Ghana marked the AU’s 48^th anniversary with a three day event at the Accra International Conference Center (AICC). I bring you proceedings of Day one’s event- the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in partnership with Vision Care Network International put this event together with the theme: “YOUTH DIALOGUE ON AFRICA-THE GREAT CONVERSATION.”

                 

           Dr. Sodzi Sodzi Tettey- Gen. Secretary Ghana Medical Association, Chaired the Youth Dialogue. In his opening remarks he mentioned how delighted he was to be here with young Africans with a burning desire to drive change on the continent. He was marveled by the number of young people he saw queuing at embassies for visas to leave the country- he said we could make it right on home soil. Africa is plagued with lots of challenges; poverty, diseases, conflicts, political instability amongst others. In all these- he advised young ones to see it as window of opportunities to confront and solve these problems; he wished all a fruitful dialogue for a better Africa.

 

              Mr. Freeheart Dela Tsey, the Chairman of the AU planning committee and Deputy Director in charge of AU at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration was equally grateful and stated the AU’s support for youth on the continent to promote Africa’s growth. He mentioned the need to invest time and resources significantly to promote youth development in Africa. He asked the youth of our dear continent to match up to the task- “…To whom much is given, much is expected”- he ended.

                                                               

             Hon. Stephen Ackah- MP for Suame and Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports welcomed all present especially young Africans from beyond the shores of Ghana. He said Africa is a young continent and of course –has threats and opportunities, but can soar and make strives if determined. He defined who a youth is a stage between childhood and adulthood. The UN defines a youth as a person between ages 15-24 and 15-35 according to the AU. Hon. Ackah mentioned there were many challenges with most sectors especially Public Sector- where? Our Educational system or structure- Its quality and comprehensiveness- especially at the tertiary level, skills and practical training to gain and put the experience gained to use for national development. He noted many young people all over the continent were easily manipulated- politically and were wrongly exposed to drugs and illegal arms. Despite these challenges youth are creative and can effectively contribute by being part of policy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation for the continents own development. He was concerned about the many documents and policies that had been developed and are wasting away on shelves –we need to implement. He asked all to develop interest in policies and grab copies, esp. youth policies, so as to hold government accountable. He charged youth leaders to work closely and refuse political influence and manipulation fro they result in nothing beneficial, “mainstreaming the youth-is a sure way”.

 

           Ishmael Kwasi Selassie Fianu, PPAG Programmes Officer and lead facilitator of the Event mentioned young people had had enough of the talk- “there’s a need to dialogue and take action to influence policy makers”. The issues group sessions addressed was:

·        Youth Education and Employment.

·        African Unity.

·        Social Accountability.

·        Governance and Youth.

·        Africa and the West.

In their remarks at the end of the event they all stressed on responsibility and the need for positive attitude among youth, and that the greatest tragedy that can ever happen is to let resources go untapped. They advised young people synergize to better the continent and the world as a whole. “Let’s prepare ourselves for the future by building our capacity in ICT and use it positively for continental and global growth.”… “And by our little contributions we can make a difference and make Africa a better place”.

I would conclude by asking…. “What do you think Africa Union can do more for youth on the continent?”

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Dubai & Johannesburg, 10 May, 2011- Nokia and MTN Group are pleased to announce signing of an agreement that will expand their strategic relationship to new key markets within Middle East and Africa MTN affiliates. The Framework agreement will permit the large community of MTN customers to benefit from the integration of Nokia devices and solutions. Joint marketing and sales campaigns will be designed on a regional level and will bring consumers the latest Nokia mobile phones and smartphones, combined with value added services such as orientation and navigation tools, for seamless mobile communications while at work, home or on the go.


            Building on previous success stories such as the joint launch of the Nokia C3with MTN data and value add package in Nigeria, and the launch of the Nokia E7and business tools for corporate clients in South Africa, the intention is to drive similar bundles, services and experiences in other MTN markets to add value to consumers.  The two companies will also collaborate to create hyper-local applications, such as Ovi Life Tools, which will soon be officially launched in Nigeria, bringing value to consumers through the provision of locally relevant data for farming, education and entertainment.

            Mr Christian De Faria, Senior Vice President Commercial and Innovation MTN group said, “Going to the market with a strategic partner like Nokia is of prime importance for our operations. We are convinced that our MTN customers will obtain immediate advantages for their cost effective and reliable communications thanks to a strong brand such as Nokia.”

           Mr Chris Braam, Vice President for Nokia Middle East and Africa, added: “A strategic partnership agreement with MTN Group brings us an additional opportunity to strengthen our existing relationships and bring a strong consumer proposition to other markets. We are committed to delivering outstanding communications technologies to the growing community of 141 million MTN subscribers in the whole of Middle East and Africa.”     

ABOUT NOKIA
Nokia is committed to connecting people to what matters to them by combining advanced mobile technology with personalized services. More than 1.3 billion people connect to one another with a Nokia, from our most affordable voice-optimized mobile phones to advanced Internet-connected smartphones sold in virtually every market in the world. 

                                 
Through Ovi, people also enjoy access to maps and navigation on mobile, a rapidly expanding applications store, a growing catalogue of digital music, free email and more. Nokia's NAVTEQ is a leader in comprehensive digital mapping and navigation services, and Nokia Siemens Networks is one of the leading providers of telecommunications infrastructure hardware, software and professional services globally.

Media Enquiries:

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               My mom Esther handed over her Nokia handset to in 2003, that was when I got my first mobile phone, since then , it’s been “Nokia-Nokia and nothing but- Nokia”. The truth is I used to dislike the size of the hand set, but all changed suddenly when I got popular in school because of my Nokia handset; the casing or housing was dope, my buddy’s were all over me esp. the girls….lol! Down the line I received another Nokia handset from my Uncle. T.T; the then cool Nokia 3310. Bernard a mate in the General Arts department fell in love with it and grabbed one for himself too, that was it- a bond was created from an unnoticed source- I clearly understood even more that Nokia is “Connecting People”. Bernard and I are still the best of buddies and remain Nokia faithful. I have done Nokia-fully well….lol! You can testify that the Brand is durable and lasts loooooong, (I have and use my first mobile, Nokia V 05.11, it still works magic).    

               

                I can’t stay shut but let you know about my new classy & sleek Nokia c3-01, it’s fresh… (Well the Nokia E7 handset is fresher & most def so cool).  I have admired and always loved to own a handset, of course a Nokia brand. Like many, my first word in the Communication world was “Nokia”. Sincerely, you and I know the brand and its mark, not only on lips but has and is winning the hearts of many people around the globe. I have been a Nokia lover all my life, at times I ask if it’s because Nokia is a family thing…. I can boldly say the ‘Nokia-gene’ runs through my family.

 

                I laugh at folks especially my friends who blame networks for poor call-sound clarity, the truth is ….”Your handset counts” and with Nokia, you hear every-thing, even the drop of a pin. My family gladly welcomed my Nokia c3-01 in style… seeing the handset alone sent everyone wanting to feel, explore and own it… questions started coming through, I had recorded 9 times “…Where could I get one to buy?”  I smiled and in reply mentioned they could get some at any Nokia accredited shop in Ghana.

 

                                 Nokia is set to give its competitors in the making of smartphones with the global launch of Nokia E7. With its tilting 4 inch Clear Black display, full keyboard and a fast access to a wide variety of apps directly on the homescreen, the Nokia E7 is the key to having a successful day in or out of the office. Importantly, the device supports business applications from leading enterprise technology partners including Microsoft and IBM. From all indications, the device would hit the West African market, first week in April at the very latest.

                                 “People are continuing to look for solutions that suit both their work and personal life; in business circles this is known as the ‘consumerization’ of IT. The Nokia E7 gives people the confidence to bring their own smartphones to the workplace to connect securely to corporate messaging servers,” said Spokesperson, Nokia. “On the other hand, whether you are an artist, entrepreneur, university student or aspiring world traveller, the Nokia E7 is the only smartphone you will need to get the world’s best mobile navigation and mapping application, thousands of apps, millions of music, and a rich messaging experience.”

                                    For business users, Nokia E7 provides direct, secure and real-time access to email, calendar, contacts, tasks and the corporate directory through Microsoft Exchange servers, as well as Office Communicator Mobile, developed by Microsoft for Nokia smartphones, which brings presence and corporate instant messaging.

                                     Additionally, a wide range of entertainment and social services available on the Nokia E7 make it the perfect off-duty companion, and the Ovi Store offers a wealth of apps such as Bloomberg, Angry Birds and Sports Tracker.

                                      The new arrival offers drive or walk navigation in 80 countries. The latest commercial version of Ovi Maps, available immediately via Ovi Store or Ovi Suite, adds visibility to subways, trams and trains, real-time traffic, safety alerts, visibility to parking and petrol stations, speed limit warnings, and improved search and location sharing capabilities.

 

Here are more reasons why the Nokia E7 is the all-in-one business smartphone:

• Easy access to private and business email
• Create, edit and share office documents and view PDF files with Adobe Reader
• Fast, secure intranet access with the built-in VPN
• High-resolution photos and HD video with the 8 megapixel camera and dual LED flash
• HDMI connectivity to project files, videos and images onto large screens
• 16 gigabytes of on-board flash memory
• USB-On-The-Go, enabling easy file sharing by connecting a USB stick to the smartphone

 

About Nokia

At Nokia, we are committed to connecting people. We combine advanced technology with personalized services that enable people to stay close to what matters to them. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people connect to one another with a Nokia device – from mobile phones to advanced smartphones and high-performance mobile computers. Today, Nokia is integrating its devices with innovative services through Ovi (www.ovi.com), including music, maps, apps, email and more. Nokia's NAVTEQ is a leader in comprehensive digital mapping and navigation services, while Nokia Siemens Networks provides equipment, services and solutions for communications networks globally.

Media Enquiries:

Nokia
Communications
Tel. +2347064186685
Email: osagie.ogunbor@nokia.com

www.nokia.com

                        Just when mobile App lovers thought the App Store battle was between Apple and Android, iResearch current study released “The 2010 China Mobile Application Report” shows that Nokia’s OVI store and China Mobile’s Mobile Market are leading application store markets in China with proportion of access as high as 65.2% and 57.7%!

                         China as of June 2010 has 277 million mobile internet users (most, non-English speaking citizens). It sure is crystal clear that the number of Nokia handset users is the reason for OVI Store dominance. Nevertheless, China Mobile gets consumers by being the top mobile carrier in China. The reports of the study underline the significance of localization as a key strategy to boost the Chinese market.

                          Apple’s App Store and the Android Market are expected to gain strength. However, the research points out that for the local Telco app stores to continue keep their positions; they should offer alternative means of dissemination and settlement channels.

                          Remember, though the survey is quite inexplicable as it only measures how Consumers access the App Stores. It still is a good signal on China’s broad App Store landscape.