intel displayed another of its high tech products, the Intel Celeron processor for Desktops PCs,to the admiration of the University community in Benin. It was at the Digital festival held at the e-University day at the Institution.

The launch of the Wireless Fidelity (WIFI) Hotspot at NICON Hilton on Monday, was the high point of the business visit of Intel Vice President, Mr. John Davies who donated six special computers to the Visually Challenged Section of the Community Resource Centre, Abuja and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the federal government.

The General manager of NICON Hilton, Mr. Martin Stolfa, said at the launch that facility installation would be completed latest, next week and henceforth all guests in the hotel would be provided with uninterrupted internet services in all rooms, meeting rooms, lobby and the Congress Hall.

According to him, the facility would also provide internet access to guests with notebooks. Even those without personal notebooks would enjoy the facility as there would be sets for lease.

Similarly, the GM said that each television in the rooms would be installed with the capacity to connect to the internet, using a remote controlled keyboard for, saying, "all that our guests require will be to press the key for internet and such guests would log on right away.

Mr. Stolfa said that the initiative was to enable the hotel to maintain its leadership position in the Nigerian hospitality industry and to attract Nigerian, as well as, foreign travelers who wanted to remain in touch with their businesses, even while on a trip.

In addition, he said that the hotel was also installing video conference facilities which would enable customers to participate in conferences in other locations, within and outside the country, a technology which is fast gaining ground, across the globe.

Mr. Stolfa also assured that it would no longer be necessary for international media organisations coming into Nigeria to bring along with them, live transmission equipment as, according to him, NICON Hilton will now provide such facilities.

The MoU signed between Intel and the federal government would enable them collaborate in several IT solutions areas, particularly with regard to computerizing the nation"s education sector, as well as, government services.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isoun, said at the signing ceremony that the collaboration was coming at the right time as according to him, the federal government now placed a high priority on the development of IT, a reason for which he said, a Task Force had been set up to accelerate work in that area.

Intel which also donated Personal Computers (PCs) to Bola Ige Information Technology Center (BIITC) for the training the blind people said it would partner with both government and Non-Governmental Organisation, with a view to making computer part of the lives of all Nigerians..

Presenting the Computers to the Minister of Women Affairs Obong Rita Akpan, the Vice President of Intel Corporation, Dr. John Davies, said Intel have love for education and believes in what technology could do especially in education of the blind people which required special training.

According to Dr. Davies, it became necessary that the corporation provided the PCS to the center for the training of blind to enable them not only train but also serve as trainers of other visually challenged people in the use of computers.

Receiving the PCs, on behalf of BIITC, the Minister of Women Affairs, Obong Rita Akpan, commended the corporation for the giant stride taken, saying, it was a clear manifestation of the present administration to attract foreign investors in the country.

She also noted that about 26 persons had been trained in computer skills without any cost to the beneficiaries as a way of encouraging young men and women to meet the challenges poised by the