Straight Talk with Chukwudi Obi

Microsoft sponsored Morrocan start-up, Sapphon Energy is pioneering ground breaking innovations on how to ensure Africa is serviced with renewable energy. The instability in energy prices and precarious political situations across some African countries has made the economic condition of many African countries take a nose dive.  Saphon Energy, with the bladeless wind power technology has a gone the extra mile of delivering clean and renewable alternative energy to Africa. Courtesy: www.eecuhunk.com “Bladeless wind power technology seems to be on the brink of a breakthrough. There are endless extremely elegant and usually rather sculptural approaches, including one by an architectural company Mecanoo at the University of Delft. But none of these rather striking applications have gone much beyond prototype. This is what makes Saphon Energy interesting because it looks as if it will get the technology out of the door and to the customer”, reports SmartMonkeyTV’s Russell Sout

CHUKWUDI OBI caught up with two African entrepreneurs and innovators whose ambition is to change the face of storytelling in Africa. The duo of Franco Abott (Kenyan) and Brian Asingia tell their story in a most intriguing and thrilling manner. Enjoy.  Tell us about your software DreamAfrica application for mobile, web and soon smart TV connects story tellers to a global audience. DreamAfrica is currently the world’s largest digital collection of African stories for kids offering unlimited premium access to eBooks, animations and audio recordings for a s little as $1.99 (N350) monthly subscription. What ignited your move to develop the DreamAfrica software? The Pearl Dream believes in culture, connections and heritage and seeks to unlock the magic of Africa through the timeless art of storytelling. We are filling the void created by lack of authentic local digital content from all over Africa for children and families worldwide. The Pearl Dream will disrupt cross cultur

With the telecoms sector worth $32 billion and among the top ten fastest emerging markets in Middle East and Africa (MEA), CHUKWUDI OBI asks who needs a local content policy when there is much at stake. Local content policies are designed to encourage local companies, give them undue advantage over foreign companies and drive more local investment in that particular sector. To a large extent the local content policy as implemented in the oil and gas sector many experts say, has been successful to the extent of stimulating the industry, encouraging active local participation and encourage competition. But Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda has been hinged on increasing foreign direct investment and since inception of this administration, President Goodluck Jonathan and his lieutenants have not hidden their ambition to increase investments in the country. This, they have been pursuing vigorously, with some measure of success. It has paid off with Agriculture attr

As part of their efforts to improve productivity,ensure customer satisfaction and improve users’ experience, Microsoft has lauched new applications for Iphone and Android users. This is coming as the Corporation has updated some application for Ipad tablet users and presented an expanded look at the new “touch-optimized” Office for Windows 10. The Corporation has launched new Office applications for Iphone and android users and an updated application for Ipad users thereby giving users of these devices ability to to create and edit Office content without a subscription.  “Anytime someone has an idea or an inspiration, we want to empower them to take action. “With over a billion Office customers worldwide, and over 40 million downloads on the iPad, it’s clear that Office applications are what people want to use to get things done,” Corporate Vice President, Office, Microsoft, John case said. With the launch of the new Office applications, iPhone and Android tablet customers

Cookie Jam After launching games on Windows Phone store, award-winning Nigerian mobile games company, and highest paid windows game company, Gamsole has recorded over nine million downloads and three million worldwide players who are addicted to the game experience. Gamesole’s founder Abiola Olaniran, after being one of the first African startups to be awarded an innovation grant courtesy Microsoft 4Afrika, had his games now top over nine million downloads. Some of the games include Juicy Links and Cookie Jam “About 38 per cent of mobile phone users all over the world consume games, second to the use of social networks. People never get tired of gaming. On an everyday basis, millions of people are experiencing little boring moments: the long queue at the supermarket, the traffic, a 13-hour flight. Apart from providing the entertainment factor for scenarios like this, mobile gaming also serves as a great tool for education. “We want to focus on creating high-quality

Award-winning Nigerian mobile games company, and highest paid windows game company Gamsole, has launched a new competition that will have winners compete for US$4,000 (N680, 000) in prizes and career opportunities for five talented illustrators. The competition, according to Gamsole’s founder Abiola Olaniran will be running until November 23 while entrants are expected to submit a graphical concept for a game, including character design in different moods and positions. Abiola, Nigeria’s highest paid Windows game developer said Gamsole will be offering a US$3 000 (N510, 000) prize for the best illustrator, with the runner-up receiving US$1 000 (N170, 000).  “The top five will be offered permanent positions at Gamsole’s offices in Lagos, giving them the chance to own equity and be part of a high-growth, fast-paced startup,” says Abiola. Illustrators, Abiola said, can enter the competition here and share entries with their friends who can vote. Submissions, it is le

Countdown to the national and global migration from analogue to digital broadcasting, Nigeria is still at its teething stage with many mechanisms that will ensure a seamless switch over yet to be put in place, writes CHUKWUDI OBI. With roughly two months to national deadline and eight months to global switch off, it is evident that work is being done especially on the part of government and regulatory agencies, but how much effort, commitment and political will that these officials have put in to ensure that Nigeria’s switch over becomes a reality leaves much to be desired. Jos is the only state that has switched over to digital broadcasting and with the national deadline approaching, indications are rife that though Nigeria is on the right course, the snail speed at which results are achieved leaves a sour taste in the much. “We have switched off all analogue stations in Plateau State and have commenced digital with TV stations like NTA, AIT and others whom NBC ha

Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark International Internet Day on October 29. Since 2005, the International Internet Day has been celebrated to commemorate a momentous day in the history of telecommunications and technology. The event commemorated is the sending of the first message, first electronic message which was transferred from one computer to another in 1969. This was situated in California, in the USA. At that time, internet was known as ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network). This was in 1969 when Charley Kline, a student programmer at the UCLA transmitted the first ever message on October 29, 1969. Charley Kline, whose supervisor was Professor Leonard Kleinrock, transmitted a message from the computer housed at the UCLA to a computer positioned at the Stanford Research Institute's computer. The two computers, one at the UCLA was the SDS Sigma 7 Host computer and the receiver was the SDS 940 Host at the Stanford Research Institute. Int

Dear Theodore, On various social media platforms, your profile and image as governor of Abia state has suffered the most. At the moment, it is in an all time low. From Facebook to twitter and other social networks people, nay, Abians and concerned Nigerians vent their ire on your person and your administration. In fact, many justify their comments and rage with pictures. I have childhood friends from Aba and Umuahia who follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Google + .   Each morning, their sign of the cross is to take a picture with their smartphones, post it on Facebook and other platforms and tag it “This is Umuahia this morning”, “Good morning friends, Aba today”, “This is Aba, God help your people”, “This is Aba, God we are in your hands” and many others. The pictures they post range from dilapidated roads and streets with long range potholes filled dirty water and garbage. The lengths of these roads are so much that one begins to wonder the last time Aba motorists used