TechDeck I As Nigeria Awaits Digital Switchover

AS NIGERIA AWAITS DIGITAL SWITCHOVER

          

The campaign regarding global migration from analogue to digital broadcasting precisely commenced on June 17, 2006. Nigeria graciously signed regional and international agreement to conclude the digital migration by June 17, 2012.

         

In a bid to meet up the deadline, in 2008, the Federal Government (FG) set up a Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC). The following year, the committee submitted its report but the FG failed to implement it, causing Nigeria to miss the June 2012 deadline. The migration deadline was shifted to June 17, 2015.

          

Though the ‘Digi-team’ inaugurated by the FG alongside the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) made a frantic effort to fulfill the mandate, the efforts again didn’t yield any result owing to paucity of funds as was reported.

          

Thereafter, June 17, 2017 was recognized as the new deadline for the long-awaited transition. In spite of all the efforts put in place by the NBC to actualize the feat, yet the motive wasn’t realized. At the moment, Nigerians have been promised that June 2019 wouldn’t pass them by as regards the long-awaited goal.

           

Having missed the switchover deadline thrice, the citizenry is sceptical about the country’s chances of meeting the new date. It has become obvious that for Nigeria to actualize the feat, there’s need to comprehend the inevitable attributes of digital broadcasting, and the dangers inherent in the ongoing analogue pattern.

          

Analogue mode of transmission is an unreliable system, though it has worked well enough for over half a century. Analogue Television (TV) transmits programming in a continuous signal. The signal varies in amplitude, depending on the information contained in the audio or picture. It is transmitted on a particular radio frequency from the TV station’s transmitting antenna over the air, to the viewer’s TV set.

         

It’s noteworthy that each TV station is assigned a particular frequency that corresponds to its channel number. So, when a viewer tunes his/her TV to a given channel, he/she has actually chosen to receive transmissions on that certain frequency.

        

TV frequencies are calibrated in Megahertz (MHz). There are two major transmission frequency bands, namely: Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF). VHF channels 2 to 6 operate in the frequency range between 54 and 88MHz. VHF channels 7 to 13 operate in the frequency range between 174 and 216MHz. And UHF channels 14 to 83 operate in the frequency range between 470 and 890MHz.

         

The aforementioned analog signal is far from perfect. It does not usually reproduce the exact original programming. It can easily deteriorate over long distances. It can equally suffer interference from other sources, thereby producing ghost images, static, and ‘snow’.  
         

Hence, analog transmissions typically produce a lower-quality visual output than the original. The picture is not quite as sharp; the background is sometimes grainy. And the sound suffers from noise and reduced frequency response.

         

A situation where the viewer tries to receive signal from a distant station is even more unbearable. The farther the station, the worse the picture likewise the sound. The results are also poor if the viewer is located in a big city with lots of buildings that bounce the signal around. Among all, analogue transmission is inefficient; each VHF or UHF channel takes up a lot of valuable bandwidths.

          

Unlike analogue transmission that is prone to fading, digital technology reproduces a reliable crystal-clear picture without any form of interference. Digital tech equally enables TV stations to broadcast multiple channels with different programming. It can fit four or more channels into a single analogue channel; hence, it can accommodate as many wavebands as possible within the existing spectrum.

           

Digital tech makes the work easier, improves the professionalism, viewers’ delight, and creates more job opportunities as well as uplifts income for both the broadcasters and the government. Above all, it would enable more prospective broadcasting firms in Nigeria to be licensed by the NBC.

          

To this end, Nigeria needs to hasten up towards meeting the June 2019 deadline. It’s no longer about setting up a team but bracing up to the reality, which is to apply a pragmatic approach instead of the continued indulgence in theory.

         

Digital Terrestrial Multimedia Broadcasting (DTMB), to be utilized by Nigeria, adopts time-domain synchronous Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modulation technology, with a pseudo-random signal frame to serve as the Guard Interval (GI) of the OFDM block and the training symbol. Its content is viable and reliable, thus worthy of emulation.

          

The Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) has a very vital role to play. First, they must acknowledge what they stand to gain. Broadcasting involves generation, transmission and distribution. It’s the duty of the various broadcasting stations to provide the required equipment for the first two phases such as computers, amplifiers and digital transmitter.

            

The government, on its part, is to provide the instruments for the distribution phase such as ITS and pinnacle. BON must therefore conscientize their teeming members to do the needful.

          

Towards sustaining the feat, if actualized, the FG needs to create stiff policies and regulations. The NBC would be expected to be more proactive and endeavour to create the needed awareness. Similarly, the broadcasting firms need to deploy standard maintenance and anti-hacking softwares as well as engage reliable tech experts in their daily activities, either as consultants or employees.

         

The overall project is capital-intensive, so there’s need for adequate collaboration both on the part of the government and the investors. Think about it!

 FDN Nwaozor

CEO, Docfred Technologies

_______________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056 

Twitter: @mediambassador                   

ShortStory II Unforeseen Confession (II)

UNFORESEEN CONFESSION (II)

      “Kosarachi…” Mr. Maduka called the moment he was offered a seat at Kosarachi’s parental home.

        Mr. Maduka was one of Kosarachi’s closest uncles and was also a farmer by profession. But he was a small-scale farmer compared to his late brother Amakiri.

        Mr. Maduka, whom was in his early fifties, was undoubtedly a very greedy and dangerous man that every second in his life his mindset was preoccupied with an intended evil act. Every indigene of Umuokanne was very much aware of his evil lifestyle.

        Kosarachi was equally warned by his late father while alive to be very careful with him and he heeded the candid advice seriously because he sincerely believed in every word that came from the deceased’s mouth.

        Mr. Maduka whose house was sited very close to that of Kosarachi’s late father, had walked to their sitting room where he (Kosarachi) was relaxing with his beloved mother Obiageri at about 06:45am of April 28, 1989, barely two weeks after his step-brother’s eternal exit and just three days after the burial.

      “Yes uncle.” Kosarachi responded.

        His mother was seated adjacent and closely to him while the guest sat opposite him but a bit farther.

      “This one you came by this time, Uncle,” Kosarachi added. “Hope all is well?”

        Obviously, Maduka’s countenance wasn’t friendly that even a visually impaired person could notice it.

       “Eh-eh m,” Mr. Maduka hastily cleared his throat. “I’ve come to warn you to stay clear from my land at Umuobodo.” He tendered frantically.

         Umuobodo was one of the clans situated in Umuokanne Ancient Community. The aforesaid land was where both Maduka and his late step-brother, Amakiri separately owned farmyards. The land, which was duly shared among them, was inherited from their late father Omemgbeoji.

        Ab initio when Mr. Amakiri was alive, the greedy brother had made several failed efforts to deprive him of his portion. He kept on finding fault at the boundary between the two lands. And, Kosarachi was informed of the dispute by his late father.

        It was actually on that land that Mr. Amakiri got the snakebite that led to his untimely death.

       Kosarachi and his mother were conspicuously shocked over the uncanny warning, though they were very much aware of what Mr. Maduka was capable of doing. But the early morning warning, which came exactly fourteen days after Amakiri’s departure, was the least they expected from him.

      “Uncle,” Kosarachi called, frowned. “I’m surprised at you.”

        His mother, Obiageri who was still shocked, remained calm.

      “Is this what you came to tell me at this time of the day?” the seeming fearless chap continued. “Barely three days after your brother’s burial?”

       “I’ve warned you, Kosarachi.” Mr. Maduka repeated fiercely. “That land belongs to me.” He claimed, tapping his chest with his right hand.

       “Besides,” Kosarachi interrupted. “My father never told me that the land in question is in dispute.” He lied.

       “Okay,” Mr. Maduka said. “Maybe he would tell you when you meet him in the grave.” He hinted harshly.

       “What..?” Kosarachi exclaimed in a high tone.

         His mother shook her head in shock, remained mute.

         Obiageri was indeed an easy going woman that tried every means to avoid troubles let alone when her lovely hubby was no more.

        “Obiageri,” Mr. Maduka called. “You better warn your son.” He concluded, stood up and left for his home crazily like one whose house was on fire.

        “Okay,” Kosarachi ranted. “We shall see.”

        “Kosarachi my son,” Obiageri called tenderly as soon as the august visitor left. “You have to be very, very careful.”

        “How mama?”

        “That man is evil.” she informed. “I am sure your late father told you about this.” She hurriedly added, referring to Mr. Maduka’s evil nature.

        “Mama, that man cannot do more than a dead rat.” he replied naively.   “You people are just fearing him for nothing.” He concluded.

         Two months later, Kosarachi fell critically ill. Every medical diagnosis in respect of the illness detected nothing, which prompted the intervention of their church reverend. In the long run, it was ascertained that the unending disease that had already claimed much of the family’s wealth was attributed to a spiritual manipulation. Hence, the family was placed on a two-week fasting and prayers after which a deliverance was conducted on the premises of their residence at the night of July 7, 1989.

      Something very striking but amazing transpired at that very night while the family deliverance was taking place. Surprisingly, Mr. Maduka hastily ran out of his house half-naked to Kosarachi’s compound where the deliverance was ongoing.

       He instantly fell on the ground and sought for their forgiveness having confessed to them that he was solely responsible for Kosarachi’s illness as well as his father’s death. The confession, which kept everyone dumbfounded, was never seen coming by the poor family.

        The rest is history, please.

FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH)

________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador

     

Opinion I Celebrating Eze Madumere @54

CELEBRATING EZE MADUMERE @54

         

The well-celebrated and quintessential Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, MFR became 54 on 4^th July 2018. This came at a time he had added more millions of respected individuals to his countless fans.

         

We aren’t unaware that virtually all political leaders take a commendable action just to be captured by paparazzi. But we know those who genuinely participate in suchlike activity. Prince Madumere belongs to the latter. He has disabused me of the notion that every Nigerian politician isn’t real.

         

I deem it fit and bold to say that I’m very much aware of the political cum public lifestyle of the celebrant in question who invariably chooses to mark his birthday amidst the downtrodden and even sufferers of leprosy.

          

Prince Madumere’s humility as a politician is unparalleled. He walks and talks uniquely, unlike an average politician in Nigeria let alone a number two citizen of a highly revered state in the country. He doesn’t seemingly believe that one can be heard only when he raises his voice, thus prefers to address any crowd in a calm manner.

         

He speaks like a man who thinks deeply before he talks. He apparently comprehends the essence of thinking before a statement is made. If you have known me ab initio, you would have noticed I often urge people to ‘think about it’ because I’m strongly of the opinion that a sound thought begets good action. Perhaps this exemplary personality has concurred with this candid theory.

         

He is simple to the core. In spite of his present position, he doesn’t hesitate in taking a phone call or responding to a text message, even from an unknown number. And whenever he missed a call, he must surely do well to return it. More interestingly, he is always with his cell phone unlike other highly placed personalities in the society that would prefer to keep it in the custody of an aide that would take the calls on their behalf. 

          

He’s a true humanitarian. Sometime ago, he was allowed to alight first from a certain airline that landed in Abuja, in which he was one of the passengers. The moment he got down the steps, he casually turned back and observed an elderly man struggling with his luggage while alighting the steps. Surprisingly, the unendingly pleasant royal prince stretched out his hand to assist the man who appeared to be a septuagenarian and personally carried his luggage into the waiting shuttle bus.

          

A close friend of mine who intimated me on the above story happened to be one of the passengers. According to the buddy, he likewise other passengers, was filled with goose pimples on that fateful day on observing what transpired. That was just one out of the many selfless acts he had graciously carried out.

          

What actually triggered my humble pen, aside the aforementioned instigation, was his unalloyed respect for the Imo Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha. Unlike most other politicians who got intoxicated as soon as they tasted power, Prince Madumere’s case is amazingly very exceptional.

        

Even at the moment that he appears to be in a political faceoff with the governor as a result of the ongoing quest cum debate on who governs the state come 2019, the easy-going number two citizen of the ancient province had chosen to tread with caution.

         

It might interest you to note that since the lingering altercation began, he had refused at all cost to insult the governor’s personality irrespective of the circumstance. Intriguingly, he keeps asking his innumerable allies to remain calm as well as sheath their sword.

         

I can’t conclude this analysis without touching governance. As the man in charge of boundary disputes concerning Imo, he had successfully settled various lingered misunderstandings between some communities within the Eastern Heartland as well as between the state and her neighbours.  

         

He seems like one whose conscience is always awake. You and I are not unaware that the conscience of most highly placed Nigerians, not just politicians, are ostensibly asleep in most occasions. But that of Prince Madumere looks not unlike one that is invariably alert regardless of the circumstance.

        

I have gathered from reliable sources how he had silently carried his teeming followers along, particularly those who had contributed towards his success story in one way or the other.

       

Though an average politician resort to creating scenes so that his/her name would go to the press especially when sensed that he had been in oblivion, Madumere apparently tries to avoid being noticed even when such attitude is highly needed. He prefers to keep to himself than to end up creating an inconsequential scene. Sometimes I got baffled if he’s really a politician.

        

At this juncture, I wholly join millions of well wishers – home and beyond – to celebrate this young, vibrant, eloquent and distinguished Imo-born politician and philanthropist because at 54, he has succeeded in shaming his numerous enemies.

         

I’m, therefore, deeply convinced that the ongoing impeachment quest by the Imo Assembly against this elegant gentleman can never change his indisputable and unequalled qualities; rather, would end up taking him to the anticipated next level. Think about it! 

FDN Nwaozor

National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement

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frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador