[UgaBYTES] WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP- AFRICA (WEEK 5)

[Mwathi Francis]

*Africa Union: We must take ICT seriously*

3rd 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)<http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=4531&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+itnewsafrica+%28ITNewsAfrica.com%29>



*Bridging the digital divide will help shield Africa from external shocks*

3rd 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*

4th 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*

3rd 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 *

1st 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*

5th 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






-- 
Watch out for the 'telecentre.org Idol 2010'. More details on
www.telecentre.org

Francis Mwathi
Support Community Facilitator
UgaBYTES Initiatives (www.ugabytes.org)
Telecentr.org (www.telecentrecommunity.ning.com)
Tel: +256 414 370163
Mob: +256 783 010269
Skype: francis.mwathi
E-Mail: mfrancis at ugabytes.org