Thursday, April 14, 2011 THIS DAY, Vol. 16, No. 5834, Page 31

f) BusinessWORLD e-business Ministry Produces Natural Drugs for Ailments

From Chinonye Ntkokwelu ilJAbllja

kits for malaria, hepatitis B and C among others.

Presentations were made by six agencies including Federal Institute for Indusnia} Research Oshodi (F1IRO) , Sheda

Science a~d. Technology Complex (SHESTCO) , National Agency for Biotechnology Development (NABDA) , Nigeria Natural Medicine Development

Agency (NNMDA), Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis and (Onchocerciasis) Research (NITR) and National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARlCI1 .

The Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Mohammed Abubakar has disclosed that the ministry

has produced natW"alJy manu­factured drugs for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) .Arthritis and other relat­ed diseases waiting for full commercialisation and disnibu­tion.

istry has been meeting with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with a view of working out funding options adding that the Bank of Industry (BOI) has pledged to collaborate with the ministry on its vision of taking R&D from the laboratory to the market place.

was attended by some ambas­sadors of some foreign coun­nies, is aimed at strengtheniug efforts of providing local and intemationaJ investors, finan­cial institutions, diplomatic cotlununities and Entrepreneurs an opportunity for collaboration and partner­ship in driving. the nation's socio-economic development

Westgate Opens leT Mall in Abuja The Minister disclosed this at

the second Ministerial Scientific Press Briefing recently in Abuja.

He said that processed indigenous foods , herbal prepa­rations, diagnostic kits. organic fertilizers and pesticides dJat would be useful to fast-track industrialisation in Nigeria are in the Ministry and ready for commercialisation.

While stating dle importance of the naturaUy produced drugs, the minister said. "The products will improve nunitionaI status of Nigerians boost agricultural yield and help in the treatment of arthritis, cough. malaria , HIV and hepatitis." . .

According to him , the min-

In her remarks. the Pennanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Dere Awosika revealed that the ministry has inaugurated specialist to help facilitate the commercialisation of avai lable products and achieve the recommendations that arose from the first brief­ing.

"l1le Ministry has inaugu­rated a special committee that is already working. with CBN in this regard. Machineries have also been set in motion to implementing the other recom­mendations;' she said .

The second bliefing, which

dU'Ough guided research and w estgate Technologies development. Limited, an emerging

Other objectives of the infonnation and com-briefing was to educate the munications technology public on the availability and company in Nigeria will 01Ii-utilisation of R&D results, pro- cially open its lCT Mall today mote demand driven research at Utako Market, Abuja. and development, position sci- The Group Managing ence and technology for indus- DireCtor" Mr. Casmir Ezeudu, nial growth and most impor- of tliecompany, saiq that maIl, tandy provide a fCC!lback sys- which is a one-stop shop center tern on our research and devel- will offer genuine IT products opment efforts. . arid after sales support to all

The focus for dlis mondl 's customers in .. and around the scienti5c briefing was on R&D'. country.

. development in Food, Health, - " According · t~ him, ·the ICT and chemical sectors including mall will solve . about 85 per drugs like herbal arthritis oint- cent of customers buying gray ment, .herbal cough syrup, and ' counterfeit products. He· herbal' mosquitoes repellent, explained that .this is a catalysi insecticides, rapid diagnostic for the Gross ,Domestic

-L-R: Managing Director o/Westgate Techn%gies, Mrs ljeoam Ez.euduJ Group Managing Director of West gale Group, Casmir Ezeudll and the Managillg Director of Ezcom Solutiolls ltd; Ki'liJo Omanllkwue aJ the llllveilillg o/WeslgaJe's upcoming rCI'MaIl to be based ill Ahuja in Lagos ... recently

FG Introduces Biotechnology for Mass Food Production

As tile population of Nigeria

. continues to increase, the . Federal Government has

embraced biotechnology as a means of addressing food security challenges tlJa( could emerge as a threat to the coun­try.

It is also colJaborating through the Ministry of Science and Technology with the Cuban government to pro· mote the transfer of new agri­cultural technology called 'Temporary Immers ion Bioreactor System' (TIB).

Disclosing this while com-missioning National Centre for

··...Qenetic Resources and 'Biotechnology (NACGRAB) laboratory in Ibadan . the Minister o f Science and Technology. Prof. Muhammed Ka'oje Abubakar said the criti­cal role of biotechnology to national food sufficiency can­not be underestimated, as

From Chillollye Ndeokwelll iirAbfYa

tutes. will hopefully boost agri­cultural production in the coun­

.... , .. try:" He added, ".federal govem- . ---------'---'~--'-".:... ment is-also taking appropriate. counnies, especially the devel­oping ones, ' are today con­fronting the problem of starva­tion.

Abubaker further hinted that the quantity of food production globally has dropped from three per cent in the 1970s to one percent per annum. adding that worldwide. no fewer than 40 .000 people die every day from hunger and starvation.

"All these constitute serious challenges for which scientists have to develop new technolo­gies to address and tilereby boost food production. l1lis is largely responsible for the renewed emphasis on biotech­nology," Abubakar stressed.

He said "this new technolo­gy. which will be replicated in other relevant research insti-

: • '. ' " , ; . t t '~,- I ' .' , I ,

measures to ensure the safety of the products of biotechnology research outcomes.

tlIn addition, even the little food produced is lost to pest , diseases and travails of weather thereby straining the resources further and threatening the well-being of millions of peo­ple. 1I

Abubakar however noted that to ensure the success of the new research endeavour, there is the need to develop available human capacity to keep them abreast of technological advancement.

Levels I and 2. EC-Council , CompTIA A+. Network+, CCNA , CCNP. Web Design. IC3 , oracle and Java program­ming amongst others. A state­ment made available to THIS-

DAY disclosed that the Vice Chancellor of the University • Professor. Ngunan 1'/.. Ag!>e, decided to · partner - with the finn to deliver world class training to its students to enable a robust knowledge of ICT for dle total development

According to him . .. the world has experienced tremendous economic growth tllfOugh social networks. e­commerce, e- ' procurements and technology driven busi­ness processes in Customer Relationship Management. supply chain management and project management to men­tion a few, This has created the need for university curricula to come up with industry ready graduates that will hit the ground running more so when good jobs are hard to find and many organizations are mak­ing huge cuts on their staff training budgets " .

Products (GDP) of the country as well as to give consumers around the Abuja environs the opportunity to see. feel and experience the power of the Westgate brand.

" It is also part of our resolve at to expand our market share and dominance as well as to satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians for a quality and alfordable provider of ICT products . Ultimately, the goal is to enhance the after sales and service experience of cus­tomers by establishing branch­es in all the major c ities of Nigerian in the near future;' Ezeudu said .

Also speaking the Managing Director of Westgate Technologies. Mrs. Ijeama Ezeudu. said the ICT Mall will alford the customers a delightful experience as they now have the opportunity to touch and feel the products before purchase unlike in the past where customers pay without seeing the products.

She stressed that Nigerians are becoming more interested in technology and are catching up with the rest of the world in tenTIS in that regard.

According to her, the mall will be stocked with the latest ICT gadgets for customers to bi;abrea'SlWith"1l1e'lmest tech­nology in the world ,

She added that the mall also has fac ilities to train public and private institutions for the implementation of their IT solutions. adding that the goal of Westgate Technologies in expanding its business horizon is to make computers and other ICT accessories cheaper and alfordable to most Nigerians especially the middle income group across the country.

Ezeudu said that was opti­mistic that Westgate Technologies would be a big player in the West African region within the next five years as it has plans for expan­sion into other West African countries.

According to her. the com­pany has been receiving tremendous support and good­will from recognised and cer­tified brands such as HP. DELL. TOSHIBA, MICROSOFT and APC amongst others .

Meanwhile, Chief Executive OlIicerof the Zinox Group, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh has endorsed the commissioning of the Westgate ICT Mall in Abuja. Ekeh noted that the Westgate Group is fast becoming one of the leading souls in IT in Africa today. adding that the compa, ny has a track record of excel, lence which has been sus­tained over the years.

Airtel to Launch $100 3G Handsets

Airtel is in talks with major gy of Bhani AineJ's i2i cable mobile handset manufac- system and its domestic network turers to launch tlle 3G- in India. together widl Pacnet's enabled handsets below the EAC-C2C and EAC Pacific

price of$IOO. submarine cable network. will The penetration of 3G- enable businesses and con-

enabled handsets is currently sumers across India to enjoy very low in India and in several enhanced high-speed broadband other markets. The 3G spectrum connectivity to the US via Asia. was auctioned few months ago Simultanously. both finns in India and after that many tele- wiU also benefit from gaining com operators· have launched additional complementary fiber their 3G services. But. the capacity, as weU as additional growth oOG has been hindered network routes to increase the because of high prices of 3G- diversity and resiliency of their enableiI mobile handsets. global IP networks.

"We see that it (price) is a "Increasing network capacity barrier. to the ~pread of 3G. We westward of Singapore is an think that by bringing it down, important step forward in ensur-we could giv~ a boost to dle ing we are able to deliver on our , spread of3G. We further foresee customers' requirements and a breakthrough when it reaches keep pace with . the growth the $50·mark;'- ' President ... momentum which we are see-(Mobile SerV,ces), Airtel . Mr ing across jndia." ' said Bill Atul Mohan 'Bindal . said. He Bamey,ChiefExecutiveOlIicer. however refused to divulge the . Pacnet: . names of the~ companieS it. waS 1I1lle new Chennai-US net-talking !o. . ..' '. . work wilf deliver much needed

Airtel , which launched 3G bandwidth as there is an expo-services last month. has over "entia) increase in demand for three million subScribers in the international connectivity from third-generation telecom net, India to Asia and the US ." said work. In the 3G auction, Ainel Sunanda Das. Country has received spectrum 'in 13 cir- Manager, Pacnet India , cles out of the 22. It has Pacnet's EAC-C2C is Asia's launched serv(Ces in Delhi and largest privately-{)wned subma-the NCR, Berigaluru. Chennai. rine cable network of 36.800 Coimbatore ,Mysore ·,ManipaI . km. which lands at 18 cable Udipi and Jaipur so far. · landing stations in China. Hong

Meill)while~ Pacnet has Kong. Japan • Korea • the signed ' agreenjents with Bharti Philippines .. Singapore and Ainel Limited' to deliver a new Taiwan . EAC-C2C has a design high-speed network connecting capacity of 17.92 Tbps to 30.72 Chennai to the US . Tbps to and from each of the

The . US$120 million net- landing countrtes with continu-

work.~ted.~~~~l~~~~~~-. , ous upgradesund~,:,,~~.