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Microsoft Nigeria has introduced a new technology solution (X-Gen) to the capital market operators. This announcement was made last week at the X-Gen expo organised by the Nigeria Stock Exchange. X-Gen is a new electronic trading platform that will allow stockbrokers and other stakeholders access the market anywhere and anytime. The X-Gen Expo was a platform where market shareholders and solution providers discussed the features of the X-Gen solution. The system is expected to improve transparency, market access, audit trail and provide efficient price discovery in the market, thereby enabling investors to realise their investment objectives by using products currently offered at the exchange in more meaningful ways. Speaking on new trading possibilities for the Nigerian capital market, Ade Bajomo, Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology at the NSE, noted that the new trading models will support algorithm trading, customer driven electronic trading, direct market access and high frequency trading. In his remarks, Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, NSE described the X-Gen Expo as the first of its kind since inception of the NSE in 1960 and stated that “X-Gen symbolises NSE’s untiring commitment to delivering a first rate technology platform that will enable our members build and grow their businesses, and the investing community experience a more efficient market when they buy and sell securities.” There was also a panel where issues relating to Service Providers, Telco, Hardware and Security were discussed. Adefolu Majekodunmi, Channels and Partners Director, Microsoft Nigeria said: “Microsoft is working with the NSE to provide top notch technology at the right price to capital market operators. We do this through cloud service provisioning at a low cost and without infrastructure cost.” The Microsoft Channels and Partners Director further explained that Microsoft has the expertise both in terms of expertise and personnel to enable the NSE achieve its objectives and as well provide application requirements for capital market operators. He mentioned that “there are two aspects on how Microsoft’s licensed software can be made available to the industry in order to avoid patronage of pirated software– knowing where to buy licensed software and creating awareness around issues that may arise as a result of buying pirated software. He added that the second is affordability, stating that Microsoft provides significantly affordable software”. Also on display at the Microsoft exhibition stand was the Microsoft Office 365, a cloud service which requires no hardware investment. The Expo provided market operators the opportunity to learn more about the potential business impact of Office 365 and explore its power and functionality during a hands-on demo by officials of Ha-shem Network Services Limited, a Certified Microsoft Gold Partner. The Microsoft Office 365 has the potential to fuel business and economic transformation by delivering cost-effective, flexible access to enterprise-class IT and also provides the productivity backbone for modern businesses. Office 365 also brings together Microsoft Office, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Exchange Online and Microsoft Lync Online in an always-up-to-date service, at affordable cost. These tools put email, voice-mail, enterprise social networking, instant messaging, Web portals, extranets, video conferencing, web conferencing and more at everyone’s fingertips. In terms of accessibility, Microsoft has over 2,000 partners that sell software, and the latest addition to getting genuine software is through the cloud for best e-mails, data and storage without customers having to host the infrastructure in their offices. By Adewale Yusuf, Courtesy of Otekbits