[UgaBYTES] WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP-AFRICA(WEEK 16)

[Mwathi Francis]

*Good Practices on Distance Learning Underway in Nigeria*
14th April 2009

The Nigerian National Universities Commission (NUC) is coordinating the
development of good practices guidelines to improve the practice of Open and
Distance Learning (ODL) in the country and bring it up to global standards.
Addressing a workshop on 'Good Practice Guidelines for Distance Education in
Nigerian Universities', held at the NUC secretariat in Abuja recently,
Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu said, Nigeria must, as a matter of
urgency, put in place an enabling environment for the optimisation of the
ODL mode in solving some of the major problems in her education sector, just
as other developing countries like India and Malaysia had done. One of the
major problems of higher education in Nigeria, he said, is inadequate
access. The ODL mode is therefore "a very important option for any nation
wishing to enhance access to education at all levels."
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=140826


*South Africa** and Uganda to strengthen their cooperation in areas of
science and technology*
15th April 2009

South African Science and Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena and his
Ugandan counterpart Ephraim Kamuntu will sign a bilateral agreement on
Thursday to pave the way for both countries to deliberate in areas of mutual
interest in this field.The Department of Science and Technology is hosting
Minister Kamuntu and his delegation until Saturday. "The signing of the
bilateral agreement signals the commitment by both parties to work together
in the advancement of science, technology and innovation. "It will pave the
way for the development of a plan of action which will facilitate the
identification of priority areas and the consolidation of resources to
implement the agreement," Minister Mangena said. Both countries have been
negotiating a bilateral cooperation agreement since 2006 when a delegation
from Uganda undertook an exploratory visit to acquaint themselves with the
South African Science, Technology and Innovation system.
http://www.buanews.gov.za/news/09/09041513151001


*Mobile shopping set to boost Digital Mall*
15th April 2009

Online shopping portal Digital Mall aims to increase turnover fivefold in
the next two years as mobile shopping becomes a reality in SA and on the
continent. Yaron Assabi, CEO of Digital Solutions Group, said yesterday, 14
April 2009, that the company's Digital Mall concept had naturally grown from
having an online presence to becoming available on cellphones. The group, of
which Digital Mall is a subsidiary, develops software for use in the mobile,
online and logistics arena. Assabi said Digital Mall and the group had a
symbiotic relationship that allowed company-developed software, created for
the mall, to be sold to other clients.
http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/394/34976.html


*ICTs and the of growth courier firms in Uganda*
15th April 2009

Initially seen as a potential threat to the industry, the Internet and
mobile telephone explosion in the last decade has instead aided courier
firms to grow. From eight registered operators in 1999, figures at the
Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) indicate that there are 22 licensed
firms today. “The new ICTs have enlightened people to transact more online.
To conclude the transactions, documents such as bills of lading and
contracts have to be signed and sent by courier,” says Jovan Mwesigye of
Globex Express. FedEx’s James Gatonye says, “Contracts are signed everyday
and before people send the documents, several correspondences are made using
email or telephone. This has not replaced the need to send cargo and printed
documents by courier.” He said FedEx, with more than 700 cargo planes, makes
about 3.5 million deliveries daily.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/32/678073?highlight&q=Uganda%20communications%20commission


*Navies to guard undersea Kenyan cable from pirates*
17th April 2009

Foreign navies have agreed to protect a vessel installing an undersea
high-speed Internet cable from pirates off the coast of Somalia, a Kenyan
minister said on Thursday. Sea gangs from lawless Somalia have been
increasingly striking the Indian Ocean shipping lanes and strategic Gulf of
Aden, capturing dozens of vessels and hundreds of hostages in attacks that
have driven up insurance rates.Patrols by Western navies have done little to
deter the attacks.

http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144011723&cid=418&
-- 
Francis Mwathi
Support Community Facilitator
UgaBYTES Initiatives (www.ugabytes.org)
Telecentr.org (www.telecentrecommunity.ning.com)
Tel: +256 414 370163
Mob: +256 752 995063
Skype: francis.mwathi
E-Mail: mfrancis at ugabytes.org