Telecom
12-Year-Old Spelling Bee Champion Takes Charge as MTN Nigeria’s One-Day CEO

In a heartwarming celebration of young talent, MTN Nigeria today announced Daniel Nkanu Victor, a student from Intimacy with Christ Secondary School, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, as its honorary One-Day CEO. This recognition follows Daniel’s impressive triumph in the 2023 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee competition. With a confident stride and a contagious smile, the 12-year-old stepped into the shoes of industry veteran Karl Toriola at the helm of Africa’s largest telecommunications network at 9 am on Wednesday, January 31.

L- R: Esther Akinnukawe, Chief Human Resources Officer, MTN Nigeria; Mr Victor Nkanu, Father of One-Day CEO; Daniel Victor Nkanu, One-Day CEO, MTN Nigeria; Karl Olutokun Toriola, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria and Esther Akinnukawe, Chief Human Resources Officer, MTN Nigeria, at the One-Day CEO Event, which held at the MTN Headquarters Rooftop, Ikoyi Lagos on January 31, 2024.
“I’m honoured to be here today. Leading Nigeria’s largest telecommunications company, even just for today, is a very special experience for me and I want to thank my family, my teachers and everyone who cheered me on while I prepared for this competition. I look forward to learning a lot,” said Daniel Nkanu Victor, MTN Nigeria One-Day CEO, addressing MTN executives and media representatives.
Welcoming Daniel during the symbolic handover, Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria said, “For a day, Daniel becomes a symbol of what we strive to achieve – a future where young Nigerians lead the way in technology, innovation, and social progress. His presence at the helm is a powerful reminder of the responsibility we carry and the opportunities we can create.”
“His journey is a message from MTN to every young Nigerian – we see your potential, we hear your voices, and we believe that you have the power to shape a better, more inclusive tomorrow. Initiatives like the Spelling Bee and the One-Day CEO are our way of saying, ‘We believe in you,’ and are committed to providing platforms for you to shine, learn, and become the leaders of tomorrow.”
In his capacity as CEO, Daniel engaged with key members of MTN Nigeria’s executive team. He also met with members of the media, where he confidently discussed key initiatives, including the unveiling of additional mPulse education data bundles.
Adia Sowho, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria reflected on the significance of the initiative, saying, “We are delighted to recognise Daniel’s hard-earned victory. His success is a collective triumph for his family, his school, his teachers, and all of us who believe in the power of education.
Daniel, who out-spelled over 30,000 participants in the MTN mPulse spelling bee, attends the same school as last year’s winner, showcasing the school’s consistent commitment to nurturing such talent.
In addition to his honorary CEO title, Daniel was awarded a N2.5 million scholarship grant, a laptop, a smartphone, and an MTN goody bag. His English teacher and school received a N500,000 grant and modern ICT devices, respectively, acknowledging their integral role in his success.
Speaking on the day’s events, Esther Akinnukawe, Chief Human Resources Officer at MTN Nigeria, said “Today has been not only significant but also deeply inspiring. It’s heartening to see the impact of our initiatives on students like Daniel and the wider community. At MTN, we see investing in young people as a strategic investment in our nation’s future. By nurturing young minds like Daniel, we are building a generation of leaders who will drive human capital development and socio-economic growth.”
The MTN mPulse Spelling Bee is a self-development proposition designed by MTN Nigeria to promote digital literacy and academic excellence, and thus contribute to enhancing the nation’s educational sector.
Telecom
SHELT Named in Prestigious 2025 MSSP 250 List for Cybersecurity Excellence

SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.

SHELT
The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.
SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.
“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”
The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.
Telecom
Meta Names Ex-Trump Adviser Dina Powell McCormick as President

Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.

Dina Powell McCormick
The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.
A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.
The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions
Telecom
X Suspends Twitter Account for Rules Violation

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has suspended the @Twitter account, replacing its profile with a standard notice citing violation of platform rules.

Musk
The action, which occurred on Sunday, January 11, left users encountering the handle greeted by a bold “Account Suspended” message on a black screen, with no details provided on the specific rules broken or the duration of the suspension.
The development has sparked widespread confusion and nostalgia among users, given that Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X in July 2023, approximately six months after acquiring the platform for $44 billion in late 2022.
The @Twitter handle had remained dormant since before Musk’s takeover, serving as a legacy remnant of the platform’s original branding, and its suspension appears to mark the final erasure of the Twitter name amid X’s ongoing efforts to combat spam, impersonation, and rule violations.
X’s official statement on the suspended page simply reads: “X suspends accounts that violate our rules,” without offering an appeal process or further explanation, unlike standard user suspensions.
Public reactions on social media ranged from humorous laments of “RIP Twitter” to speculation that the move resulted from automated moderation or a deliberate cleanup of legacy trademarks.
xAI’s Grok AI described it as a purposeful retirement of outdated elements rather than a genuine infraction, while neither Elon Musk nor X spokespeople issued any comment as of Monday morning.
This incident underscores the evolving identity of the platform under Musk’s ownership, which also saw a domain shift to x.com in 2024, further distancing it from its Twitter roots.
Industry observers note that while the suspension aligns with X’s stricter enforcement policies, the lack of transparency has fueled debates on consistency in applying rules to high-profile legacy accounts.
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