36 firms showcase products @ CTO ‘10

ABOUT 36 companies are participating in this year’s annual Computer, Telecommunication and Office Equipment (CTO) which commenced in Lagos on Monday with experts discussing how technologies could aid the security of the country.

Confirming this, the Senior Commercial Specialist at the United States Embassy Lagos, Mr. Anayo Agu said that the five-day conference and exhibition has as its theme: leveraging Technologies to Secure Nigeria’s Future.

He also said that the official opening ceremony has been moved till tomorrow, Thursday, due to the seven-day mourning declared by the newly sworn-in president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in respect of late president, Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’Adua.

He noted that the US Commercial Service in the country has scheduled the CTO-2010 to end on Friday, May 14.

The event holding at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Centre Onikan-Lagos, would focus on technologies available to the private sector and government to enhance the cyber and physical security of all Nigerians.

CTO exhibition, he said, has become a market development tool of the US Commercial Service in the country, which showcases the best technologies that US companies and their Nigerian partners have to offer the region.

He recalled that the annual event began in 1989 with a focus on encouraging office automation in the country, using computer and telecommunications technologies.

“It has since expanded to include the entire spectrum of hi-tech US products that often utilize a whole host of hardware, software, telecommunications, and remote sensing technologies to deliver business solutions that enhance all of our lives. It is the largest exhibition of its kind in West Africa,” he said.

This year’s CTO, Mr. Agu highlighted, would featured an all day seminar, focusing on leveraging technology to enhance the security of the public and private sector in all aspects of their operations, ranging from protecting business and customer information in the digital age, confirming the identity of individuals through the use of biometrics, to preventing customs evasion through the use of remote sensing at ports and border entry points.

He explained that the seminar would tomorrow, Thursday be open for students, especially those under the age of 18 years.

Emphasizing that CTO seminars and exhibitions help professionals from both public and private sector better understanding of the challenges they face and the array of technology-driven solutions available to successfully meet these challenges.

Hence, the seminar provides a unique platform for local and international experts to interact on critical issues.

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