Thursday, October 9, 2025
29.4 C
Lagos

World Telecom & Information Day Targets ICT Entrepreneurship

The World Telecommunication and Information Society celebrated the fact that billions of people around the world are now connected to a smart, networked environment and looked ahead to new and previously unimaginable possibilities of communicating.

“These welcome developments make it even more urgent that we continue to pursue our goal of bringing the rest of the world’s people online, so that they too can access and create extraordinary social and economic benefits,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a message to people around the world, said: “Information and communication technologies provide smart solutions to address climate change, hunger, poverty and other global challenges.

They are key instruments for providing mobile health care and access to education, empowering women, improving efficiencies in industrial and agricultural production, and safeguarding the environment.”

Mr. Michael Møller, Director General of the UN Office at Geneva, represented Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2016 marks the 151st anniversary of the establishment of ITU, which was founded in Paris on 17 May 1865.

Global focus on ICT Entrepreneurship for Social Impact
The celebrations in Geneva today brought together leading academics, incubators, and entrepreneurs to discuss the significance of ICT entrepreneurship to create social impact.

Keynote addresses and an interactive panel discussion focused on ICT entrepreneurs and start-ups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which have a key role in ensuring economic growth in a sustainable and inclusive manner.

They are often the source of innovative ICT-enabled solutions that make a long-lasting impact in global, regional and national economies, and are an important source of new jobs especially for youth. SMEs make up more than 90 per cent of all businesses worldwide, and represent a ‘path out of poverty’ for many developing countries.

Whurley, co-founder of Honest Dollar, a start-up based in Austin, Texas, USA, which aims at bringing honesty, transparency, and simplicity to the financial services industry, urged governments to apply better interventions to support small businesses.

Mr. Alexandre Weber, co-founder of Seedstars World, a business incubator in more than 50 emerging markets, focused on creating ideas, programmes, platforms and products for start-ups and ventures, and provided a status update on the emerging market tech start-up scene.

Mr. Raphael Silva, co-founder of the Ludwig Project based in São Paulo, Brazil, delved into the social impact of ICTs by showcasing how developers create unique and life-changing applications for social good, such as introducing the hearing impaired to the world of music. He is a member of the Red Bull Amaphiko network of social entrepreneurs.

A panel discussion outlined best practices in enabling ICT innovation through small business development, both in terms of applications and development of the ICT sector.

The panellists included Ms Katherine Mulligan, Director, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship; Ms Candace Johnson, President, EBAN (European Business Angel Network); Mr. Marcos Vaena, Chief of Enterprises and Competitiveness, International Trade Centre; Whurley and Mr. Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General.

The debate was moderated by Astrid Zweynert, award-winning Journalist, Editor and Social Media Specialist at Thomson Reuters.

spot_img
spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

Zenith Bank, NEM, Seplat, AIICO, Dangote Cement, First HoldCo Recognised as Nigeria’s High-Performing Companies

L-R:    Michael Ani, Manager, Investor Relations, Dangote Cement; Oluseyi...

Rosatom: Nuclear Energy Holds key to Africa’s Sustainable Future

The role of nuclear energy in meeting Africa’s future...

RMRDC Targets 30% Value-Added Policy on Export of Local Raw Materials

The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) says...

NDIC, CIBN Strengthen Collaboration in Emerging Issues in the Financial Sector

L-R: President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of...

Fidelity Bank Commences Disbursement of FGN MSME Intervention Funds

Tier One Lender, Fidelity Bank Plc, has commenced the...

Topics

NCDMB ES Visits Pipe Coating Firms, Pledges Support for Local Capacities

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has...

A.M. Best: European Insurers Continue Emerging Markets’ Growth

In an attempt to deploy excess capital, some major European insurers have developed overseas operations over the past several years but are now taking a more cautious approach, as not all overseas strategies have proven successful, according to a new report published by A.M. Best. Well-capitalised insurers looked to overseas investments in order to improve margins during a time when traditional domestic markets remain mature and saturated, while low interest rates are hitting investment returns, said the report, titled “European Insurers Continue Overseas Expansion Drive but More Focused in Approach.”

N229bn World Bank Windfall: States Refuse to Publish 2019 Budget

Nigerian state governments have proved that the returns from...

NCC, CBN to Tighten SIM Card Swap Process

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian...

Sovereign Trust Insurance Pioneer Chairman, Ephraim Faloughi Bags Honorary Doctorate Degree

L-R: Bisola Asaju, AGM/Head, General Internal Services, Segun Bankole,...

NAICOM, Fire Service Hold Sensitisation Forum on Insurance of Buildings

From left: Mr. Leonard Akah (Director, Policy & Regulation...

Stakeholders Seek Collaboration by Regulators, Operators to Advance Fintech, Financial Inclusion in Nigeria

L-R: Dr. Olayinka Olutola, Director General/CEO, Association of Enterprise...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img