29 August 2007
Lagos — The President of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem has said that lack of information on appropriate technologies, wrong choice of hardware and software and poor management techniques has been the reason why many cyber café operators are closing shop.
Speaking recently in at a media briefing held at the ATCON secretariat in Lagos recently, Dr. Ekuwem pointed out that out of all the cyber cafes that began business with the boom in the Internet business within the tail end of the 20th century in Nigeria , less than 1% is presently in business and out of this percentage while some of them are working under capacity. With a view to proffering solutions to the operational challenges facing cyber café operators in Nigeria , ATCON in partnership with Private Media Mart Limited (PMM) has concluded plans to host a Cyber Café survival workshop. According to him, the idea behind the workshop is the need to conduct a business/technology solutions forum for the players in the industry.
The workshop, which is slated for September 21, 2007 in Lagos , will bring together investors and prospective investors in the cyber café business to engage in knowledge sharing with providers of appropriate technologies and professional management consultants. The technologies targeted at the workshop include, but not limited to Internet solutions, computer software, cyber café business consultants, power solutions, Internet applications, security solutions and Small and Medium Enterprise fund providers.
The said workshop is also aimed at encouraging more potential investors to participate in efforts at accelerating the expansion of Internet services to sub urban and rural communities in Nigeria. "That is why we are involving the Ministry of Information and Communications, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) as well as the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)".
Speaking also, the CEO of PMM, Mr. Ejiofor Agada said that the workshop is not going to be another discussion session for telecom industry players: "It is going to be an avenue where challenges are resolved, problems solved, cyber business interests rekindled and the high mortality rate amongst cyber cafes across the country arrested". The workshop will also feature a mini exhibition where technology providers would showcase the latest solutions for cyber cafes and other Internet users.
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