<<February 23, 2008>>
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Chief & Sir Charles Ugo Eke, MIEEE, KFC, Ochiri Ozuo 1 <bychief@yahoo.com>

Winston O. (Wole) Soboyejo <soboyejo@princeton.edu>

Dr. Harold P. Sjursen <hsjursen@duke.poly.edu>

Chuck O. N. Chuckuemeka, CPA <onchuckuemeka@aol.com>

Walter G. Ollor, Ph.D. <ollorwgo@yahoo.com>

Peter O. Jack <pj2000ngr@yahoo.co.uk>

Chris Uwaje, (Fncs, Fiap) <uwajenet@yahoo.de>


I. Imo State Technology Park (ISTP) Project

Dear Charles:

(1) Many thanks again for your msg (ATTACHMENT I) with very interesting and prospective descriptions about the USA visit of the Governor Ikedi Ohakim of your Imo State in Nigeria.

It was certainly our great honor and privilege to have presented him our GUS project along with the Imo State Technology Park (ISTP) project at Sheraton Hotel nearby Newark Airport in New Jersey in the evening of September 5th.

I am very pleased to know that our presentations were well received by the governor as described at the end of the web page <http://odili.net/news/source/2007/sep/14/500.html>.

(2) At that time, I was also very honored to receive from him a following his book;

ÒThe Marketing Imperative for Rural IndustrializationÓ


This book is very scholarly with broad yet practical vision  — a kind of manifestation of his government.

Dear Harold:
You may obtain its copy to use it as a textbook of your proposed entrepreneurship course.


Dear Chuck:

(3) Many thanks for your msg (ATTACHMENT II) with a very cordial invitation <http://preview.tinyurl.com/2w5qkz> to your Economic Summit on December 13 to 15, 2007.

According to Charles, I should have received a subsequent letter from you with detailed travel logistics, but in vain so far.  (I was also very busy with my trip to Finland anyway around that time.)   Charles then later told me that your governor had to make his trip to India.

Dear Charles:

(4) Many thanks also for your msg (ATTACHMENT III) with very interesting description about his governmentÕs budgets.

I wish a very good luck to his dream of making his Imo State as a model to other states in Nigeria.  When succeeded, he would certainly become a most prospective candidate to the presidency of Nigeria.

We would then be very happy if we can be of any further help to him and the people of your Imo State.

II. Possible E-Governance with GSEEED Project

Dear Peter:

(5) Many, many thanks for your msg (ATTACHMENT IV) in response to my following list distribution;

(02/16/08) Procedures to get the Japanese ODA for ICT development in developing countries
http://preview.tinyurl.com/3bmozd


It was accompanied with very interesting slides <http://preview.tinyurl.com/yok8hy>, which were prepared for your doctoral thesis proposal presentation.

Yes, I recall our mtg at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Abuja, Nigeria, when Charles and I were kindly invited by the Late Prof. Ajayi, then the DG of the NITDA in June to July of 2004.

(6) I found that your thesis "Funding Model Evaluation and Proposal for eGovernment Implementation in Developing Countries" is very interesting.

You may consider joining in our GSEEED project;

Quantitative Policy Analysis of Global Socio-Economic-Energy-Environment Development (GSEEED) Project
http://preview.tinyurl.com/337nrn

Should you decide to join in it, pls send me your brief bio — see others in its ANNEX I and your letter of commitment as others in its ANNEX II and your curricula vitae as others in ANNEX V.


As you see in its ANNEX I, Prof. Walter Ollor of Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO) is expected to come up with a simulation model of Nigeria (modeled with either system dynamics, econometrics, or Input-Output methodologies, etc.), since Nigeria is the largest oil producing country in Africa and its 40% output is exported to North America.

He will later work on the creation of GUS/Nigeria, too.

(7) Pls visit my following list distribution;

(02/14/08) Idea for Trans-Africa Ultra High Speed Optical Fiber Network
http://preview.tinyurl.com/3x4roy


If the Japanese government adopt this idea, you may apply your Wibro (or WiMax) wireless broadband Internet in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa.

(8) I envy you for your use of 100 Mbps.  The US is really getting behind on this matter recently.

Wishing you a very good luck to your doctoral theses.

Dear Chris:

(9) Many thanks for your msg (ATTACHMENT V), albeit very belated, in response to my following list distribution;

(08/03/07) How to attain Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) using IT, by Anyim, Ohakim, others at a conference in Imo State of Nigeria
http://preview.tinyurl.com/23ed8v


(10) Thanks also for your msg (ATTACHMENT VI), in response to my following list distribution;

(02/06/08) Inquiry about NASA's Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) game project
http://preview.tinyurl.com/3yndnc


Yes, pls feel free to publicize our activities mentioned above at the International Conference in June and DLINK, etc.

Hello to your wife.

Best, Tak


ATTACHMENT I

 

From: Chief Charles Ugo Eke <bychief@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 16:54:23 -0700 (PDT)
To: Wole Soboyejo <soboyejo@princeton.edu>, Prof Harold Sjursen <hsjursen@poly.edu>, Charles Dawson <sdawson@bctpartners.com>, "Dr. Takeshi Utsumi" <utsumi@columbia.edu>
Cc: "Dr. Kevin Adotama" <Kadotama@aol.com>, George Nze Nze <nzegbest@msn.com>, <bychief@yahoo.com>
Subject: News from Imo State

Please click on the link
  
http://odili.net/news/source/2007/sep/14/500.html
  
This is one of the national newpapers in Nigeria
 
-Charles


ATTACHMENT II

 

From: abigail chinwoke <abigail_451@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:53:29 -0700 (PDT)
To: <utsumi@columbia.edu>
Subject: letter

 

I am sending this email on behalf of Chuk O.N. Chukwuemeka, the Economic Adviser to the Governor of Imo State, Nigeria.
  
Please see the attached letter from the Economic Adviser on behalf of the Governor. It is a PDF 6.0 file, if you can not open it, please advise.
  
Please contact Chuck if you have any question at 234-802-822-6817 or Onchuckuemeka@AOL.com
  
Thank you
  
Abigail.


ATTACHMENT III

 

From: Chief Charles Ugo Eke <bychief@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:02:52 -0800 (PST)
To: Wole Soboyejo <soboyejo@princeton.edu>
Cc: "Dr. Takeshi Utsumi" <utsumi@columbia.edu>, Prof Harold Sjursen <hsjursen@poly.edu>, Charles Dawson <sdawson@bctpartners.com>, "Randal D. Pinkett" <rpinkett@bctpartners.com>, George Nze Nze <nzegbest@msn.com>, "Dr. Kevin Adotama" <Kadotama@aol.com>
Subject: ISTP

 

Dear All,
  
I pray that this email reach you in good spirit and health.
  
The Imo State Government is finalizing the timeline/documents for The Imo State Technology Park(ISTP) and very soon we'll be communicating to the team members way forward in the project.
  
This project is very much in the mind of the governor, please be prepared as we move forward soonest.
 
FYI, here posted is the current budget as released by the government:
  
OhakimÕs budget and expectations of Imo residents - James Udemba Daily Champion
 
THERE is no doubt that Imo state is one of the very few states that have held the attention of Nigerians since the inauguration of governors on May 29, 2007. This is not just because the governor is from the Progressive Peoples Alliance, which has only one member in the 27-member legislature, dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It has a lot to do with the personality of Governor Ikedi Ohakim who in the last six months, appears to have captured the imagination of Nigerians with his style of governance. He is not only re-enacting the magic of the legendary Sam Mbakwe but has brought youth, charisma, vision, courage and raw determination to bear upon the delicate art of governance.
 
Indeed, when on May 29, Ohakim pronounced to run an all embracing and all-inclusive government that will be "warm, effective, responsible and responsive", some dismissed it as one of those euphoric rhetoric of one lucky to have benefited from the self-inflicted crisis of PDP in Imo state. But subsequent events have proved that Ohakim not only means those words but has long prepared to offer a dedicated service to the long-suffering people of Imo state. His Clean and Green Initiative encapsulated in the New Face of Imo Agenda has lately transformed Owerri from the rural setting it was reduced to by past administrations to a sparkling capital city ready to reclaim its glory as the cleanest state capital in the federation. It may not be an exaggeration to state that Imo people who will return home on Christmas may need guides to see them through Owerri because of the enormous positive changes wrought by Ohakim in the city.
 
But even more dramatic to them will be the economic activities they would witness going on in the communities as a result of OhakimÕs resolve to lift the people from the nadir of poverty to prosperity. This dream was given practical expression a few days ago when the governor presented the stateÕs 2008 budget to the House of Assembly. Even from the point of delivery, Ohakim showed class and got the audience raptured into dreamland. The question on the lips of Imolites is, "is this the messiah or do we expect another?"
 
Ohakim may not have pronounced himself the messiah but if he faithfully implements the budget which he has aptly christened "Budget of Great Opportunities", then Imo may be on the fast lane of economic and social recovery. With a proposed budget of N87.3 billion, 100 per cent above that of last yearÕs N43.3billion, OhakimÕs focus is to, in his own words, take Imo to "where we should have been".
 
In the past, budgets have always looked like one drab document that is detached from the people and therefore has no relevance to them. The annual ritual usually attracted such derisive comments as "their budget", "who will implement it", "they have already finished the money" etc. Tragically even the government officials had no faith in the document. As soon as the House of Assembly passed it into law, nothing more is heard about it. Because such budgets are hardly implemented, a particular road will appear in four budgets.
 
Again in previous budgets, the recurrent expenditure is always higher than the capital votes. Ohakim is determined to reverse the trend. In the 2008 budget, the governor allocated a staggering N26.8 billion to the economic sector which is 50.7 per cent of the capital budget of N53 billion. Under this important sector are Agriculture, Commerce and Industries, Petroleum and Environment, Works, Transport and Housing and Public Utilities. Aside completing on-going road projects as well as rehabilitation of others, Ohakim plans to construct 18 brand new intra state roads. He had already awarded contracts for the dualization of all major roads leading to the state capital. It is not surprising therefore that this sub sector will gulp a hefty N17 billion as proposed in the budget.
 
Understandably, Ohakim is worried by the low economic activities in the state and has made arrangement to step up the tempo. As a man from the private sector, he understands perfectly well what the people stand to gain if government intensifies efforts in creating a favourable industrial climate for increased industrialization. Apart from voting half a billion naira for the commerce and industry sub sector, the governor has pledged the realization of the International Electronic Market in Naze. He also informed that the Oguta Lake Resort will be upgraded to an international holiday resort and conference center called IMO WONDER LAKE RESORT AND CONFERENCE CENTRE. When realized, the center will employ a minimum of 3,000 persons. It is important to note that the government sees this project as one that will significantly assist in job creation as well as increased internally generated revenue.
 
Even at that, Ohakim knows that for now education remains the biggest industry in the state. That is why in the capital budget construction work will be completed at the Imo State University College of Engineering in Okigwe while school blocks, boreholes, technical equipment and construction of three model secondary schools are to be pursued. Health, Youths and Sports, Women Affairs and Social Development, Culture and Tourism, Law and Justice, House of Assembly and Poverty Alleviation also were taken care of in the capital budget of great opportunities.
 
An analysis of the revenue expectations of the Imo state budget showed that care was taken to ensure that areas of waste and leakages are blocked. That perhaps explains why Ohakim hopes to generate internally N12billion – something unheard of since the state was created in 1976. Other expectations under recurrent revenue are state share of the Federation Account N37.8billion, Value Added Tax N4billion and Excess Crude N7.2billion. In all N61.35billion is expected while capital receipts consisting of internal and external loans, grants and miscellaneous account for N25.9billion.
 
There is no gainsaying the fact that this is an ambitious budget articulated by a fertile mind and conceptualized to break the cycle of poverty in Imo state. But the worry is, can Ohakim translate this lofty dream to reality? Can he make the budget work or is it a mere window dressing meant to attract cheap popularity? He must have been aware of such anxieties when he declared that he knew what he was up to. According to him, "the problem of funding capital projects will become history as the government has put in place reforms to benchmark payments based on actual performance and payment of old contractual debts separately."
 
With that pledge, Ohakim seems to have reassured Imo people that he means business. Those who are wont to dismiss the budget as utopian and unrealistic will still adopt the "siddon look" approach to watch how the governor will realize the 2008 budget. And this is the great challenge before him. In the past, people were simply aloof to issues of budget but now things have changed because he has shown a remarkable new way of engendering and sustaining peopleÕs interest in the business of governance. Never in the history of the state has a leader aroused such interest in his people that governance involves everybody. That means that while they can forgive a dour and unintelligent leader who never illuminated the way for them, the people of Imo state will never forgive Ohakim if after whetting their appetite of a promised land abandons them half way. Put differently, the consequences of failure on the part of the governor will be catastrophic. As the Bible admonished, now that he has put his hands on the plough, he should never look back.
 
However, in surmounting that challenge, he needs the support of the House of Assembly and the entire Imo citizenry to succeed. In his budget address, he averred that he has no understanding of politics but to serve the people well by improving their welfare. He has also appealed to the Assembly to ensure early passage of the budget and the Public Procurement (Due Process) and Fiscal Responsibility Bills to enable him entrench good governance, transparence and effective service delivery. If the tools he has asked for are given to him and the state remains peaceful and stable, OhakimÕs huge task will now be to translate his budget of great opportunities to actually improving the welfare and well-being of Imo citizens".
 
I wish you and yours a very safe hoildays, enjoy it.
 
-Charles Eke
908.405.7441


ATTACHMENT IV

 

From: Peter Jack <pj2000ngr@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:37:57 +0000 (GMT)
To: <utsumi@columbia.edu>
Cc: <fantsuamfoundation@fantsuam.com>, <vesper@gwu.edu>, <infodev@worldbank.org>, <liverpoo@unijos.edu.ng>, <bychief@yahoo.com>, <wigwej@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [gu-new] (02/16/08) Procedures to get the Japanese ODA for ICT development in developing countries

 

Dear TAK,
  
Special greetings and thanks for keeping me on your mailing list. My name is Peter Jack. We met when you came to National Information Technology Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria and I knew that some day in the future I will contact you again to talk more seriously about what can be done in Nigeria.
  
Forgive me, I may have missed your mails on the progress of GUS in Nigeria. I am currently in my second year of a PhD (Information Technology Policy) program at the Seoul National Uiversity (SNU). My thesis is titled "Funding Model Evaluation and Proposal for eGovernment Implementation in Developing Countries"; copy of thesis proposal attached for your reference and comments.
  
South Korea has successfully registered the Wibro (Wireless Broadband) standard as a global standard. I am keen on implementing Wibro in Nigeria and there cannot be a better time to do this. As you know, the average internet bandwidth in Nigeria is still extremely low and yet expensive. However there is some renewed hope. First we have the Universal Service Provision Fund with substantial Funding, and we have our Communication Satellite already in Orbit (Nigeria's second Satellite). The first one is an Earth Observation Satellite.
  
In my home as well as in my lab/office I enjoy internet bandwidth of 100mbps from the Wibro service. Most homes in Seoul are wired by FTTH.
  
I am actually in very serious talks with Samsung, the main technology Vendor for Wibro in Korea for its implementation in Nigeria.
  
Kindly bring me up to date on your progress with GUS in Nigeria. Feel free to forward my mail to all the people who have been working with you on the project.
  
I look forward to your early reply.
  
Regards
  
Peter.


ATTACHMENT V

 

From: Chris Uwaje <uwajenet@yahoo.de>
Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:55:56 +0200 (CEST)
To: Kris Dev <krisdev@gmail.com>, <utsumi@columbia.edu>, Charles Ugo Eke <bychief@yahoo.com>, Wole Soboyejo <soboyejo@princeton.edu>, Charles Dawson <sdawson@bctpartners.com>
Cc: gu-new <gu-new@friends-partners.org>
Subject: Re: [gu-new] (08/03/07) How to attain Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) using IT, by Anyim, Ohakim, others at a conference in Imo State of Nigeria

Hi All,
  
Thanks. Agree. Automation of Governmet processes is perhaps currently the best way and operational model to eradicate corruption and abuse of power especially in developing countries. Above all, it will accelerate the elimination of poverty (that is«: information poverty,
  
education poverty, communication poverty and access/sharing poverty). As founder of Connect Technologies Limited (www.connecttechnologiesltd.com <http://www.connecttechnologiesltd.com> ) Over the last five years - working with Chief Charles Ehkeh, I have designed, developed and implemented - pilot programs on e-Government (G2G) for Nigeria. The solution is currely running in 9 approved Federal Ministries and with adequate funding, we can implement it at the State and Local Government levels. Once more thank you for unfolding this important component of MDGs.
  
Chris

Kris Dev <krisdev@gmail.com> schrieb:
  

Dear all,

e-Administration is a web enabled, platform neutral, e-Platform for e-Governance and can be used by any organization including Government organization to integrate the entire vertical and horizontal hierarchy, to introduce transparency and accountability, to achieve UN MDGs.

e-Administration can integrate every village to the national network seamlessly and empower the rural poor and marginalized using WiFi or WiMax.

Such initatives have already been implemented by Government organizations in iIdia.


Kris Dev
ICT & e-Gov consultant
Manthan Awardee 2006
www.manthanaward.org <http://www.manthanaward.org/>

President & CEO
Life Line to Business (LL2B)
http://ll2b.blogspot.com <http://ll2b.blogspot.com/> .

For more details please see http://ll2b.blogspot.com <http://ll2b.blogspot.com/> .

 


ATTACHMENT VI

 

From: Chris Uwaje <uwajenet@yahoo.de>
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 17:39:10 +0100 (CET)
To: <utsumi@columbia.edu>, Darryl Mitchell <Darryl.R.Mitchell@nasa.gov>, gu-new <gu-new@friends-partners.org>
Cc: <daniel.d.laughlin@nasa.gov>
Subject: RE: [gu-new] (02/06/08) Inquiry about NASA's Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) game project

Prof. Tak/All,
 
Happy New Year to you and your charming wife.
 
The proposed conceptual framework model may be of interest to Nigeria. The Nigeria computer society is holding an Internationl Conference in June www.ncs-nig.com <http://www.ncs-nig.com>  I am wondering if I sould champion this cause at a special forum? Moreso, it may be of interest to DLINK International -Manufactures of Network Switch - who plans to set up shop in Nigeria/West African soon. Your Thought?
  
Chris


List of Distribution


Chief & Sir Charles Ugo Eke, MIEEE, KFC, Ochiri Ozuo 1
Chairman Eze's in Council (Overseas)
Founder / CEO
Infotex Systems, Inc.
P.O.Box 1805
Plainfield, NJ 07060
908.405.7441
Tel: (908) 753-0030 X 11
cel: 908.884.1045
cel: 908.884.7333
Fax: (908) 753-7306
Fax: (908) 754-5042
bychief@yahoo.com <<January 3, 2005>>Preferred to use this.
chief_sireke@yahoo.com
lilyeke@yahoo.com
web60154@infotexsystems.com
ceke@infotexsystems.com
ceke@ddn-africa.org
ceke@infotexsystems.com
http://www.lnfotexsystems.com
http://www.ddn-africa.org/
Or
135 Ogunlana Drive Surulere
Lagos, Nigeria
Tel/Fax 01-481-7471 0803.321.0774

Winston O. (Wole) Soboyejo
Director
United States/Africa Materials Institute (USAMI)
Professor and
Director of Undergraduate Program - Princeton Institute for the Science & Technology of Materials
Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Princeton University
Olden Street, Engineering Quadrangle
Room D404B
Princeton, NJ 08544
Tel: 609-258-5609
Fax: 609-258-5877
Email: soboyejo@princeton.edu
Assistant: Laura Cerrito ~ wstemp@princeton.edu
http://usami.princeton.edu/

Dr. Harold P. Sjursen
Professor of Philosophy
Associate Provost for International Education and Research
Director, Liberal Studies
Polytechnic University
5 Metrotech Center
Brooklyn, New York 11201
USA
Tel: 718-260-3597
Fax: 718-788-4268
Cel: +1 (917) 743-2390
hsjursen@duke.poly.edu
hsjursen@poly.edu
hsjursen@gmail.com
http://www.poly.edu/

Chuck O. N. Chuckuemeka, CPA
Special Advisor, Economic Affairs
Office of the Special Advisor
Office of the Executive Governor
Government House
P. M. B. 1107
Owerri, Imo State
Nigeria
Tel: 083-231-301, 231244
234-802-822-6817
Tel/Fax: 083-232304, 234265
Cel: 0802-8220-817
0807-6645-525
onchuckuemeka@aol.com
imsgh@imostate.gov.ng
http://www.imostate.gov.ng/

Walter G. Ollor, Ph.D.
Professor
College of Business and Management Sciences
Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO)
P.M.B 0006
Benin City
Edo State, Nigeria
Tel: +234-803-709-5725
ollorwgo@yahoo.com

Peter O. Jack
Training Consultant/Director
NATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (NITDA)
Federal Ministry of Science & Technology
Plot 695, Port- Harcourt Crescent
Off Gimbiya Street,
Area 11, Garki, Abuja ‑ Nigeria
Tel: 09‑3142925 (Ext 102)
Fax: 09‑3142924
GSM: 08023112676
GSM: 0805 5007777
08033122299
pj2000ngr@yahoo.co.uk

Chris Uwaje, (Fncs, Fiap)
Group Chief Consultant
Member of the National Inter-Ministerial Committee on Software Development
Chief Executive Officer
Connect Technologies Limited
182/184 Broad Street
Lagos, Nigeria
Tel: +234-1-264-2825
+234-1-2660552, 7732391
Cel: +234-803-312-3922
uwajenet@yahoo.de
maceo@connecttechnologies.com.ng
www.connecttechnologies.com.ng
www.nigerianitexpert.com


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* Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D., P.E., Chairman, GLOSAS/USA                           *
* (GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A.)          *
* Laureate of Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education           *
* Founder and V.P. for Technology and Coordination of                         *
*   Global University System (GUS)                                            *
* 43-23 Colden Street, Flushing, NY 11355-5913, U.S.A.                        *
* Tel: 718-939-0928; Email: utsumi@columbia.edu                               *
* http://www.itu.int/wsis/goldenbook/search/display.asp?Quest=8032562&lang=en *
* http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/                                     *
* Tax Exempt ID: 11-2999676                                                   *
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