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9mobile engineering programme produces 31 masters, 3 PhD Students

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9mobile has said that it’s  Telecommunications Engineering Postgraduate Programme (9TEPP), established at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, had  produced 31 masters and three PhD students.

Stephane Beuvelet, Acting Managing Director of 9mobile stated this while hosting the Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Prof.Ibrahim Garba and a team from the institution during a visit to 9mobile corporate headquarters in Lagos.

He noted that the team came to discuss further collaboration with the telco on taking the 9mobile Telecommunications Engineering Postgraduate Programme (9TEPP) to the next level

Beuvelet said the company was ready to commit itself to promoting quality graduate education in Nigeria, hence it would continue to partner with reputable organisations on trail-blazing and impactful academic programmes.

“9TEPP, a taught master’s programme situated in Ahmadu Bello University is implemented in partnership with Plymouth University, UK.

“Through it, 9mobile is innovatively developing local expertise with regards to telecommunications engineering skills”, he said in a statement.

Beuvelet also said that he was always impressed by the quality of Ahmadu Bello University students he came across and that 9mobile was happy with the partnership.

Acting MD noted that the telecommunications industry needed specialists and that 9mobile was happy to be involved in the process of developing the required capacity and technical know-how to bridge the skills gap currently existing in the country.

“Telecommunications is a fast-moving industry that needs specialists, and we are happy to be bringing Nigerian students to the highest levels possible where they can further contribute to its development,” Beuvelet said.

He added that as an innovative brand, 9mobile was not resting on its oars, hence the telco is looking into big data, Internet of Things, blockchain, cloud technology and VOIP apart from cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence.

According to the statement, Prof. Garba commended 9mobile for supporting the 9TEPP academic programme which he described as “an important field of human endeavour.”

While giving the progress report, he disclosed that 31 master’s students have completed their study so far while 3 PhD holders have been produced.

“This is a large resource; a lot of value for the industry,” Professor Garba said.

Dr Aliyu Usman,  Head, Department of Communications Engineering, ABU who gave further updates, said that the programme’s curriculum was  regularly reviewed and that an incubation centre, where the products from the course were being fine-tuned before taken to the market, had been created.

It would be recalled that 9TEPP commenced in 2013 with the initial five-year period ending in 2018 after which it was extended for a further period.

Discussions are ongoing between 9mobile and ABU for its sustenance and scaling up to have more impact on the Nigerian populace.

Plans are underway to set up an online extension of the master’s programme to enable more postgraduate students benefit from the initiative.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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NIMC Migrates Telcos to NINAUTH Platform

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National  Identity Management Commission (NIMC)   has announced  the  successful  migration  of  all  Telecommunications  firms  to  the new National Identification Number (NIN) verification platform (NINAuth).

NIMC Migrates Telcos to NINAUTH Platform

According to Dr Kayode Adegoke, head, corporate communications, NIMC, the migration marked  a  significant  step  forward  in  enhancing  the  security, efficiency, and user experience of NIN verification services.

Adegoke said in a statement that the NINAuth platform, designed and implemented by NIMC, offers seamless verification services to Nigerians.

He described it as a more convenient and secure way to verify citizens identities.

” By migrating to this new platform, Telecommunications firms can now provide uninterrupted verification services to their subscribers.

“This achievement is a result of NIMC’s painstaking efforts to put the power to control NIN data in the hands of the holders.

“The NINAuth platform enhances data   protection,   gives   control   of   personal   data   to   the   owners,   offers seamless verification, and provides convenient sign-on access to services,” Adegoke said.

He quoted Lanre  Yusuf, director,  IT/IDD, NIMC,  as confirming  that     all telecommunications  firms  have been successfully migrated and uninterrupted verification services are being offered by the Commission.

While the Commission assured that the Verification and Authentication   Service   platforms   are   functional   and   accessible   to   all , it  however, said  any   issue    being   experienced    by   NIN    holders   on    New   SIM registration, SIM swap, SIM migration, Welcome back SIM, and others should be directed to the Telcos for resolution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Aliyu Aboki, WATRA Executive Secretary Champions Regulatory Harmonisation to Unlock West Africa’s Digital Economy

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Mr. Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, executive secretary of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), has reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to -promoting a harmonised digital policy and regulatory environment across West Africa—stating that consistent, coordinated regulation is key to unlocking investment, innovation, and growth in the region’s digital economy.

Speaking at the opening of the third meeting of WATRA’s Working Groups in Accra, Ghana, Mr. Aboki emphasised that a harmonised regulatory space would turn West Africa into a coherent, unified digital market attractive to global and regional investors.

“WATRA is not just facilitating dialogue—we are laying the foundation for a seamless regional market where innovation and investment can thrive,” said Mr. Aboki. “This meeting in Accra reflects our collective determination to build regulatory infrastructure that enables inclusion, trust, and scale.”

Hosted by Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA), the four-day high-level session brings together telecom regulators, private sector leaders, development partners, and digital policy experts to share knowledge and experiences and develop recommendations that will refine regional frameworks in three key areas: consumer experience, infrastructure development, and cybersecurity.

Why Harmonisation Creates a Larger Market

The ECOWAS region—home to over 400 million people—has immense potential as a single digital market. Yet divergent national regulations have led to fragmented investment environments, increased compliance costs, and inefficiencies in service delivery.

By aligning rules and standards across borders, harmonisation expands the effective size of the market available to telecom operators, fintechs, digital platforms, and infrastructure investors. Instead of dealing with 16 different licensing regimes, spectrum policies, or consumer regulations, companies can scale more efficiently across the region—reducing costs and risks while increasing innovation and competition.

“Regulatory harmonisation transforms fragmented national markets into one larger, more investable region,” Mr. Aboki explained. “It’s the gateway to building regional tech champions, improving affordability for consumers, and fostering resilient digital systems.”

Why the Working Groups Matter

WATRA’s Working Groups—on Consumer Access and Experience, Infrastructure Development, and Cybersecurity—are the Assembly’s strategic engines for technical cooperation and reform. Under Mr. Aboki’s leadership, they are designing regional frameworks that serve as models for national implementation.

  • Consumer Access and Experience: Enhancing consumer trust and fair service standards increases uptake of digital services and drives inclusive digital participation.
  • Infrastructure Development: Harmonised infrastructure policies—especially around spectrum allocation, satellite communications and sub-sea and terrestrial optical fibre—attract investment in broadband, towers, and regional connectivity.
  • Cybersecurity: Establishing regional cyber standards is critical to protecting users, safeguarding cross-border digital trade, and ensuring investor confidence.

“The Working Groups produce actionable, home-grown solutions that regulators can adapt to national contexts,” Mr. Aboki said. “They are where vision meets implementation.”

A Sector of Strategic Importance

West Africa’s telecommunications industry is a cornerstone of the region’s economic development. With over 250 million mobile subscribers, more than 120 million internet users, and nearly 15% of Nigeria’s GDP coming from ICT, the sector plays a transformative role in commerce, education, governance, and job creation.

Yet, the absence of harmonised rules continues to impede regional scale. Mr. Aboki stressed that the creation of a Single Digital Market in West Africa could unlock billions of dollars in annual value, supporting seamless mobile roaming, digital financial inclusion, cross-border e-commerce, and regional cloud infrastructure.

A Vision for Regional Digital Transformation

The Accra meeting will finalise recommendations and technical outputs for validation and adoption at WATRA’s next Conference of Regulators. These outcomes are expected to serve as shared regional standards—improving regulatory consistency while respecting each country’s unique context.

Ghana’s Acting Director-General of the NCA, Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, expressed support for the harmonisation effort, citing Ghana’s leadership in ECOWAS free roaming and regional cybersecurity frameworks.

Aliyu Aboki’s Strategic Leadership

Since taking office, Mr. Aboki has steered WATRA into a new era of proactive, consensus-driven regional leadership. His efforts are helping to position the Assembly as a continental thought leader in telecom and digital regulation—bridging national priorities with a unified regional vision.

“Regulation should be an accelerator of innovation, not a barrier,” Mr. Aboki concluded. “Through harmonisation, we can build a larger, safer, and more inclusive market that delivers real benefits to citizens, investors, and governments alike.”


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NCC and Attorneys-General Forge Powerful Alliance to Accelerate Nigeria’s Digital Transformation

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L-R: Head, Legal & Regulatory Services, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Chizua Whyte; Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele; Attorney General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro, SAN; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, NCC, Dr Aminu Maida; and Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, Barr. Rimini Makama, during the 1st edition of a two-day Annual Workshop for Attorneys General on Emerging Issues in the Communications Industry, hosted by the Commission which started in Lagos on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
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Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially inaugurated its first-ever Annual Workshop for Attorneys-General, convening top legal officers from across Nigeria to strengthen regulatory collaboration and drive the nation’s digital agenda forward.

L-R: Head, Legal & Regulatory Services, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Chizua Whyte; Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele; Attorney General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro, SAN; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, NCC, Dr Aminu Maida; and Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, Barr. Rimini Makama, during the 1st edition of a two-day Annual Workshop for Attorneys General on Emerging Issues in the Communications Industry, hosted by the Commission which started in Lagos on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

Opening the workshop at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the NCC, emphasized the urgent need for strategic partnerships between the legal community and regulatory authorities.

“Collaboration is not optional—it is essential,” said Dr. Maida.

The workshop aims to catalyze reforms in the outdated Nigerian Communications Act of 2003, aligning regulatory frameworks with cutting-edge technologies and evolving consumer needs. Areas of focus include artificial intelligence governance, 5G infrastructure rollout, and stronger data protection protocols.

Delivering the keynote address, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, praised the NCC for initiating this impactful dialogue. He underscored the importance of legal clarity and enforcement in combating obstacles such as fragmented taxation, overlapping regulatory mandates, and infrastructure vandalism.

Citing notable setbacks—including the 2023 vandalism of base stations in Kano and the tax conflicts in Ogun State—Chief Fagbemi described these incidents as economic sabotage and called for unified legal responses.

He also spotlighted Anambra State’s Right-of-Way policy, which led to a 38% increase in fibre optic deployment, urging other states to emulate such progressive approaches.

A pivotal highlight of the workshop was the reaffirmation of telecom networks as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), officially designated under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2024 Executive Order. This new status demands heightened protection and robust legal support.

The NCC announced that the workshop will become an annual platform for cross-governmental collaboration on emerging digital challenges, including cybersecurity, sustainable connectivity, consumer rights, and regulatory innovation.

As Nigeria positions itself at the forefront of Africa’s digital revolution, this unified effort by regulators and legal stakeholders marks a bold step in shaping an inclusive, resilient, and future-ready communications landscape.


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