Business
Ten Nigerian Firms Feature In ITU Expo
Ten Nigerian companies are participating in the 2011 Expo of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) currently holding in Geneva.
The Chairperson, “Nigeria @ ITU Telecom World 2011’’, Mrs Lolia Emakpore, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday in Geneva.
A correspondent, who is covering the event, listed the companies as Etisalat, Huawei, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Broadcasting Commission and MTN.
Others are Galaxy Backbone Plc., Main One Cable Company, Access Bank Plc., Interra Works and E-Credit.
Emakpore said that although they had expected more Nigerian companies to participate in the event, she was happy with the 10 which made it.
She noted that companies’ decisions to participate in such events depended on their profiles, level of exposure and what they expected to get in return.
Emakpore, who is also the Director of Policy, Competition and International Affairs in the NCC, said that visa problems prevented some companies and states, including Edo, from attending the event.
The chairperson noted that companies which failed to attend had missed an opportunity to expose themselves internationally as well as forge global relationships.
On the benefits of the event to Nigeria, which she described as remarkable, Emakpore said that it had placed the country on the global map, noting that top foreign dignitaries and ICT experts had been visiting the Minister of Communication Technology for mutual discussions on ICT.
Similarly, the Manager of Corporate Communications in Galaxy Backbone, Mr Frankly Eke, said that they had achieved their two objectives of supporting the ministry and showcasing what ICT was doing in Nigeria.
Eke added that Galaxy had also been able to establish contact with individuals, companies and countries which shared similarities with Nigeria in ICT development.
Also speaking, a Director of E-Credit, which deals in pre-paid services, Mr Tola Talabi, said that the company had made tremendous progress, having been able to make positive contact with 10 foreign and 10 local likely partners.
The representative of another participating establishment, Mrs Maimuna Jimada, of the National Broadcasting Commission, said that the Expo had been of immense value for the propagation of Africast 2012 which the commission is hosting next year.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
