[UgaBYTES] WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP-AFRICA (WEEK 39)

[Mwathi Francis]

*Information: a compass for overall development*

18th September 2009

One common reference to the times we are in is Age of Information. It
suffices to mention that information plays a leading role in the development
of a nation, and acts as primary vanguard in the nation building process.
With time, the process of data collection, communication and dissemination
has been steadily improving. Scientific and technological advancements
registered have made the process of communication reach its zenith more than
any other time. In order to understand the significance of information, one
could possibly equate it to the force of light; and being well-informed as
someone who lives in the light, as opposed to someone who lives in the dark.
The history of societies is an everlasting progress in the lines of change.
Human beings strive to satiate their material and spiritual desire through
hard work. And improvement always requires material resources. One must have
resources and ample opportunity to be able to commit and eventually convert
resources unto tangible gains.

http://www.shabait.com/staging/publish/article_0010468.html



*Driving Telemedicine, mHealth, eHealth With ICT Tools*

22nd September 2009

The need to drive the health sector with technology tools in the area of
telemedicine, mhealth and ehealth, was the focus of a two-day conference
organised by the Society for Telemedicine and eHealth in Nigeria at the
weekend in Lagos. Collaborating with the Nigerian Communications Commission
(NCC), the telecom industry regulator, the Society for Telemedicine and
eHealth in Nigeria, spoke on the need for rapid development in the health
sector, distinguished by the use of electronic communication and information
technology to transmit, store and retrieve digital data for clinical,
educational and administrative purposes at the local and distance site.

http://www.independentngonline.com/busi/itte/article01



*Uganda Wildlife Authority to launch online gorilla tracking*

23rd September 2009

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) plans to launch online gorilla tracking.
According to the authority it is due to a global demand for conservation
tourism and promotion of primate tourism.  Through the www.friendagorilla
.org, gorilla lovers would have chance to befriend any of the seven
habituated gorilla families at $1.  Tourism state minister, Serapio Rukundo,
said the campaign would “lift Uganda to its 1960s position as one of
Africa’s most popular tourism destinations.”  The website will have sections
like Geo-Track, where one can track gorillas using actual global positioning
system coordinates that the authority’s gorilla trackers will be provided
with regularly.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/32/695541?highlight&q=UWA%20to%20Launch%20Online%20Gorilla%20Tracking



*Zambian Police declare war on software piracy*

23rd September 2009

Zambia’s Commissioner of Police, Graphael Musamba has directed police under
the intellectual property unit (IPU) and information technology (IT) section
to acquire superior skills to effectively fight software piracy. Mr Musamba
said in Lusaka yesterday that the country’s software piracy was rated at 82
per cent, a situation which he described as pathetic. South Africa was rated
at 34 per cent while the United States was 20 per cent. Mr Musamba, who was
speaking during a one-day microsoft software piracy training workshop, said
the officers should acquire all necessary skills and capacity to effectively
detect and prosecute offences of software piracy.

http://www.times.co.zm/news/viewnews.cgi?category=6&id=1253686587



*Nigerian Poly Students Launch ICT Group*

22nd September 2009

Students of the Department of Computer Engineering, Federal Polytechnic
Offa, Kwara State have instituted a group that would develop initiatives,
which would ensure that all staff and students of the institution were
computer literate and ICT-compliant.  At a seminar organised by the
Department, in conjunction with the School of Engineering, Head of the
Department, Engr. AbdulAzeez Ajao, said the initiative would integrate the
IT professional needs and demands of individual students with the
developmental needs and aspiration of the industries.  He said the idea of
constituting the ICT groups would also prepare students for international
certifications to enhance their professional credibility, as well as provide
professional IT services to the polytechnic community by developing IT
skills among staff and students.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=155177



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Francis Mwathi
Support Community Facilitator
UgaBYTES Initiatives (www.ugabytes.org)
Telecentr.org (www.telecentrecommunity.ning.com)
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E-Mail: mfrancis at ugabytes.org