Education

AC vs DC Power: All the Pros and Cons for Your Business Needs

Published

5 years ago

25/06/2021

Thanks to the marvels of our constantly advancing and eternally impressive technological advancements, flicking on a light switch or plugging in a laptop is even simpler than primitive tasks like combing your hair or putting on clothes.

But when you’re in business, power is even more useful than keeping the lights on. A stable, reliable supply of electricity keeps your operations safe and productive, keeps you in touch with your customers, streamlines your operations, and keeps those profits flowing as consistently as the power to your computers, machines and premises.

Digging a little deeper, though, reveals the true marvel of power. Because while the power to your power-points is AC, the power delivered to your computers, phones and other electronic devices and equipment is much more likely to be DC. Why’s that? What’s the difference? And why does it matter for your business?

Let’s dive in:

AC versus DC

If your knowledge of AC/DC extends a little further than the rock’n’roll band, let’s start right from the beginning: the difference between the acronyms.

AC stands for alternating current, which can both change direction and magnitude, while DC is direct current – an electrical charge that is one-directional.

Thomas Edison famously pioneered DC, but it ultimately proved difficult to convert into either the lower voltages required for the end-user.

Luckily, Nikola Tesla was busily experimenting with AC, which ‘alternates’ multiple times with each blink of the eye – and the rest is history.

In fact, the power supplied to every home and business across the world runs on the Tesla principle, which is generally understood to be an easier and more reliable way to transmit power across long distances.

DC, though, is easier to manage and store locally, especially with the delicate workings and ultra-thin wiring of most applications and devices familiar with the DC power connectors you use both at home and work.

AC: The pros and cons

As well as being better for transmitting electricity from its source to the user, AC power is easily ‘stepped up’ or ‘stepped down’ from lower or higher voltages, including the more stable and precise DC requirements of most of the devices we use power for. AC generators and motors are also quite significantly simpler and cheaper than their DC counterparts.

However, despite the simplicity and the other benefits, AC tends to interfere with other communication lines, including harmonics problems that electrical operations that are erratic and difficult to diagnose and remedy.

DC: The pros and cons

Transmitting DC power requires only one or two smaller conductors, and there are also fewer issues in terms of capacitance, phase displacement, inductance and even power surging. That means less insulation is needed for the same voltage as AC, while interference with other systems is also lower.

However, DC voltage is unable to be ‘stepped up’, unlike the much more versatile AC. In practice, that means a 240-volt device requires DC power delivered at precisely 240 volts, with any additional resistors or instruments to reduce the voltage only complicating the arrangement and wasting energy in the process.

Why it matters for your business

In a nutshell, that’s essentially why your business may be in the market for a DC power connector, which enables your small to medium devices to receive the precise power requirements via the AC source.

As a result, there are countless DC power connectors out there to enable safe, secure, efficient and reliable energy for your business needs, so talk to an expert today to match the right choice to your precise requirements.

Education

Nigerian Breweries to Empower 1,000 Lagos, Ogun, Enugu Students

Published

3 days ago

22/12/2025

Modupe Gbadeyanka

Nigerian Breweries Orange Corners Student Ambassadors Programme

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Plans have been concluded by Nigerian Breweries to support about 1,000 Nigerian students in Lagos, Ogun, and Enugu States.

The foremost brewing company is carrying out this empowerment initiative with a leading non-profit organisation, FATE Foundation, through the Orange Corners Student Ambassadors Programme of the Netherlands.

This partnership marks a significant step in advancing youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria, equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities needed to build sustainable businesses and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economy.

This is because the scheme is to promote entrepreneurship and offer networking opportunities in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Ambassadors are selected from specific universities to inspire students to see entrepreneurship as a desirable career path and to foster a culture of innovation within universities.

It targets students aged 18–35 currently enrolled in tertiary institutions across Lagos, Ogun, and Enugu States.

“The partnership reinforces Nigerian Breweries’ long-standing commitment to youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development. Through initiatives like this, we are creating pathways for the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders in Nigeria,” the Corporate Affairs Director for Nigerian Breweries, Mr Uzodinma Odenigbo, stated.

He further highlighted the company’s track record in youth empowerment, noting that since the renewed focus on youth empowerment and entreprenuership, Nigerian Breweries has impacted 2,365 young Nigerians across 24 states and the FCT.

Also speaking on the partnership, the Executive Director of FATE Foundation, Ms Adenike Adeyemi, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration between Nigerian Breweries and the Orange Corners Programme.

“Nigerian Breweries has been a longstanding partner with Orange Corners Nigeria in many ways. We are delighted to have the company continue to support the Orange Corners Programme and elated that this commitment will reach an additional 1000 young Nigerians leveraging the proven Orange Corners Student Ambassadors framework,” she said.

Ms Adeyemi outlined FATE Foundation’s role to include designing and delivering the training curriculum, managing student registration and participation, maintaining accurate records of all beneficiaries, and coordinating all logistical and technical aspects to ensure successful programme delivery.

Education

Kidnappings: FG Reopens 47 Unity Schools

Published

7 days ago

18/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has announced the reopening of the 47 unity schools earlier shut down due to security concerns on November 21.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Education on Thursday.

It said that the decision to reopen the affected colleges across the country reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safeguarding students and ensuring the continuity of education.

On November 18, 2025, over 20 schoolgirls were kidnapped by unidentified armed men from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi state.

Just three days later, on November 21, about 303 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger state.

In response, the federal government shut down 47 Federal Unity Colleges, and some states including Katsina, Taraba, and Niger also closed schools or restricted school activities, particularly boarding institutions.

Rights group including Human Rights Watch lamented that while these measures were aimed at protecting students, they disrupted learning for thousands of children, denied them access to education, and the social and psychological support schools provide.

FULL LIST OF AFFECTED UNITY COLLEGES

North-West:
FGGC Minjibir, FTC Ganduje, FGGC Zaria, FTC Kafanchan, FGGC Bakori, FTC Dayi, FGC Daura, FGGC Tambuwal, FSC Sokoto, FTC Wurno, FGC Gusau, FGC Anka, FGGC Gwandu, FGC Birnin Yauri, FTC Zuru, FGGC Kazaure, FGC Kiyawa, FTC Hadejia.

North-East:
FGGC Potiskum, FGC Buni Yadi, FTC Gashua, FTC Michika, FGC Ganye, FGC Azare, FTC Misau, FGGC Bajoga, FGC Billiri, FTC Zambuk.

North-Central:
FGGC Bida, FGC New-Bussa, FTC Kuta-Shiroro, FGA Suleja, FGC Ilorin, FGGC Omu-Aran, FTC Gwanara, FGC Ugwolawo, FGGC Kabba, FGGC Bwari, FGC Rubochi, FGGC Abaji.

South-West:
FTC Ikare Akoko, FTC Ijebu-Imusin, FTC Ushi-Ekiti, FTC Ogugu.

Education

Coursera, Udemy Announce $2.5bn Merger

Published

7 days ago

18/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Online learning platforms, Coursera and Udemy, have reached an agreement to merge in an all-stock transaction, with the combined company’s implied equity value estimated at approximately $2.5 billion.

The agreement, unanimously approved by both companies’ boards of directors, stipulates that Udemy shareholders will receive 0.8 shares of Coursera common stock for each Udemy share held.

Upon completion of the merger, Coursera shareholders are expected to own about 59 per cent and Udemy shareholders approximately 41 per cent of the new entity on a fully diluted basis.

The combined company will continue under the Coursera name, and maintain its headquarters in Mountain View, California.

Coursera, founded in 2012 by Mr Andrew Ng and Ms Daphne Koller, is an online learning platform with 191 million registered users as of September 30, 2025. It collaborates with over 375 universities and industry partners to offer courses, specialisations, professional certificates, and degrees.

The platform includes features such as generative AI (gen AI) tools (Coach, Role Play, Course Builder) and role-based solutions (Skills Tracks) to support scalable and personalised learning. Coursera is used by institutions for workforce development in fields such as gen AI, data science, technology, and business.

Udemy is a platform that provides on-demand, multi-language courses to help companies and individuals develop technical, business, and soft skills. It uses AI to offer personalised learning experiences and supports workforce development in a changing workplace.

Mr Greg Hart, currently CEO of Coursera, is set to lead the enlarged organisation as CEO after the merger.

The board will consist of nine members. Six from Coursera’s board, including chairman Mr Ng and CEO Mr Hart, and three from Udemy’s board.

“We’re at a pivotal moment in which AI is rapidly redefining the skills required for every job across every industry.

“Organisations and individuals around the world need a platform that is as agile as the new and emerging skills learners must master,” Mr Hart said.

The combination is said to create a complete ecosystem of top instructors supported by AI tools, data-driven insights, and broader distribution, enabling more engaging, personalised, and dynamic learning at scale.

Projected operational efficiencies include anticipated annual run-rate cost synergies of $115m within two years after closing.

Udemy CEO, Mr Hugo Sarrazin said: “For more than 15 years, Udemy has helped millions of people master in-demand skills at the speed of innovation.

“Through this combination with Coursera, we will create meaningful benefits for our learners, enterprise customers, and instructors, while delivering significant value to our shareholders, who will participate in the substantial upside potential of the combined company.”

The merger is anticipated to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory clearances, approval by both companies’ shareholders, and other customary closing conditions.