Zinox Technologies Limited has announced a new scheme that would make 100,000 computers available for purchase by students in Nigerian schools at concessionary prices.

The chairman of Zinox Technologies, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh, said the scheme known as Z-scop, would put laptops and desktop computers with the latest software for acquisition by students from primarily schools to university level.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, Ekeh said the scheme had become necessary in view of the fact that many Nigerian students were still lacking access to computers despite the fact that this was basic in today's business and education.

He said the project was possible due to a special agreement with Intel and Microsoft for the processors and operating systems that drive the computers. He said Z-scop was exclusive to Zinox and laptops to be sold would be introduced slightly below N100 000 per unit.

He explained that Z-scop would particularly benefit the country's education system, as it would create new platforms for students to learn well.

He said the 100 000 computers to be sold under the first phase of the scheme would be just the beginning and the aim is to drive the scheme throughout the country. He said every new computer purchased with complete payment would get a 10 per cent discount for laptops and seven per cent for desktops.

Ekeh said, there were options that allowed participants to spread payment over six and 12 months under an interest-free arrangement, but that such participants must give the firm a post-dated cheque.

He added that the firm had set up a special support system for the scheme and was currently employing engineers to be placed across the country to provide support for the computer systems.

He said Zinox had opened 10 offices nationwide and would be equipping each computer with special communication software that would make the tracking of the user easier and allow back and forth communication with all owners.

Meanwhile, Nigeria has recorded consistent growth in Internet penetration in the last six years with the number of users in the country reaching over five million in 2006 compared to a mere 200,000 in year 2000.

The development, which represents over 2,400 per cent growth in users, makes Nigeria the fastest growing internet using country in Africa as against the continent?s average of 640 per cent

The Chief Executive Officer of Setlin.com, Mr. Eric Amagada, says the development confirmed the prevalent role of the Internet in modern life and its impact on channelling consumers' preferences for the future.

Amagada, who spoke at a retreat organised by the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks, said that the Internet had become a central communication medium today as organisations seek to impact on their future markets, retain and grow successive generations of loyal customers

Delivering a lecture titled, Internet Publicity and Branding Strategy for Banks he said, "The Internet, which allows for global participation in local activities is the wise choice for growing market share and bottom-line, as the Internet-savvy population is the most appropriate target market, as banks gravitates more towards eBanking products and service offerings."

The president of ACAMB, Mr. Eddy Ademosu, said that the Internet has also made the development of many electronic banking products which offer customers greater convenience possible.

He said, "In the last three to four years, a lot of strategy has gone into ensuring that service delivery is acceptable, e-Banking, ATMs and all those things that are being pushed out for customers' convenience", he said.

Stressing the need for banks to ensure customer satisfaction, he said the people that customers had contact with on a daily basis, had to be trained for optimum service delivery.

He said, "We acknowledge that training is the key. We acknowledge that members should be able to render service well. So, it is in that wise that ACAMB together with FITC will be pushing out training programmes for our Front Desk officers."

The head of public affairs at Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, Alhaji H.S. Birchi, in his paper, tasked the banks on the issue of service delivery.

He said mega banks were evolving by the day but depositors were yet to feel the impact of consolidation exercise. He urged banks to provide better offerings to customers.
He noted that Nigeria could become financially stronger through effective Internet publicity and branding.

Highway Africa News Agency